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Because when you stop thinking of biologics as something
that must be injected, stored, and refrigerated—and start
thinking of them as something that can be grown,
stabilized, and swallowed—you don’t just lower the cost.

You change the game.

4.1 What Are Edible Biologics—and Why Now?

Edible biologics are orally delivered therapeutics
composed of biologically active proteins—enzymes,
antibodies, or antigens—produced within plant tissues
rather than in traditional microbial or mammalian
expression systems. Instead of being manufactured in
stainless steel bioreactors, purified in industrial cleanrooms,
and injected under supervision, these drugs are grown in
plants and taken by mouth, often as encapsulated
powders, tablets, or even whole plant material.

It’s a simple concept with radical implications:
Grow the therapy. Eat the delivery. Skip the needle.

This model flips the conventional biologic paradigm.
Rather than purify a protein out of a plant, edible biologics
leverage the plant itself as a protective carrier,
stabilizing the protein through digestion and delivering it to
immune-accessible tissues like the gut-associated lymphoid
tissue (GALT). When done right, this means preserving
bioactivity without requiring cold chains, sterile injections,
or IV clinics.

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