Ginkgo Bioworks Advances Collaboration with Merck to Improve Biologics Manufacturing

Rhea-AI Summary

Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) has successfully completed the first milestone in its partnership with Merck focused on improving biologic manufacturing. The achievement triggers a $9 million cash research milestone payment to Ginkgo. The collaboration will now proceed to its second stage, continuing efforts to enhance production processes. Ginkgo will leverage its strain engineering, high-throughput screening, and process development capabilities to support this pharmaceutical partnership.

Positive

• Received $9 million milestone payment in cash
• Successfully completed first phase of Merck partnership
• Advancing to second stage of collaboration with major pharmaceutical company

Negative

• None.

Insights

Financial Analyst

The milestone achievement and $9 million cash payment from Merck represents a significant validation of Ginkgo Bioworks' platform capabilities in biologics manufacturing optimization. This collaboration with a major pharmaceutical company strengthens DNA's revenue stream and demonstrates the commercial viability of their technology platform. The advancement to the second stage indicates continued partnership potential and future milestone opportunities.

While the $9 million payment provides immediate capital benefit, more importantly, it showcases Ginkgo's ability to execute on large pharma partnerships. For a company with a market cap of $460 million, this milestone represents approximately 2% of their current valuation. The continuation of the Merck partnership could lead to additional revenue opportunities and potential expansion into other biologics manufacturing optimization projects.

BOSTON, Nov. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA), which is building the leading platform for cell programming and biosecurity, today announced the completion of the first milestone of a previously announced partnership with Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, focused on improving biologic manufacturing. As part of this milestone completion, Ginkgo will receive a research milestone payment of $9 million in cash.

The two companies will now move on to the second stage of this partnership, which will be focused on continuing to improve the production process.

"We're excited to achieve the first milestone of our collaboration with Merck and continue our work to improve biologic manufacturing production," said Jason Kelly, CEO and co-founder, Ginkgo Bioworks. "It's very meaningful when our team can drive impactful and technically innovative work like this, especially when we're working shoulder-to-shoulder with counterparts like the team at Merck. As we go into the next phase of this project, we'll continue to deploy the strain engineering, high-throughput screening and process development capabilities, as well as the assets and know-how that make Ginkgo a unique and powerful partner to top pharmaceutical companies."

To learn more about how you can improve your biologic manufacturing processes, visit Ginkgo Protein Expression Services.

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 Biosecurity is building and deploying the next-generation infrastructure and technologies that global leaders need to predict, detect, and respond to a wide variety of biological threats. For more information, visit ginkgobioworks.com and ginkgobiosecurity.com, read our blog, or follow us on social media channels such as X (@Ginkgo and @Ginkgo_Biosec), Instagram (@GinkgoBioworks), Threads (@GinkgoBioworks), or LinkedIn.

GINKGO BIOWORKS INVESTOR CONTACT:
investors@ginkgobioworks.com

GINKGO BIOWORKS MEDIA CONTACT:
press@ginkgobioworks.com

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 the partnership and Ginkgo's cell programming platform. 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) the outcome of any pending or potential legal proceedings against Ginkgo, (vii) our ability to realize the expected benefits from and the success of our Foundry platform programs, (viii) our ability to successfully develop engineered cells, bioprocesses, data packages or other deliverables, and (ix) 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 annual report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on February 29, 2024, Ginkgo's most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q, and other documents filed by Ginkgo from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Ginkgo assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Ginkgo does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations.

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SOURCE Ginkgo Bioworks

FAQ

What milestone payment did Ginkgo Bioworks (DNA) receive from Merck in November 2024?

Ginkgo Bioworks received a $9 million cash research milestone payment from Merck for completing the first milestone of their biologics manufacturing partnership.

What is the focus of Ginkgo Bioworks (DNA) collaboration with Merck?

The collaboration between Ginkgo Bioworks and Merck focuses on improving biologic manufacturing processes and production.

What capabilities will Ginkgo Bioworks (DNA) use in the next phase of the Merck project?

Ginkgo Bioworks will deploy strain engineering, high-throughput screening, and process development capabilities in the next phase of the Merck project.