SAB NewsPlant-Based Vaccines are Safer than Traditional VaccinesPosted 8/11/2003 The Science Advisory Board concluded that phytopharming or the growing of transgenic plants to produce protein biologicals including vaccines provides tangible benefits over the more traditional methods of vaccine production. The primary advantage, as highlighted by 42% of the 529 participants in a recent Instant Poll on this subject, is that there would be no contamination by animal viruses. Respondents were somewhat divided as to whether the fact that these vaccines would be edible (23% of respondents) or that these vaccines could be grown locally (20% of respondents) would be more valuable. Only 14% of individuals were impressed by a plant-produced vaccine’s ability to maintain its stability at room temperature. However, this lack of interest does not negate the real value of such plant-based products not only as self-contained production facilities, but also as self-contained delivery systems, e.g., bananas, potatoes, tomatoes, or legumes. Clearly, members of The Science Advisory Board are first and foremost encouraged by the potential safety these new vaccines offer especially in light of the current concerns over new and emerging zoonoses. “Although phytopharming offers the hope of providing increased access to therapeutic proteins at realistic prices,” observes Tamara Zemlo, Ph.D., MPH, Director of Scientific and Medical Communications for The Science Advisory Board, “I feel that the downsides of long development time, limited yield and reduced genetic stability need to be carefully debated before full-scale production begins.” |
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