Roslin Bio-Med Will Exploit Dolly Cloning Technology

3i has provided backing of GBP6 million (ecu 8.9 million) for a new biotechnology company, Roslin Bio-Med, established by the Roslin Institute. Roslin Institute developed the nuclear transfer technology which created Dolly the sheep, the first mammal cloned from an adult cell, and Polly and Molly, the first transgenic lambs produced by nuclear transfer.

Roslin Bio-Med will have an exclusive licence for this technology, apart from those applications already covered by the Institute’s agreement with PPL Therapeutics. Roslin Bio-Med will focus on developing the technology to produce biomedical applications to benefit human health through the precise genetic modification of livestock. The licence granted to PPL Therapeutics covers the production of therapeutic proteins in the milk of transgenic ruminants and rabbits and the modification of milk composition for “neutraceutical” use.

3i and the Roslin Institute will be the major shareholders in Roslin Bio-Med.