Duckweed as a platform for the production of valuable pharmaceuticals: The Story of Biolex Therapeutics

John W. Cross, Ph.D.1 and Louis Landesman, Ph.D.2

1
7508 Milway Dr., Alexandria, VA 22306
2 Virginia State University, Cooperative Extension, Petersburg, VA 23806


 

Biolex Therapeutics was a biotech company involved in the development and commercialization of complex proteins and monoclonal antibodies using duckweed, a floating aquatic plant, grown under sterile conditions. The company was successful in culturing genetically modified duckweed to produce interferon-a, a pharmaceutical used to treat hepatitis C. Other drugs came onto the market better able to treat hepatitis C. Interferon produced by genetically modified duckweed was unable to compete with these other pharmaceuticals so Biolex became insolvent and its patents were purchased by other biotech companies.