PPL Therapeutics Plans to Cull Sheep

PPL Therapeutics, which in 1996 made world news with the cloning of Dolly the sheep, announced in July that a downturn in its fortunes would lead it to cull most of its flock of 3,000 genetically modified sheep.

PPL Therapeutics produced the first transgenic sheep in 1991. The sheep are genetically modified to express recombinant Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) in their milk. AAT was to be used to treat lung disorders, but in June drug company Bayer announced that it was ending its three year partnership with PPL Therapeutics on trials of AAT.

PPL Therapeutics does plan to keep some of the sheep for possible future breeding programs.

Source:

Thousands of sheep face cull after drugs trial shelved. Ananova, July 15, 2003.

Dolly firm to cull its sheep. The BBC, July 15, 2003.

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