Bionative

BioNative AB was a Swedish biotechnology company specialized in the development and production of native human proteins, most notably natural human alpha interferon. The company's flagship product, Multiferon, is a multi-subtype interferon derived from human white blood cells (leukocytes) and was approved in several markets for the treatment of malignant melanoma and viral infections. Unlike recombinant interferons, BioNative's technology focused on capturing the natural diversity of interferon subtypes to potentially improve therapeutic efficacy and reduce side effects. The company operated a specialized manufacturing facility in Umeå, Sweden, capable of processing large volumes of human blood components for protein extraction. BioNative was acquired by the American biotechnology firm Viragen in 2003 to integrate its manufacturing expertise and commercial-stage cytokine portfolio.