bit.bio Announced as Inaugural Partner of Ginkgo Bioworks’ New Technology Network
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Insights
The partnership between bit.bio and Ginkgo Bioworks has significant implications for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. By integrating bit.bio's ioCells, which are precision reprogrammed human cells, into Ginkgo's cell programming platform, the potential for more physiologically relevant models in drug discovery is greatly enhanced. This integration is poised to increase the efficiency and accuracy of preclinical research, potentially reducing the time and cost associated with bringing new drugs to market.
From a biotechnological perspective, the use of ioCells derived from iPSCs (induced pluripotent stem cells) represents an advancement in the field of synthetic biology. The opti-ox technology employed by bit.bio ensures that these cells are not only consistent but also scalable, which is critical for high-throughput drug screening. For investors, this partnership could be indicative of a strategic move towards more collaborative and integrative approaches in the biotech sector, potentially leading to a more robust pipeline of therapeutic candidates and a competitive edge for both companies involved.
From a market perspective, the formation of the Ginkgo Technology Network and the inclusion of bit.bio as an inaugural partner is a strategic endeavor that could attract attention from investors and stakeholders within the biopharma industry. The network's focus on combining diverse experimental and computational technologies to meet complex R&D demands may lead to a more streamlined and efficient R&D process, which is a key differentiator in a highly competitive market.
Furthermore, the announcement could signify a trend towards platform-based ecosystems in biotech, where companies like Ginkgo act as systems integrators. This model can lead to a more collaborative environment, fostering innovation and potentially creating new market opportunities. For businesses within the network, access to Ginkgo's automated Foundry and capabilities may offer a significant advantage in developing and scaling new products.
Financially, the announcement of this partnership could have implications for the stock performance of Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA). Investors may view this collaboration as an opportunity for Ginkgo to enhance its service offerings and expand its market reach. The potential for increased R&D efficiency and improved drug discovery outcomes may lead to a positive outlook on the company's future revenue streams.
It is essential to monitor the development of the ioCells product line and its market adoption, as this will be a critical factor in evaluating the financial impact of the partnership. A successful integration and subsequent product launches could serve as a catalyst for growth for both companies, potentially resulting in an upward trajectory for Ginkgo's stock price. However, it is important to consider the R&D-intensive nature of the biotech industry and the associated risks, including the lengthy timelines for product development and regulatory approvals.
- The Ginkgo Technology Network brings together over 25 diverse partners across an array of capabilities including AI, genetic medicines, biologics, and manufacturing.
- As a Ginkgo Technology Network partner, bit.bio’s ioCells™ portfolio of precision reprogrammed human cells for research and drug discovery will now be available within Ginkgo’s platform ecosystem.
- Integration of the ioCells research product portfolio could enable new workflows for Ginkgo’s biopharma clients; by providing physiologically-relevant human cell models at scale, we expect Ginkgo clients will be able to drive insights into disease biology and accelerate preclinical research and drug discovery.
As a Network partner, bit.bio’s ioCells portfolio of human cells for research and drug discovery can be integrated into Ginkgo’s platform ecosystem. bit.bio’s ioCells products are precision reprogrammed from iPSCs using bit.bio’s opti-oxTM technology. They are defined human cells that have inherent experimental scalability, offer unparallelled consistency and are simple to handle and culture.
Jason Kelly, CEO and co-founder, Ginkgo Bioworks said:
“We’re very excited to partner with bit.bio to enable more disease-relevant results for our customers. With bit.bio’s unique ioCells portfolio of human cells, our customers will be able to conduct research and drug development on physiologically-relevant human cell models across our ecosystem. We’re hopeful that use of these robust human cell models may increase the potential for successful translation of our customers' therapeutic candidates from early drug discovery, preclinical research through clinical trials, to ultimately deliver the next generation of lifesaving therapeutics. We’re proud to put the full force of our automated Foundry behind bit.bio’s ioCells product portfolio.”
bit.bio and Ginkgo believe that their products and services complement each other, yielding better R&D results for customers. Ginkgo's customers will be able to benefit from the use of ioCells to conduct research into disease mechanisms and screen for novel therapeutic targets. There are almost 30 products in the ioCells range with many more expected to be launched in 2024 and beyond.
Mark Kotter, CEO and founder, bit.bio said:
“I am excited to see two leading synthetic biology companies join forces to bring unique technologies to our customers and increase research and development efficiency. Ginkgo has a unique capability within its ecosystem to integrate diverse experimental and computational technologies that deliver on complex customer needs. We are excited to add ioCells to that offering. Our opti-ox programmed human cell products are unrivalled with regard to cell function, scalability and consistency. This enables significantly increased experimental accuracy for our customers - product features which Ginkgo’s clients can now access through our new Technology Network.”
Ginkgo is uniquely positioned to act as a “systems integrator” for the biotech ecosystem, offering customers a much more unified experience. As a platform company, Ginkgo makes customer-driven infrastructure investments and is incentivised to make its tools and capabilities available to customers. Ginkgo’s programs require the integration of both existing capabilities and new techniques and approaches. This approach to biology allows customers to access a range of technical approaches rather than feel constrained by the status quo.
Notes to Editors
About the Ginkgo Technology Network
Read the full press release on the Network, including all inaugural partners here https://www.ginkgobioworks.com/2024/02/28/ginkgo-technology-network-launches-providing-an-integrated-rd-experience-with-capabilities-from-over-25-inaugural-partners/
About bit.bio
bit.bio is a synthetic biology company focused on human cells that is advancing medicine (UN SDG9) and enabling curative treatments (UN SDG3). The company does this by industrialising the manufacture of human cells and making them more accessible. The company was spun out of the University of
bit.bio’s opti-ox™ precision cell programming and manufacturing technology enables conversion of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into any desired human cell type in a single step. This can be achieved within days and at industrial scale, while maintaining exceptional purity and unparalleled consistency.
Our discovery platform extends this approach to any desired cell type by identifying the transcription factor combinations that define cell states (including identity, cell subtype identity, maturity) using high throughput screens and advanced data analysis. We believe that opti-ox can revolutionise regenerative medicine similarly to how CRISPR is unlocking gene therapy.
bit.bio’s cell therapy pipeline, based on txCells™, is focused on serious diseases that lack effective treatments. Our current therapeutic development areas include metabolism and endocrinology, immunology and neurology. Our lead candidate, bbHEP01 based on txHepatocytes, is in development as a treatment for patients suffering from acute liver failure (ALF) and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). Complementing our internal pipeline, we have a collaboration with BlueRock Therapeutics (a wholly owned independently operated subsidiary of Bayer AG) focused on regulatory T cell (Treg) based cell therapies.
In addition, our extensive ioCells™ research cell product portfolio, which includes ioWild Type Cells™, ioDisease Model Cells™ and ioCRISPR-Ready Cells™, is opening up new possibilities for studying human biology and developing new medicines in both research and high-throughput and high-content drug discovery.
For more information, please visit www.bit.bio
About Ginkgo Bioworks
Ginkgo Bioworks is the leading horizontal platform for cell programming, providing flexible, end-to-end services that solve challenges for organizations across diverse markets, from food and agriculture to pharmaceuticals to industrial and specialty chemicals. Ginkgo's biosecurity and public health unit, Concentric by Ginkgo, is building global infrastructure for biosecurity to empower governments, communities, and public health leaders to prevent, detect and respond to a wide variety of biological threats. For more information, visit ginkgobioworks.com and concentricbyginkgo.com, read our blog, or follow us on social media channels such as X (formerly known as Twitter) (@Ginkgo and @ConcentricByGBW), Instagram (@GinkgoBioworks), Threads (@GinkgoBioworks) or LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statements of Ginkgo Bioworks
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding the capabilities and potential success of Ginkgo's cell programming platform and the capabilities and potential growth of the Ginkgo Technology Network. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "can," "project," "potential," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: (i) volatility in the price of Ginkgo's securities due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive and highly regulated industries in which Ginkgo operates and plans to operate, variations in performance across competitors, and changes in laws and regulations affecting Ginkgo's business, (ii) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations, and to identify and realize additional business opportunities, (iii) the risk of downturns in demand for products using synthetic biology, (iv) the uncertainty regarding the demand for passive monitoring programs and biosecurity services, (v) changes to the biosecurity industry, including due to advancements in technology, emerging competition and evolution in industry demands, standards and regulations, (vi) our ability to realize the expected benefits of merger and acquisition transactions, (vii) the outcome of any legal proceedings against Ginkgo, including as a result of recent acquisitions, (viii) our ability to realize the expected benefits from and the success of our Foundry platform programs, (ix) our ability to successfully develop engineered cells, bioprocesses, data packages or other deliverables, and (x) the product development or commercialization success of our customers. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of Ginkgo's quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240228433024/en/
Media
Chris Hempel
Spark Public Relations
chris.hempel@sparkpr.com
+1-775-813-0285
Investors
Mike Booth, SVP External Affairs, bit.bio
ir@bit.bio
+44 1223 787297
GINKGO BIOWORKS INVESTOR CONTACT:
investors@ginkgobioworks.com
GINKGO BIOWORKS MEDIA CONTACT:
press@ginkgobioworks.com
Source: bit.bio
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