| The applications of biotechnology in the agricultural arena are significant and the impacts are recognizable world wide. Genetic modification has granted access to higher yields, tolerance to insects and disease, functionality in foods, and the list goes on. The production of pharmaceuticals is not to be excluded from the list. While plants have a long history of being used for medicinal purposes, biotechnology has made it possible to produce therapeutic protein pharmaceuticals using plants including monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). While current mAb production technologies do not make use of plants, there is an opportunity to establish plants as a reasonable alternative production resource. Using plants to produce monoclonal antibodies offers solutions to problems such as increasing production capacity and lowering manufacturing costs associated with current production systems. Two engineering process simulation models were fashioned to evaluate the economics of each of the two production systems under similar operating circumstances. These two simulation models will provide a basis for cost comparison between the mammalian cell culture production system and the alternative production system using plant made protein technologies to produce monoclonal antibodies. |
