Plant molecular pharming has emerged as a niche technology for the manufacture
of pharmaceutical products indicated for chronic and infectious
diseases, particularly for products that do not fit into the current industryfavored
model of fermenter-based production campaigns. In this review, we
explore the areas where molecular pharming can make the greatest impact,
including the production of pharmaceuticals that have novel glycan structures
or that cannot be produced efficiently in microbes or mammalian cells
because they are insoluble or toxic.Wealso explore the market dynamics that
encourage the use of molecular pharming, particularly for pharmaceuticals
that are required in small amounts (such as personalized medicines) or large
amounts (on a multi-ton scale, such as blood products and microbicides)
and those that are needed in response to emergency situations (pandemics
and bioterrorism). The impact of molecular pharming will increase as the
platforms become standardized and optimized through adoption of good
manufacturing practice (GMP) standards for clinical development, offering
a new opportunity to produce inexpensive medicines in regional markets
that are typically excluded under current business models.