Support for drug made from DNA-altered animals

The first drug made using genetically engineered animals to near US approval won key support on Friday from an advisory panel that judged it safe and effective despite concerns from groups worried about the genetic tinkering.

GTC Biotherapeutics Inc's experimental anti-clotting therapy, called Atryn, is made using a human protein gathered from female goats bred to produce it in their milk.

GTC is seeking approval to sell the intravenous therapy to prevent excessive blood clots in patients with an inherited disorder. Between 60,000 and 600,000 people in the US have the excessive clotting disorder, known as hereditary antithrombin deficiency, according to GTC.