Regulatory approval and a first-in-human phase I clinical trial of a monoclonal antibody produced in transgenic tobacco plants.

Although plant biotechnology has been widely investigated for the production of clinical-grade monoclonal antibodies, no antibody products derived from transgenic plants have yet been approved by pharmaceutical regulators for clinical testing. In the Pharma-Planta project, the HIV-neutralizing human monoclonal antibody 2G12 was expressed in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). The scientific, technical and regulatory demands of good manufacturing practice (GMP) were addressed by comprehensive molecular characterization of the transgene locus, confirmation of genetic and phenotypic stability over several generations of transgenic plants, and by establishing standard operating procedures for the creation of a master seed bank, plant cultivation, harvest, initial processing, downstream processing and purification.

Post-marketing surveillance of enalapril: experience in 11,710 hypertensive patients in general practice.

Post-marketing surveillance in general practice represents an important part of the monitoring of adverse events associated with newly introduced drugs. Such a study of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril maleate has been undertaken in 11 710 patients with essential hypertension. Serious adverse events occurred in 1.

Comparison of a fixed ratio combination of hydrochlorothiazide, amiloride and timolol ('Moducren') given once versus twice daily in mild to moderate hypertension.

An open, multi-centre study was carried out in general practice to compare the efficacy and tolerance of antihypertensive therapy with once-daily and twice-daily dosage of a fixed ratio combination of hydrochlorothiazide (25 mg), amiloride (2.5 mg) and timolol (10 mg). A total of 604 patients with mild to moderate hypertension were treated over a period of 12 weeks with either 1 to 2 tablets once-daily (294 patients) or 1/2 to 1 tablet twice-daily (310 patients).