Plant-made pharmaceuticals (PMPs) result from the application of biotechnology to plants to enable them to produce therapeutic proteins that could ultimately be used by the medical community to combat life-threatening illnesses. In this process, plants become "factories" that manufacture therapeutic proteins. These proteins are then extracted, refined and used in pharmaceutical production.
Researchers are currently in various stages of field trials and clinical trials of PMP production. It is estimated that it will be at least three to five years before full commercialization of the first PMP is reached.
Plant-made pharmaceuticals are strictly regulated by United States regulatory agencies. View regulatory process chart. In fact, the USDA reports that in 2002, total U.S. test trials consisted of 20 permits governing 34 field sites for a total of only 130 acres. Plants being grown for the manufacture of biotechnological medicines can only be grown under USDA APHIS permit.
For sources that provide more information about plant-made pharmaceuticals,
see the Links section.