Current advances in the algae-made biopharmaceuticals field

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Bioprocess Engineering
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• The biopharmaceutical industry faces challenges in cost reduction, product safety, and noninvasive administration routes.
• Microalgae present a novel and sustainable host system for biopharmaceutical production.
• Existing production platforms struggle to meet the growing demand for affordable and accessible biologics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an updated overview of microalgae as a production platform for biopharmaceuticals.
• To review protein expression strategies and functional biopharmaceuticals produced in algae.
• To identify companies actively investing in algae-based biopharmaceutical technology.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scientific publications and industry reports.
• Compilation of successful case studies on biopharmaceutical production in microalgae.
• Analysis of protein expression systems and optimization strategies.

Main Results:

• Successful production of vaccines, antibodies, antimicrobial peptides, growth factors, and hormones in microalgae.
• Demonstrated potential of microalgae to meet industry demands for cost reduction and safety.
• Identification of key companies pioneering algae-made biopharmaceuticals.

Conclusions:

• Microalgae hold significant potential as a versatile and cost-effective platform for biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Further optimization of yields, scale-up, and preclinical trials are crucial for advancing the field.
• Lessons learned from plant-made biopharmaceuticals can guide the development of algae-based systems.