Page 172 - Binder2

More Than Convenience—A New Immunologic
Opportunity

Historically, oral delivery was treated as a compromise—
useful for small molecules, but too unstable for fragile
proteins. When every fold, every functional group, and
every chain matters the digestive tract is a daunting
obstacle. Stomach pHs as low as 1.5 and gastric enzymes
like pepsin mangle most biologics before they enter the
bloodstream.

But in the context of immune-mediated disease, oral
delivery becomes an asset, not a liability.

Why? Because the immune system isn’t centralized. It’s
distributed—especially around mucosal surfaces like the
gut, where immune cells are trained to tolerate, not attack,
frequent exposures. When you deliver a biologic orally,
especially via plant matrices that mimic dietary antigens,
you’re not bypassing the immune system.

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