Plant-Expression Systems: A New Stage in Production of Biopharmaceutical Preparations

Bioproduction of recombinant pharmaceuticals in plant systems is becoming a promising alternative to existing platforms based on mammalian or bacterial cells. The cultivation of plant cells under controlled conditions of bioreactors ensures the production of high-quality protein in accordance with GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards. Moreover, the rapid growth of cells, low cost of nutrient components, and the excluded danger of contamination with viruses and prions of animal origin provide indisputable advantage to plant-expression systems. Following the approval by authorities and the subsequent commercialization of the world’s first recombinant β-glucocerebrosidase pharmaceutical for the treatment of Gaucher’s disease, which was synthesized in plant cells, a new era has begun in which this technology is definitely displacing some established expression platforms in biopharmaceutical markets. The review examines the characteristics of an “ideal” plant cell culture for the production of recombinant proteins in vitro and technological features of currently used bioreactor systems. The challenges on the way to increase the competitiveness of this platform are discussed, and the recent commercial advances in molecular farming are highlighted.