Plant-Based Vaccines Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2024 - 2029)

Plant-Based Vaccines Market Analysis

The Plant-Based Vaccines Market size is estimated at USD 1.20 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 1.8 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 8.62% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

Plant-based vaccines are produced using plants as bioreactors to express antigens or proteins that stimulate an immune response. Unlike traditional vaccines that use animal cells, bacteria, or yeast for protein production, plant-based vaccines involve genetically modifying plants to produce the desired proteins. These antigens can then be harvested and purified to create vaccines to prevent diseases. Several key factors driving the demand for plant-based vaccines are advancements in plant-based virus vaccines and technological advancements in vaccine production.

The rise in infectious diseases, such as avian influenza, and the growing demand for safer, more cost-effective vaccines have propelled interest in plant-based vaccines. These vaccines offer numerous advantages, particularly in regions with limited resources, by combining affordability, speed of production, and scalability. For instance, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council’s (BBSRC) in February 2024, in the development of VLP-based plant vaccines, Nicotiana benthamiana was employed to produce the haemagglutinin (HA) proteins of the H5 and H9 viruses, significant strains causing economic losses in poultry. These vaccines have shown promise in preclinical trials, demonstrating effective immune responses in both mice and chickens. The production of VLPs in plants offers several benefits: rapid manufacturing, low-cost infrastructure, and the ability to adapt vaccines to local virus strains quickly.

Moreover, in regions like Egypt, where co-circulating strains of H5N8 and H9N2 have posed severe threats to poultry, the development of these plant-based vaccines represents a crucial advancement. This factor will increase the demand for plant-based vaccines in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and thereby drive the overall plant-based vaccine market.

In addition, plant-based technologies have emerged as a promising solution in the race to accelerate vaccine production. For instance, in February 2024, LenioBio GmbH, a biotech company based in Düsseldorf, Germany supported by funding from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), LenioBio is testing a revolutionary plant-based, cell-free technology called ALiCE (Almost Living Cell-Free Expression). This technology uses plant cell extracts to rapidly produce proteins, a process that could reduce vaccine protein production time to as little as 20 days, which is an astonishing improvement over conventional methods like cell cultures, which can take months. Such plant-based vaccine production technologies represent a driving force in the plant-based vaccines market.

Therefore, the plant-based vaccines market is driven by advancements in biotechnology, cost-effectiveness, and the growing demand for vaccines. However, the regulatory challenges and limited commercialization restrain market growth.

Plant-Based Vaccines Market Trends

Viral Vaccine Segment is Expected to Witness Significant Growth Over the Forecast Period

Plant-Based Vaccines Industry Segmentation

A plant-based vaccine is a type of vaccine produced using genetically modified plants or plant cells that express specific antigens, which are components that stimulate an immune response. Plant-based vaccines offer advantages such as lower production costs, scalability, and reduced risk of contamination compared to traditional vaccine manufacturing methods. The scope includes human as well as veterinary plant-based vaccines. 

The plant-based vaccines market is segmented into type, deployment model, end user, and geography. By type, the market is segmented into bacterial vaccines, viral vaccines, and others (parasite vaccines and immunocontraceptive vaccines, among others). By plant source, the market is segmented into tobacco, potato, and others (maize, lettuce, among others). By application, the market is segmented into infectious agents, anti-cancer, and others (autoimmune disorders, allergies, among others). By geography, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and Middle East and Africa. For each segment, the market sizing and forecasts have been done on the basis of value (USD).