"I try to keep it clean and simple: fruit, protein, salads, veggies, " said Ms. Corrigan, 19 years old.

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In its normal form, however, a protein is more than just a simple string of amino acids.

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This need for adjunct sugar molecules is one reason why making protein-based drugs is not as simple as it looks.

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"It's cheap, simple and protects wonderfully without side effects because it's a totally inactive protein, " she said.

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