Samabriva: a plant-based biotechnology company for high value molecules production

Samabriva is a plant-based biotechnology company offering an innovative, flexible bioproduction platform already used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. Our system combines the benefits of plant-based methods—low cost, safety, and serum- and animal-free processes—with the scalability of traditional bioreactors. This enables continuous, cost-effective, and sustainable production of high-value molecules year-round, anywhere in the world. Today, secondary metabolites are primarily sourced from field-grown plants, yielding only minimal quantities. Current methods lack scalable, local, and sustainable alternatives. Samabriva’s proprietary hairy root-based technology provides a novel approach, significantly enhancing production efficiency. We have developed strong expertise in genetic engineering and process optimization, achieving over a 10,000-fold increase in metabolite productivity compared to open-field cultivation. Additionally, 95% of the target metabolite is secreted into the culture medium, simplifying extraction and reducing environmental impact. Our technology enables industrial-scale cultivation of hairy root clones in bioreactors, facilitating local production of valuable natural compounds. To further streamline the pipeline from seed to optimized clone, we apply design of experiment (DoE) strategies across the process. Current efforts include optimizing Rhizobium rhizogenes -mediated infection to increase throughput and reduce project turnaround times. This approach is especially valuable for rare or endangered species where plant material is limited. Publication History Article published online: 05 March 2026 © 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany