Molecular farming vaccines: A plant-based alternative to vaccines developed in bioreactors

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• April 11, 2022

Insight summary

Molecular farming, the process of using plants for vaccine creation, offers a promising alternative to traditional manufacturing methods, with benefits such as reduced cost, environmental friendliness, and resistance to contamination. This approach has the potential to transform vaccine production timelines, enable developing countries to maintain vaccination rates, and even provide sustainable treatment methods for future off-world human settlements. The long-term implications of this trend include shifts in public opinion towards genetically modified products, new job opportunities in agriculture, and changes in global trade agreements.

Molecular farming context

Molecular farming is the process of growing plant vaccines. It is the merging of synthetic biology and genetic engineering to produce plants capable of synthesizing vaccines that can be used for pharmaceutical purposes within the healthcare sector. The idea of molecular farming was conceived in 1986.

Three decades later, in 2015, it garnered more interest when the US Food and Drug Administration approved the growing of a plant to treat Gaucher disease. Various plants, including wild species, can be turned into edible medicines with molecular farming. The process of molecular farming involves introducing a vector into plant cells or whole plants. The vector’s function is to carry genetic code, which the plant can use to synthesize protein. 

The genetically modified protein produced by a treated plant is the naturally-produced vaccine that can be administered orally simply by eating these plants or the plant’s fruit. Alternatively, the medicine can be extracted from the juice or medicinal part of the fruit or plant.

Disruptive impact

The concept of using plants as resources for biomanufacturing, particularly in the field of vaccine creation, has been gaining attention among scientists. They argue that molecular farming should be the preferred method over traditional vaccine manufacturing in labs and development incubators. The reasons for this preference include the ease of growing plants, their resistance to contamination common in traditional drug manufacturing, their environmentally friendly nature, and the reduced cost of transportation since modified proteins do not require cold storage. 

Molecular farming could dramatically change the timeline and cost of vaccine production. Traditional vaccine manufacturing often requires six months to produce large quantities, along with numerous quality-control tests, possible errors, and accidents. By contrast, plant vaccines can reduce the overall production process to only a few weeks. This efficiency not only lowers costs but also makes vaccines more accessible, especially in regions where resources are limited. The ability to store and transport these vaccines at room temperature further simplifies the distribution process, making it a promising solution for global health challenges.

Governments may need to invest in research and development to support this new approach, recognizing its potential to enhance public health. Companies involved in vaccine production may need to adapt their strategies and infrastructure to embrace molecular farming. Educational institutions may also play a vital role in training the next generation of scientists and researchers in this field. 

Implications of molecular farming

Wider implications of molecular farming may include: 

• Eliminating the need for vaccines to be administered via an injection, leading to increased adoption of vaccines among the general population, especially among those who have a fear of needles or where medical facilities are scarce.
• Enabling developing countries that lack domestic vaccine production facilities to produce vaccines using traditional farming practices (including greenhouses or vertical farms), leading to maintained vaccination rates among local populations and reducing dependency on foreign vaccine supplies.
• Improving the general population’s perspectives or biases against genetically modified crops and foods by increasingly associating food with medicine as well as nutrients, leading to a shift in public opinion and potentially increased acceptance of genetically modified products.
• Providing sustainable treatment methods in future off-world settlements where humans found colonies on the moon or Mars, leading to the possibility of self-sufficient healthcare systems in space exploration and colonization.
• Reducing the environmental impact of traditional vaccine manufacturing by using plants, leading to less waste and energy consumption, and contributing to a more sustainable approach to healthcare.
• Creating new job opportunities in the agricultural sector for the cultivation of specific plants used in molecular farming, leading to a shift in labor market dynamics and potential growth in rural economies.
• Influencing global trade agreements and regulations around the export and import of plant-based vaccines, leading to new political dialogues and potential shifts in international relations.
• Encouraging investment in research and education related to plant-based vaccine production, leading to the emergence of specialized academic programs and research centers.
• Challenging existing pharmaceutical business models by introducing a more cost-effective method of vaccine production, leading to competitive pricing and potential shifts in market dominance.
• Enhancing emergency response capabilities during pandemics by enabling quicker vaccine production, leading to more timely interventions and potentially saving more lives during global health crises.

Questions to consider

• What might be the unintended consequences or side effects of vaccines produced by molecular farming?
• When do you think molecular farming will be adopted for mass production similar to traditional pharmaceutical production processes?