Commercialization of biopharmaceutical and bioindustrial proteins from plants

Over the past decade many new products have entered the market as the result of biotechnology. In regard to biotechnology tools related to plants, this has mainly been in the form of products that conferred crop improvement traits. The technology developed for crop improvement, however, can be applied to commercialize nonfood products such as those developed by other host systems such as microbial and animal cell culture systems. The first wave of therapeutic proteins is now in clinical trials for both animals and humans. Other nonfood products are now being introduced into the marketplace. This paper examines a few of these representative products to highlight the potential advantages and hurdles that need to be overcome to bring these products to the market. This includes not only the technical barriers but also what is needed for both regulatory and public acceptance.