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Merck of New Jersey has developed a vaccine (GB 2 333 706) that it claims can
increase the meat value of farm animals by boosting their muscle mass. Merck
says the protein myostatin normally limits skeletal muscle growth, but the
vaccination speeds up muscle growth by increasing production of anti-myostatin
antibodies. To make the vaccine, researchers engineered a gene that promotes
antibody production. Merck says that a single 10 milligram shot may be enough to
neutralise myostatin. If pregnant animals are injected, the antibodies may pass
through the placenta to treat the offspring.