(University of California – San Diego) In a new study published in PNAS, UC San Diego researchers moved one step closer to the ability to make heparin in cultured cells. Heparin is a potent anti-coagulant and the most prescribed drug in hospitals, yet cell-culture-based production of heparin is currently not possible. Heparin is now produced by extracting the drug from pig intestines, which is a concern for safety, sustainability, and security reasons.

Original source: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-04/uoc–usd041020.php