The Emergence of a Game-Changing Biopharming Project
A team of enterprising undergraduate students from the University of Ottawa has introduced a project that could potentially transform how medications like Ozempic are produced and accessed. Named Phytogene, the initiative utilizes the Nicotiana benthamiana plant, a small species in the tobacco family, for generating GLP-1 receptor agonists, the active components found in Ozempic.
Environmentally Friendly Production Methods
By employing this innovative plant-based production system—also known as biopharming—the team aspires to offer a secure and sustainable alternative to conventional pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, which often have detrimental effects on the environment and can be economically burdensome for patients.
Victor Boddy, a biotechnology and biomedical science major leading the project, shared, “Inspired by the recent Ozempic shortage, we built a proof-of-concept model system that expresses functional GLP-1 agonists in plants.”
He elaborated, “We aim to create a future where people can reliably grow their own treatments at home, free from concerns about insurance, cost or availability.”
A Solution for Ongoing Shortages
Globally, Ozempic shortages have persisted since 2022, primarily due to an increase in demand as the drug surged in popularity as a weight-loss solution. These shortages have raised concerns among healthcare professionals regarding the ramifications of medicine scarcity on vulnerable populations, further compounded by the health risks stemming from disputes around counterfeit drug sales.
Some individuals have even resorted to traveling significant distances to secure their medications.
In February, the FDA announced that the shortage of semaglutide, which includes Ozempic, had been resolved. However, if Phytogene realizes its full potential, it may prevent similar crises in the future.
Moving Toward Commercial Viability
Teagan Thomas, co-leader of the project, emphasized the importance of this innovation, stating, “Phytogene offers a unique, sustainable approach to biotechnology by providing an environmentally friendly solution to the critical crisis of medication access.” She expressed enthusiasm about developing the idea into a commercially profitable venture with support from investors and scientific advisors.
The Phytogene project was presented at the iGEM Grand Jamboree in Paris, where the team competed against more than 430 international teams and secured a gold medal for their groundbreaking work.
A Note of Caution
While the prospect of home cultivation of medications such as Ozempic is intriguing and promising, it is crucial to understand that the project remains in its early stages. The plant-based extracts are still undergoing testing and have yet to be evaluated in human trials.
As Thomas stated, “We are currently analyzing blood glucose and insulin levels to assess response. We also plan to conduct bioactivity assays to test the drug’s effectiveness on human cells.”
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