Growth Hormone (Bovine)

Modality

Development of Bovine Growth Hormone

Growth hormone is a crucial hormone that plays a vital role in normal growth, development, and health maintenance in both humans and bovines. Bovine growth hormone, also known as bovine somatotropin (bST) or bGH, consists of either 190 or 191 amino acids. There are four natural variants of bST, which differ from each other by one or two amino acids, such as Ala-Phe-Pro or Phe-Pro at the N-terminus, and leucine or valine at position 126 or 127. Recombinant bovine somatotropin analogs are medicines that are approved to enhance milk production in dairy cows.

In the 1970s, a biotech company called Genentech discovered and patented the gene for bST. This made it possible to produce large commercial quantities of a more consistent and purified form of bST through genetic techniques. The process is economically feasible and advantageous for production. The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee evaluated four recombinant bovine somatotropin analogues, including sometribove (Posilac), somavubove (Boostin), somagrebove and somidobove. Currently, some of these analogues are registered for use in animals.

Smetribove (Posilac)

Sometribove is a type of rbST that is given to lactating dairy cows to increase the production of milk. It is an injectable formulation that contains sometribove zinc.

Smetribove, also known as Posilac, is a product of a collaboration between Monsanto and Genentech. In 2008, Monsanto granted Eli Lilly the license to market Posilac outside the United States.

Smetribove (Posila) is the first recombinant rbST have been approved by the FDA. The FDA has determined that milk and meat from cows treated with Posila are safe for human consumption, mainly because bST is a large protein. Like most dietary proteins, bST is broken down by digestive enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract. This means that it is not absorbed into the body in its whole form. The broken down proteolytic fragments have no biological activity.

Other Recombinant bSTs

Somavubove, also known as Boostin, is a type of bovine recombinant somatotropin that is licensed to increase milk production in healthy, well-nourished adult cows. This product is commercialized by MSD Animal Health. It's worth noting that there are two other types of rbSTs, namely somagrebove and somidobove, which were developed by Upjohn and American Cyanamid (now a part of Pfizer), respectively.

These four recombinant biologics are bST analogs, with different amino acid compositions at the N-terminal.

rbST based Products	N-terminal amino acid	Manufacturer
sometribove	Alanine (Ala) is substituted with Met (M)	Monsanto, Genentech, Eli Lilly
somavubove	None	MSD Animal Health
somagrebove	Ala is substituted with Met-Asp-Gln (MDQ)	Upjohn
somidobove	Ala is substituted with Met-Phe-Pro-Leu-Asp-Asp-Asp-Asp-Lys (MFPLDDDDK)	American Cyanamid

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Growth Hormone (Bovine)

Modality