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But the real power of oral biologics isn’t in chemistry. It’s
in immunology.
By delivering proteins through the gut, these therapies
activate CD103⁺ dendritic cells, which induce regulatory
T cells (Tregs)—the very same cells responsible for
maintaining immune tolerance to food, commensals, and
self-antigens. This approach doesn’t just avoid rejection. It
prevents it proactively—training the immune system to
accept the drug before it ever sees it systemically.
In early studies, orally delivered peptides have shown the
ability to downregulate inflammatory responses in diseases
like IBD, celiac, and even multiple sclerosis. Companies
like Provention Bio, COUR Pharmaceuticals, and others
are building pipelines around this idea: tolerance through
targeted exposure, not immune suppression.
2. Plant-Based Expression Systems: Cleaner
Proteins, Fewer Red Flags
Most biologics today are produced in mammalian cell lines
like CHO (Chinese Hamster Ovary) cells. These systems
are well-established—but they also introduce
immunogenic impurities: host cell proteins, non-native
glycosylation, and variable post-translational modifications
that can trigger the immune system’s alarm bells.
Plant-based platforms offer a radical alternative.
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