Grow Your Own Ozempic Students Develop Plant-Based Weight Loss Drugs

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University students have created a plant-based system to grow Ozempic-like weight loss drugs at home, potentially ending medication shortages forever.

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The "Phytogene" platform uses tobacco relative plants to produce the same GLP-1 drugs found in expensive weight loss treatments, earning gold medal recognition.

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We aim to create a future where people can grow their own treatments at home, free from insurance worries," says project leader Victor Boddy.

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Designed with SOLIDWORKS tech, the special vacuum chamber helps plants become mini-factories for peptide-based pharmaceuticals like semaglutide.

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A KFF poll shows 12% of Americans have taken GLP-1 drugs, but these medications face global shortages and often come with hefty price tags.

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Plant-grown medications could slash greenhouse gas emissions and chemical waste typically produced by traditional pharmaceutical manufacturing.

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The medication hasn't been tested on humans yet, with researchers now analyzing blood glucose responses before moving toward potential human trials.

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Beyond Ozempic alternatives, the team is testing the plant production of other weight loss medications including tirzepatide and retatrutide.

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The open-source toolkit published by the team allows other scientists worldwide to build on their work and expand biopharming applications.

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