NZ bone-growth breakthrough

New Zealand researchers have discovered remarkable bone-building properties in the milk protein lactoferrin, which could lead to new treatments for osteoporosis.

Auckland's Osteoporosis Research Group has found that the milk protein, already produced commercially by Fonterra and the Tatua dairy company, not only inhibits bone breakdown but boosts bone growth four times faster than normal when injected directly into bone cells.

Research leader Dr Jill Cornish unveiled the findings at the World Dairy Summit in Melbourne yesterday.

The injection of lactoferrin had resulted in such "phenomenal bone growth" that it could be applied to directly to fractures to promote faster healing, Cornish said.

The research is part of the LactoPharma project - a joint venture between Fonterra and Auckland UniServices - set up to discover and commercialise new bioactive components in milk and colostrum.

LactoPharma also has funding from the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology.

There was still lots of work to be done, Cornish said. But there was every reason to hope that these findings could result in new drugs and nutraceuticals for the prevention and cure of osteoporosis.

The dairy industry has touted the wider benefits of lactoferrin for about a decade.

"It's a goody molecule," Cornish said. "It is good for the immune system. It's anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal. When white blood cells respond to infection, they spurt out lactoferrin naturally."

LactoPharma has already filed patent applications for lactoferrin as a bone-growth promoter.

It also plans to patent two new receptors that the team has uncovered on bone-forming cells.

Receptors and molecules like lactoferrin had a lock and key relationship, which together could activate the process that makes new bone, Cornish said.

Once LactoPharma has established the patents and put together a portfolio of intellectual property it will be in a position to commercially license the technology.

Fonterra will be well-positioned to develop it further but is likely to be most interested in developing lactoferrin as a nutraceutical to be consumed in dairy drinks and foods as a preventative to osteoporosis.

An experienced pharmaceutical industry partner would probably be needed to take the new treatment through the long and expensive US Food Drug Administration (FDA) registration process.

Osteoporosis is estimated to affect 200 million people worldwide, and costs New Zealand about $200 million in health care and related costs.

So far there is only one osteoporosis drug on the market that can enhance the process of bone formation, Cornish said.

What made lactoferrin so special was that it offered "a double whammy" by inhibiting the formation of cells that break down bone, and stimulating the bones that form cells, she said.

The first phase of FDA trials - which determine any toxic effects of a new drug - should present a major problem because lactoferrin is a naturally occurring protein in both humans and cows, Cornish said.

 

LACTOFERRIN

Lactoferrin is a milk whey protein that boosts immunity.

New research shows it may be the key to promoting new bone growth.

New Zealand dairy companies already commercially produce lactoferrin.

It sells for $500 a kilogram in Japan and Korea.

About 10,000 tonnes of milk are used to produce one tonne of lactoferrin.