Planet Biotechnology
Planet Biotechnology is a private clinical-stage biotech that develops plant-made antibody and immunoadhesin therapeutics for biodefense and emerging infectious diseases, primarily funded by U.S. government grants from NIAID and DARPA.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersHayward, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Planet Biotechnology does
Planet Biotechnology, Inc. is a privately held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 1998 and headquartered in Hayward, California. The company develops monoclonal antibody-based therapeutic and preventative products using a proprietary plant-based expression platform that leverages genetically modified tobacco plants (Nicotiana benthamiana) to produce antibodies and immunoadhesins. Planet Biotechnology is notable for producing the first plant-made antibody ("plantibody") ever tested in a clinical trial, and it focuses its development pipeline on biodefense countermeasures and emerging infectious diseases, including inhalational anthrax (CMG2-Fc/PBI-220), MERS coronavirus (DPP4-Fc), and other tick-borne and multi-drug resistant pathogens. The company also offers contract protein expression and purification services to academic and commercial researchers as a secondary revenue stream.
The core technology is a vertical plant-based production system in which proprietary codon optimization enables IgG1 expression of 0.5 to 3 grams per kilogram of plant biomass, with downstream proprietary purification methods producing high-yield, high-purity product. A Quality Management System is in place to adapt processes for GMP-grade clinical manufacturing. Planet Biotechnology operates an immunoadhesin platform that fuses human extracellular receptor domains (e.g., CMG2, DPP4, TEM8, basigin) to human Fc regions, creating decoy proteins that bind pathogens before cellular entry. Lead asset PBI-220 demonstrated 80% survival in anthrax-infected monkeys in post-symptomatic treatment, and the company has completed a pre-IND meeting with the FDA for this candidate.
Commercially, Planet Biotechnology derives the bulk of its R&D funding from non-dilutive U.S. government sources — primarily NIAID SBIR grants and a DARPA production contract — with cumulative non-dilutive funding exceeding $25 million since the mid-1990s, led by VP of Research Keith Wycoff. Its customer base for contract services is concentrated in academic research (e.g., Oxford University) and select biotech partners, and it executed an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with iBio in August 2020 covering a COVID-19 therapeutic candidate. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and the company operates a horizontal, direct-sales model with no visible venture capital backing.
Planet Biotechnology firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Planet Biotechnology
- Legal name
- Planet Biotechnology, Inc.
- Website
- https://planetbiotechnology.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Planet Biotechnology is a private clinical-stage biotech that develops plant-made antibody and immunoadhesin therapeutics for biodefense and emerging infectious diseases, primarily funded by U.S. government grants from NIAID and DARPA.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Planet Biotechnology industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biopharmaceutical Therapeutics
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Monoclonal Antibody Therapeutics (mAbs) (HLAAAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Synthetic Biology & Genetic Circuit Design Platforms (pathway engineering, chassis development) (HLAAAIAD)
Keywords
Where Planet Biotechnology is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hayward
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Planet Biotechnology business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
Planet Biotechnology product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Planet Biotechnology develops monoclonal antibody-based therapeutic and preventative products using a proprietary plant-based expression system in genetically modified tobacco plants. The company offers clinical-stage immunoadhesin candidates (PBI-220 for anthrax and DPP4-Fc for MERS coronavirus), research-grade recombinant proteins, and contract protein expression and purification services.
Product overview
Planet Biotechnology develops antibody-based therapeutic and preventative products using a proprietary plant-based expression system with tobacco plants. The company's portfolio includes two main therapeutic immunoadhesins (CMG2-Fc/PBI-220 for anthrax and DPP4-Fc for MERS coronavirus), three research proteins (TEM8-Fc, BSG-Fc, and AtCry1), and contract protein expression and purification services for producing recombinant proteins in transgenic tobacco plants.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CMG2-Fc (PBI-220) An immunoadhesin consisting of human extracellular CMG2 fused to human Fc, developed for the treatment and prevention of inhalational anthrax. Demonstrated an 80% survival rate in anthrax-infected monkeys when treatment was started after disease symptoms appeared.
- DPP4-Fc An immunoadhesin produced in green plants for the treatment of MERS coronavirus infection, demonstrating improved binding to MERS-CoV and preventing virus infection of human lung cells in culture.
- Protein Expression and Purification Services Contract protein expression and purification services offered to academic and commercial researchers for projects involving protein expression in tobacco plants, including human and chimeric IgA and IgG antibodies, immunoadhesins, nanobodies, and other proteins.
- TEM8-Fc Research-quantity recombinant protein consisting of the human extracellular TEM8 domain fused to human Fc, available for purchase by researchers.
- BSG-Fc Research-quantity recombinant protein consisting of the human extracellular basigin domain (P. falciparum Rh5 receptor) fused to human Fc, available for purchase by researchers.
- AtCry1 Full-length, FAD-loaded Arabidopsis thaliana cryptochrome 1 produced in tobacco plants, a research protein with applications in studying cryptochrome amplification mechanisms for magnetic sensitivity.
Quantifiable outcome
- 80% survival rate in anthrax-infected monkeys when treatment started after disease symptoms appeared with PBI-220
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Planet Biotechnology
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Planet Biotechnology technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Planet Biotechnology partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- iBiocoreExclusive worldwide license agreement for the development of a COVID-19 therapeutic. iBio obtained rights to develop and commercialize a therapeutic candidate using Planet Biotechnology's plant-based expression technology.
Planet Biotechnology competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- iBio: iBio uses its own plant-based expression platform (Bryotechnology) in Nicotiana benthamiana for biologics and vaccine manufacturing, and is Planet Biotechnology's direct licensing partner for a COVID-19 therapeutic. Both companies target the same upstream plant-based biomanufacturing niche.
- Medicago: Medicago developed plant-based virus-like particle vaccines and therapeutic proteins in tobacco-related plants, making it a direct comparator for Planet Biotechnology's plantibody platform. Both target rapid, scalable biologics production using green-plant expression systems.
- Kentucky BioProcessing: Kentucky BioProcessing specializes in tobacco-plant-based protein expression and contract biomanufacturing, including antibodies and vaccines. It directly competes with Planet Biotechnology's contract protein expression/purification services for researchers and biodefense customers.
- Mapp Biopharmaceutical: Mapp Biopharmaceutical develops monoclonal antibody-based countermeasures against emerging infectious diseases and biothreats (e.g., ZMapp for Ebola). It addresses the same biodefense antibody niche that PBI-220 (anthrax) and DPP4-Fc (MERS) target.
- Elusys Therapeutics: Elusys Therapeutics developed Anthim (obiltoxaximab), an FDA-approved monoclonal antibody for inhalational anthrax, making it the most direct commercial competitor to Planet Biotechnology's PBI-220 program in the same biodefense indication.
- Phyton Biotech: Phyton Biotech offers plant cell fermentation (PCF) services for producing recombinant proteins, antibodies, and small molecules using plant cell culture. It represents a comparable plant-based biomanufacturing model and competes for the same contract protein expression customers.
Broad incumbents
- Emergent BioSolutions: Emergent BioSolutions is a large biodefense company with multiple FDA-approved anthrax countermeasures (e.g., BioThrax, Anthrasil) and a broad government contracting footprint. It competes in the same anthrax/biodefense space that Planet Biotechnology's PBI-220 targets.
Emerging players
- Leaf Expression Systems: Leaf Expression Systems uses the Hypertrans transient expression system in Nicotiana benthamiana for producing proteins, vaccines, and antibodies. It targets the same plant-based recombinant protein market as Planet Biotechnology's contract services.
Regional players
- Battelle Memorial Institute: Battelle operates the Battelle Memorial Institute biodefense and CBRN research programs and has been a DARPA contractor for plant-based biomanufacturing research. It overlaps with Planet Biotechnology on DARPA-related plant-based biodefense work.
- Cangene (now part of Emergent BioSolutions): Cangene specialized in hyperimmune products and antibody-based biodefense therapeutics (e.g., anthrax, botulism). It is a historical comparably-positioned biodefense antibody developer in the same niche as Planet Biotechnology.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Planet Biotechnology social profiles
Digital presencePlanet Biotechnology financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Planet Biotechnology leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Planet Biotechnology funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Planet Biotechnology M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Planet Biotechnology
What does Planet Biotechnology do?
Planet Biotechnology develops monoclonal antibody-based therapeutic and preventative products using a proprietary plant-based expression system in genetically modified tobacco plants. The company offers clinical-stage immunoadhesin candidates (PBI-220 for anthrax and DPP4-Fc for MERS coronavirus), research-grade recombinant proteins, and contract protein expression and purification services.
Is Planet Biotechnology a public or private company?
Planet Biotechnology is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Planet Biotechnology founded?
Planet Biotechnology was founded in 1998. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Planet Biotechnology based?
Planet Biotechnology is headquartered in Hayward, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Planet Biotechnology's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are iBio, Medicago, Kentucky BioProcessing, Mapp Biopharmaceutical, Elusys Therapeutics and Phyton Biotech. Emergent BioSolutions is listed as a broad incumbent. Leaf Expression Systems is listed as an emerging player. Regional players are Battelle Memorial Institute and Cangene (now part of Emergent BioSolutions).
Does Planet Biotechnology have an API?
No public API is recorded for Planet Biotechnology.
What industry is Planet Biotechnology in?
Planet Biotechnology's product category is Biopharmaceutical Therapeutics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAAAA, Monoclonal Antibody Therapeutics (mAbs), with a secondary code of HLAAAIAD, Synthetic Biology & Genetic Circuit Design Platforms (pathway engineering, chassis development). Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2836.