Editorial

Iran has taken significant steps in the fields of animal cloning, stem cell therapy and recombinant protein drugs in the past decade. The cloning of animals, stem cell therapies and transplantation by the Iranian stem cell transplantation research centers and production of a few recombinant proteins by the Iranian biotech companies and academic institutes is clearly positive for the development of advanced technologies in the field of medical biotechnology. According to the most recent reports in the media, recombinant proteins such as blood coagulation factors VII and VIII are in the process of being manufactured. These are certainly quite significant steps in the development process of recombinant protein drugs. As these recombinant protein drugs come to the Iranian market in the future, it is reasonable to expect prospective studies are designed in order to evaluate the effectiveness and side effects of these drugs in large populations. It is hoped to see a sustained support and a stable environment for the biotech industry in Iran for the continued production of recombinant protein drugs to not only meet the needs of domestic market but also find its way into the international markets in the near future.