I just read an article (printed on 11 April 2013) in German...

I just read an article (printed on 11 April 2013) in German newspaper „Sueddeutsche Zeitung“ (Munich) which is based on an article magazin “Nature”.
Summary:
Sanofi has opened a new factory in Garessio (city in Italy) to produce Artemisin on a large scale. Scientists put some tiny parts of genes of plant “Artemisia annua” into genotype of baker’s yeast (synthetic biology).
As a result, yeast produces “Artemisinin acid” which is an initial product for Artemisinin.
Compared to production process based on plant “Artemisia annua”, this new process has got a higher yield within a drastically shorter period of time.
Additionally, output volume of this factory is to reach 60 tons per year.
Sanofi wants to restrict annual output to protect small farmers (China, Vietnam) who grow “Artemisia annua” on their farms.
Price of Artemisinin produced out of yeast is said to be as high as produced out of “Artemisia annua”.
(I am sorry for imperfect translation as I am neither a native speaker nor a scientist).