1.   Both Abgenix Inc. of Fremont, and Medarex have developed genetically altered mice that can produce fully human antibodies.

2.   A human antibody to PTHrP, similar to the mouse antibody used in the study, may be beneficial.

3.   Abgenix is now conducting early clinical trials to prove that its XenoMouse human antibodies work better than the previous generation of modified mouse antibodies.

4.   But that part is then grafted onto the rest of a human antibody.

5.   Having fully human antibodies should largely eliminate any immune response to the antibodies.

6.   Human antibodies can be valuable in treating diseases, and having them made in bulk by a cow could be a significant advance.

7.   Human antibody genes are inserted into viruses known as phages, which display them on their surfaces.

8.   New techniques allow human antibodies to be made in genetically engineered mice or viruses.

9.   Now, researchers are starting to produce fully human antibodies.

10.   Other companies, led by Cambridge Antibody Technology Group and MorphoSys, are producing fully human antibodies using a technique called phage display.