Oral Biologics · Colon-Targeted Delivery

Oral Biologics for Precisely Defined GI Diseases

In selected gastrointestinal diseases, the route of delivery is not just formulation—it is the product. Plantibodies develops orally delivered, colon-targeted biologics for orphan and high-unmet-need conditions where local mucosal exposure is decisive.

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Lead preclinical programs
Oral
No injections needed
Local
Mucosal delivery, minimal systemic exposure
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Years of platform R&D at Sorbonne
View Our Pipeline
Colon-targeted oral biologics — Plantibodies
The Challenge

Why Systemic Biologics Fall Short in Localized GI Disease

Many gastrointestinal diseases are anatomically localized to the colon or lower GI tract. Yet the standard of care remains systemic biologics—injected drugs that circulate throughout the body to reach a confined mucosal target.

The result: high systemic exposure, dose-limiting toxicity, and poor drug concentration at the site of disease. For patients with localized inflammatory or pre-neoplastic conditions of the lower GI tract, this is a fundamental mismatch between the biology of the disease and the route of delivery.

Plantibodies addresses this gap with a plant-based bioencapsulation platform that delivers biologics orally, releasing them directly in the colon with minimal systemic absorption. When disease is local, treatment should be local.

"What is lacking today is the ability to deliver an effective and safe biological payload at the GI tract level."

Alexandre Lebeaut, MD — Former CSO, Ipsen
Systemic Injectable Biologics
Full-body distribution — most of the dose never reaches the colon
~95% systemic exposure
Plantibodies Oral Platform
Targeted colonic release — drug acts at the mucosa, not systemically
Minimal systemic exposure — local mucosal action
Technology

A Platform Enabling Oral, Colon-Targeted Biologics

Built on 20+ years of peer-reviewed plant pharmaceutical science and 6+ years of focused development at Sorbonne Université. The platform is the enabler—the products are defined by the diseases they address.

Preclinical research — microscope analysis
1
Molecular Farming
▼
Therapeutic proteins are produced in engineered plant cells using a molecular farming approach, enabling significant protein accumulation within leaf tissue. This bypasses traditional fermentation and mammalian cell culture entirely.
2
Natural Bioencapsulation
▼
The plant cell wall acts as a natural gastric shield, protecting the biologic payload from stomach acid and digestive enzymes during transit through the upper GI tract. No synthetic coatings are required.
3
Oral Formulation
▼
Plant material is processed and formulated into oral capsules that are stable at room temperature, eliminating cold-chain requirements and enabling straightforward distribution and patient self-administration.
4
Colonic Release
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In the colon, commensal gut bacteria digest the plant cell wall, releasing the therapeutic protein precisely where it is needed. This is a natural, microbiota-dependent delivery mechanism aligned with the site of disease.
5
Local Mucosal Action
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The biologic acts directly on the intestinal mucosa with minimal systemic absorption. Local exposure at the disease site enables a fundamentally different efficacy and safety profile compared to systemically delivered biologics.
Pipeline

Focused Therapeutic Pipeline

Two coherent lead programs in precisely defined GI settings, plus additional rare colon programs advancing through partnerships.

Specific indications, molecular targets, and program-indication pairings are available under NDA to qualified partners and investors.

PIB-001   GI Oncology
Interception-focused program in a genetically defined high-risk colorectal setting
Preclinical
PIB-002   Inflammatory
Lead inflammatory program in a high-unmet-need, post-surgical lower-GI setting
Preclinical
PIB-003   Rare Colon — Program A
Additional rare colon program  NASDAQ-LISTED PARTNER
Research
PIB-004   Rare Colon — Program B
Additional rare colon program  NASDAQ-LISTED PARTNER
Research
PIB-FUT   Pipeline Expansion
New rare GI indications under evaluation through internal development and partnerships
Exploratory
Request Pipeline Details Under NDA →
Differentiation

Why Local Delivery Changes the Equation

Local Exposure

Drug at the Site of Disease

Biologics are released directly at the colonic mucosa, achieving high local concentration where it matters. Minimal systemic absorption means a fundamentally improved tolerability profile.

Oral, Not Injected

Patient Convenience

An oral capsule replaces scheduled infusions or self-injections. This changes the treatment experience for patients managing chronic or recurring GI conditions.

Room Temperature

No Cold Chain

Formulated oral capsules remain stable at ambient temperature. This eliminates cold-chain logistics and enables distribution to settings where injectable biologics are impractical.

Science

Grounded in Peer-Reviewed Research

Our platform builds on two decades of published work in plant-based pharmaceutical systems and oral biologic delivery.

Nature Biotechnology
Plant cell-based drug delivery enhances affordability of biologics
2023 View Paper →
Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science
Oral delivery of therapeutic proteins bioencapsulated in plant cells: preclinical and clinical advances
2021 View Paper →
Molecular Therapy
Oral Delivery of Protein Drugs Bioencapsulated in Plant Cells
2016 View Paper →
Advanced Genetics
Advanced Dialogues: From Laboratory to Clinics — Plant Cell-Based Affordable Biologics
2025 View Paper →
Scientific Reports
Chloroplast transformation for bioencapsulation and oral delivery using the immunoglobulin G Fc domain
2023 View Paper →
Plant Biotechnology Journal
Engineering Marker-Free Lettuce Chloroplast Genome to Express Functional GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
2026 View Paper →
Frontiers in Plant Science
Antitumor effect of plant-produced anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody in a murine model of colon cancer
2023 View Paper →
Pharmaceutics
Evaluation of Biologics ACE2/Ang(1-7) Encapsulated in Plant Cells for FDA Approval: Safety and Toxicology Studies
2025 View Paper →
View All Publications →
Leadership

Our Team

Founders

Pierre Bauër

Pierre Bauër

CEO & Co-founder

Strategy, fundraising, and partnerships. Building an oral biologics company for precisely defined GI diseases.

Bilal Mazhar

Bilal Mazhar

CSO & Co-founder

6+ years in plant molecular pharming at Sorbonne Université. Preclinical development, process design, and IP strategy.

Advisory Board

Sylvain Marcel

Sylvain Marcel

CMC
Elsy Boglioli Hofman

Elsy Boglioli Hofman

Strategy
Charles Ferté

Charles Ferté

Medical & Pharma
Alexandre Lebeaut

Alexandre Lebeaut

Science
Luc Mathis

Luc Mathis

Business Development

We are building a team of scientists, engineers, and business minds.

If you are interested in oral biologics and focused GI therapeutics, reach out.

Get in Touch
Bpifrance
Sorbonne Université
Medicen Paris Region
France Biotech
HEC Paris
Région Île-de-France
Milestones

News & Progress

January 2026
€500K raised from business angel networks
Seed funding to advance lead programs into advanced preclinical development.
September 2025
Sponsored research agreement with NASDAQ-listed biotech
Partnership validating the platform in rare colon indications with an established industry partner.
May 2025
NYU Endless Frontier Labs completion
Graduated from NYU's premier life sciences accelerator in New York.
June 2023
€400K Innov'Up Leader PIA grant
Non-dilutive funding from Région Île-de-France for technology development.
April 2023
French Tech Seed + Bpifrance €300K
Convertible notes from Bpifrance and French Tech Seed label recognition.
Partnering

From Your Biologic to an Oral GI Product

A structured co-development pathway — not a service. We work with pharma and biotech partners to convert validated biologic mechanisms into orally delivered, locally active GI therapeutics.

1
Strategic Fit & CDA
MUTUAL
Alignment of therapeutic rationale, indication strategy, and platform compatibility.
  • Confidentiality agreement (CDA)
  • Indication & portfolio fit evaluation
  • Oral delivery value proposition review
2
Candidate Evaluation & Go/No-Go
DECISION GATE
Technical feasibility of the partner's biologic within our oral delivery system.
  • Molecule characteristics & expressibility
  • Likelihood-of-success assessment
  • Go/No-Go decision & program design
3
Oral Construct Development
3–5 MONTHS
Engineering and characterization of the oral biologic product candidate.
  • Expression vector design & cloning
  • Small-scale production
  • In vitro activity: yield, structure, target binding
4
Preclinical Proof-of-Concept
3–5 MONTHS
In vivo demonstration of oral delivery, local exposure, and biological activity.
  • Biodistribution & colonic exposure
  • Safety & tolerability profile
  • Pharmacological efficacy readout
5
Decision-Enabling Data Package
DELIVERABLE
Integrated data package with techno-economic analysis to inform partnership continuation and next development steps.
Partnering Outcomes

Go/No-Go decision • Partnership structuring • Stepwise preclinical progression • Development roadmap

Typical engagement: 8–12 months from CDA to decision-enabling data package

Who Should Partner With Us

01

Biologics Suboptimal Systemically

Your validated biologic may achieve a better efficacy-safety profile when delivered locally to the colonic mucosa. We co-develop that product together.

02

Crowded Systemic Indications

Biologics in competitive standard indications may find a differentiated position in anatomically localized GI disease through oral, local delivery.

03

Indication-Specific Co-Development

You bring the biologic mechanism and disease expertise. We bring the oral delivery platform and GI focus. Joint program from preformulation to IND-enabling.

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Get in Touch

Contact Us

Headquarters

67 rue Saint-Jacques
75005 Paris, France

Email

pierre.bauer@plantibodies.tech

Laboratories

Sorbonne Université, Paris
Plant biology & molecular pharming

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