Innovations

Biologics - not made without living organisms

More than half of all newly approved medicines are produced using biotechnology. They are so similar to the body’s own substances that they can be used to treat diseases in a more targeted way. Unlike conventional medicines, which have a broad effect, these biologics have a very precise action. They have made the treatment of chronic and serious diseases easier or even possible. They improve treatment options and contribute to a better quality of life. 

But biologics can only be produced in living organisms! 

The outstanding properties of biologics pose a particular challenge because these active ingredients are not easy to produce: Only genetically modified living organisms are capable of this feat. To date, these have mainly been bacteria and cell lines derived from animals, humans or their organs, which are grown, harvested and purified in large tanks under highly sterile conditions in manufacturing laboratories. 

The effort involved is enormous, but so are the effects and yields. Nevertheless, the industry needs innovative new methods to produce tomorrow’s biologics, because the current processes are insufficiently robust and sustainable, and their performance is reaching its limits. 

In planta solutions - Everything the pharmaceutical industry expects, but plant-based (and more)

Plants are static creatures. This means that, unlike animals, they cannot simply flee when things get “uncomfortable”. Instead, they have to cope with adverse environmental conditions on the spot. It is therefore particularly important for them to be able to respond very quickly at the genetic level. BionFarming utilises this natural ability to regulate genes and optimises it for the development of new platforms for the production of biologics. 

BionFarming makes it possible to use different plant species according to their specific abilities to produce certain products, thus maximising their natural capabilities. Unlike cell lines, the process does not involve permanent genetic modification, but is limited to a short period until the plant is harvested. These processes are referred to as transient and, in addition to greatly improved flexibility, allow a much faster rate of adaptation, which significantly shortens development times compared to permanently genetically modified animal and human cell lines. These processes are referred to as transient and, in addition to greatly improved flexibility, allow a much faster rate of adaptation, which significantly shortens development times compared to permanently genetically modified animal and human cell lines. 

Glycosylation is a process by which saccharides are attached to proteins. This process is very specific and only certain amino acids are glycosylated. Glycosylation increases the stability of proteins, protects them from proteolytic degradation and determines their activity. Unlike bacterial cell lines, plants are able to express human glycosylation patterns. In addition, we are able to modify plants to produce specific glycosylation patterns that occur in human cells. This makes it possible to produce completely new recombinant proteins, especially those that are difficult to synthesise, which can form the basis of new biopharmaceutical drugs. 

Product Pipeline

AAT

Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency is a congenital genetic defect for which there is currently no cure. BionFarming is in the process of developing plant-derived AAT, which is not only a direct substitute, but also replaces a very cost-intensive production with a more cost-effective plant product. Based on the plant-made AAT, BionFarming has started the development of a COVID therapeutic. 

Vegan Trastuzumab

Trastuzumab is one of the best-tested and most proven anti-body therapies for breast cancer and other cancers. With the first plant-based biosimilar, BionFarming will create an alternative for all patients who want an animal-free therapy. 

BIONFARMING

Enable recycling as in nature

  • Closed water-, fertiliser- and energy-cycles
  • 100% use of the cultivars, even the roots become usableProductivity increase of over 50% by utilising the roots
  • Naturally degradable residues which act as permanent carbon sink

BionFarming's unique plant expression and glycosylation

  • Cost-effective: lower manufacturing costs compared to conventional drug production methods. 
  • Compatibility with pharmaceutical industry processes with the exact or close to best practices, without the use of non-standard growth systems. 
  • Scalability: BionFarming platform is easily scalable, meaning that manufacturing can be easily scaled up to larger quantities. 
  • Rapid manufacturing: With BionFarming a large variety of proteins can be produced fast and cost effectively. 
  • Independence from animal and human sources: Reduced reliance on animal/human sources, reducing the risk of contamination with animal pathogens. 
  • Alternative production platform providing safety and accessibility: BionFarming establishes plants as alternative production platforms for biopharmaceuticals and recombinant proteins. 

These advantages make BionFarming a promising method in biotechnology. We enable the production of valuable proteins that can be used in medicine, industry and agriculture. 

Talk to us if you want to develop and manufacture: 

  • Antibodies 
  • Biobetters 
  • Cytokines 
  • Fusion proteins 
  • Virus-like particles 
  • Any difficult-to-synthesise protein 

Efficient and effective glycosylation in plants is our strength.