Object Details
- Genentech, Inc.
- Description (Brief)
- Activase is a recombinant pharmaceutical that is administered intravenously. Approved by the FDA on November 13, 1987, it contains tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), an enzyme that helps dissolve blood clots. Although Activase was originally developed to treat heart attack (acute myocardial infarction), it is now also used to treat stroke (acute ischemic stroke) and blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolism).
- Recombinant pharmaceuticals are created by inserting genes from one species into a host species, often yeast or bacteria, where they do not naturally occur. The genes code for a desired product, and therefore the genetically modified host organisms can be grown and used as a kind of living factory to produce the product. In this case, genes coding for tPA are inserted into cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells. The ovary cells produce tPA, which is harvested and used as the active ingredient in Activase.
- Object consists of a white cardboard box with red and blue printing. Box contains two round, clear glass bottles, two product inserts, and one "Transofix" transfer device. One bottle contains sterile water for injection and has a plastic magenta lid and white label with black print. One bottle contains Activase and has plastic blue lid, a white label with blue and red printing and a white plastic base. The Transofix device is used to mix the sterile water and powdered Activase to reconstitute the medicine for administration.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- before 1994
- ID Number
- 2012.0046.42
- catalog number
- 2012.0046.42
- accession number
- 2012.0046
- Object Name
- pharmaceutical
- Physical Description
- alteplase, 100 mg (58 million IU) (drug active ingredients)
- Measurements
- overall: 4 1/4 in x 5 1/8 in x 2 1/4 in; 10.795 cm x 13.0175 cm x 5.715 cm
- sterile water: 9.7 cm x 4.7 cm; 3 13/16 in x 1 27/32 in
- powder bottle: 10.2 cm x 5.7 cm; 4 1/32 in x 2 1/4 in
- transfer device: 2 cm x 9.6 cm x 6.5 cm; 25/32 in x 3 25/32 in x 2 9/16 in
- place made
- United States: California, South San Francisco
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Medicine
- Health & Medicine
- Biotechnology and Genetics
- Recombinant Pharmaceuticals
- Science & Mathematics
- National Museum of American History
- Record ID
- nmah_1421740
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ad-8db2-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
