Science
The Challenge
Protein-based therapeutics—such as human growth hormone (hGH), insulin, and others—are currently not administered orally due to their degradation in the harsh gastric environment. As a result, these drugs are delivered via injection, which presents several challenges:
- Painful and invasive, especially for chronic and pediatric patients
- Requires trained medical personnel for administration
- High production costs due to sterile manufacturing requirements
- Expensive cold-chain logistics for storage and distribution
- Environmental impact from single-use plastics (syringes, gloves, etc.)
Algae Technology
Algae-Based Drug Delivery: A Breakthrough Technology
Platform Advantages
Our algae-based platform enables high-yield, stable expression of a wide range of therapeutic proteins. Oral delivery using algal cells eliminates the need for injections and associated infrastructure:
- No physical handling or medical devices required
- No exposure to animal-derived pathogens
- No need for purification or chemical encapsulation, reducing production costs
- Room-temperature stable, eliminating cold-chain logistics
Risk Reduction & Regulatory Advantages
Cost-effective production in closed fermenters ensures scalable, controlled, and economical manufacturing with low regulatory barriers and development risk:
- No antibiotic resistance markers used in transformation
- Final product is inactivated algal powder, classified as GMO-derived, not GMO
- Algal formulations remain stable in acidic environments
- Orally delivered proteins successfully reached the bloodstream and liver in preclinical studies
