Designing a sustainable business model for the bioproduction of galantamine from genetic resources of colombian biodiversity with contributions to nature

Colombia, one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, holds great potential for the sustainable utilization of its genetic resources in the production of high-value-added products. This study evaluates the feasibility of producing galantamine, an alkaloid used in the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, as an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) through a biotechnological platform based on the genetic resources of three endangered endemic species from the Amaryllidaceae family. Through the Bioeconomy Program, three phases were developed: characterization of these species and their genetic resources to identify acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and other alkaloids, design of a biofactory using genetically modified Escherichia coli, and the structuring of a sustainable pharmaceutical business model. This model focuses on the production and commercialization of galantamine API, as there are currently no geographically close manufacturers, making the medication dependent on imports despite its commercial potential across Latin America. The Flourishing Business Canvas was applied as a business modeling tool, aiming to create economic value while generating contributions to nature and well-being, thereby incentivizing biodiversity conservation. The economic evaluation included simulations in SuperPro Designer and a financial analysis based on local costs, revealing risks associated with the dependence on imported inputs and exchange rate fluctuations. The market analysis identified significant opportunities due to the expected increasing demand for galantamine in Latin America and globally, while the integration of environmental returns strengthens the project’s positive impact. Despite the challenges, the proposed model establishes a replicable framework for biotechnological solutions based on the sustainable use of biodiversity in Colombia.

• Autores: Karanauskas Ciuoderis, Vytis
• Tipo de recurso: Trabajo de grado de pregrado
• Fecha de publicación: 2025
• Institución: Universidad de los Andes
• Repositorio: Séneca: repositorio Uniandes
• Idioma: eng
• OAI Identifier: oai:repositorio.uniandes.edu.co:1992/75887
• Acceso en línea: https://hdl.handle.net/1992/75887
• Palabra clave: Amaryllidaceae; biofactory; API Galantamine; biodiversity management; environmental returns; Microbiología
• Rights: openAccess
• License: Attribution 4.0 International