Plant-based vaccines represent a revolutionary development in vaccine production that utilizes plant molecular farming techniques. Plant molecular farming employs genetic engineering methods to produce valuable pharmaceutical proteins in plants. Some key advantages of plant-based vaccines include low-cost and large-scale production, ease of storage and distribution, thermostability without refrigeration, and needle-free mucosal delivery. Technologies such as transient gene expression allow for rapid development of vaccine candidates against emerging pathogens. Several companies are extensively researching plant production platforms for vaccines against infectious diseases and cancer. For instance, Medicago is developing a plant-derived COVID-19 vaccine candidate using transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana plants. IBIO is assessing its plant-made pharmaceutical platform for production of influenza vaccines.
The global Plant-based Vaccines Market is estimated to be valued at US$ 98.19 Mn in 2023 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 7.0% over the forecast period 2023 to 2030, as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights.
Market Dynamics:
The Plant-based Vaccines Market is predicted to experience significant growth due to two key drivers – rapid advancements in plant molecular farming techniques and the low-cost, scalable production offered through plant-based platforms. Transient gene expression technology enables rapid cloning and generation of vaccine candidates, allowing quick response to emerging infectious disease outbreaks. This addresses a critical need for expediting vaccine development timelines. Plants also provide cost-effective, scalable manufacturing solutions suited for mass vaccination programs in developing countries. The low capital investments and ease of large-scale outdoor cultivation favor plant-based production over traditional egg-based or cell-based platforms. Such economical vaccine solutions could potentially improve access and immunization rates globally.
Segment Analysis
The plant-based vaccines market is dominated by the live attenuated vaccines segment, which accounts for over 50% market share. This is because live attenuated vaccines are considered to be highly effective as they mimic the natural infection to a great extent and trigger strong immune response. The inactivated/subunit vaccines segment is expected to witness growth at a high CAGR during the forecast period owing to their thermostability and safety advantage over live attenuated vaccines.
PEST Analysis
Political: Supportive regulations for plant-based vaccine development by regulatory bodies like FDA and EMA are driving the market growth. Various governments are also funding research programs in this area.
Economic: Lower production costs of plant-based vaccines compared to conventional methods is attracting vaccine manufacturers to this market. Growing demand for affordable healthcare will boost market revenues.
Social: Increasing acceptance of plant-based proteins is positively impacting the adoption of plant-based vaccines. Growing awareness about preventable diseases is propelling the demand.
Technological: Advancements in plant biotechnology for maintaining antigen stability and correct post-translational modification are helping expand viable vaccine candidates. Emergence of transient plant-based expression systems is accelerating development.
Key Takeaways
The Global Plant-Based Vaccines Market Growth is expected to witness high over the forecast period. The global Plant-based Vaccines Market is estimated to be valued at US$ 98.19 Mn in 2023 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 7.0% over the forecast period 2023 to 2030.
North America dominated the market in 2023 and is expected to retain its position throughout the forecast period owing to strong presence of leading players and supportive government initiatives in the region. US and Canada are home to major plant-based vaccine players like Medicago and IBIO. Strong funding from National Institute of Health and Department of Defense for plant-based vaccine R&D is driving growth in the region.
Key players
Key players operating in the plant-based vaccines market are Medicago, Inc., IBIO, Inc., Icon Genetics GmbH, Lumen Bioscience, Inc., British American Tobacco Plc., Creative Biolabs, Inc., Leaf Expression Systems Ltd., ZYUS Life Sciences Inc., PlantForm Corporation, and Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI). Medicago is one of the leading players with multiple plant-based vaccine candidates in clinical trials. IBIO is an emerging player focusing on transient plant-based expression systems.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it