University of Ottawa Students Grow Anti-diabetic Drugs in Plants

A group of students at the University of Ottawa harnessed the power of biopharming by using a plant as a biofactory for producing a drug for diabetes patients. With their project titled Phytogene, the young researchers took the Ozempic shortage problem as an opportunity to make plant-based medication which led them to win a gold medal at the iGEM competition in Paris.

To generate Ozempic-like compounds, the research team employed Nicotiana benthamiana, a fast-growing relative of tobacco commonly used in genetic studies. They introduced specific DNA sequences into the plant, effectively transforming it into a biofactory for GLP-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide. These peptides, the core component of Ozempic, were initially created to manage type II diabetes, but have gained significant popularity for their ability to induce weight loss by mimicking the body's natural fullness signals.

“With our ‘plug-and-play' design, we can incorporate any peptide sequence into the plant genome,” the developers explain in the Phytogene website. “The plant's molecular machinery then transcribes and translates our peptide in impressive quantities.” Beyond Ozempic, the plant-based system they developed can be used to produce other drugs like insulin and cancer treatments. An open-source toolkit has been released to facilitate further innovation.