Semi-synthetic artemisinin: a model for the use of synthetic biology in pharmaceutical development

Entry of the antimalarial drug precursor semi-synthetic artemisinin into industrial production is the first major milestone for the application of synthetic biology. In this Review, Paddon and Keasling discuss the metabolic engineering and synthetic biology approaches that were used to engineer Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae to synthesize a precursor of artemisinin, which should aid the development of other pharmaceutical products.