Ginkgo Bioworks and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Botswana Announce Pathogen Monitoring Program at Key Ports of Entry

Rhea-AI Summary

Ginkgo Bioworks and the Ministry of Health of Botswana have announced a pathogen monitoring program at key ports of entry to identify new variants of SARS-CoV-2. The program will monitor wastewater and nasal swab samples from arriving international travelers. The collaboration aims to establish Sir Seretse Khama International Airport as a new node in a global network of pathogen monitoring infrastructure.

BOSTON and GABORONE, Botswana, July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA), which is building the leading platform for cell programming and biosecurity, and the Ministry of Health ("MoH") representing the Government of the Republic of Botswana today announced a pathogen monitoring program at key ports of entry to identify new and emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2.

Through this program, Ginkgo's biosecurity and public health unit, Concentric by Ginkgo, will collaborate with the MoH to monitor wastewater and nasal swab samples collected on a voluntary, anonymous basis from arriving international travelers for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance. Ginkgo and the MoH will work together to establish Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) as a new node in a global network of pathogen monitoring infrastructure, complementing the insights generated from Concentric's existing travel biosecurity programs at several major international airports. The program builds on Ginkgo's previously announced MOU to develop and implement biosecurity capabilities in Botswana, and will also incorporate pathogen monitoring at land borders, at municipal wastewater treatment works, and for livestock in the food system.

"I am proud of the team and our partners for jointly laying the foundation for the biosecurity infrastructure necessary to help prevent the next pandemic. Botswana is protecting its citizens and bordering communities by joining a global network of public health leaders committed to ensuring the next pandemic threat won't catch us by surprise," said Matt McKnight, General Manager, Biosecurity at Ginkgo Bioworks.

This program is built upon a shared recognition by Concentric and the Botswana MoH of the importance of international collaboration and cooperation to promote global health security. Effective pathogen monitoring and data sharing capabilities can empower government officials, community leaders, and other stakeholders to make informed public health decisions. Building biosecurity infrastructure and capacity will also support the long-term development of a knowledge-based economy and biotechnology workforce.

Grace Muzila, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health of Botswana observed, "We are putting in place the tools that will enable us to detect and respond to future public health threats today, because biological threats will continue to emerge, and they will continue to put a strain on healthcare institutions in our country and globally."

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 Twitter (@Ginkgo and @ConcentricByGBW), Instagram (@GinkgoBioworks and @ConcentricByGinkgo), or LinkedIn.

About the Botswana Ministry of Health
The Ministry of Health (MoH) of Botswana was established by an act of Parliament as a custodian of public health in Botswana with a regulatory oversight function. MoH is mandated to protect the public from health hazards and to ensure the delivery of quality health services to Botswana. It formulates acts, policies, regulations and norms, standards and guidelines for health services.  As the key custodian of healthcare services, almost every village or community has a healthcare facility located within a 5km radius.

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 biosecurity 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 unpredictability of the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and the demand for COVID-19 testing and the commercial viability of our COVID-19 testing business, (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 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on May 10, 2023 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.

GINKGO MEDIA CONTACT:
press@ginkgobioworks.com

GINKGO INVESTOR CONTACT:
investors@ginkgobioworks.com

BOTSWANA MINISTRY OF HEALTH MEDIA CONTACT:
cnyanga@gov.bw

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SOURCE Ginkgo Bioworks

FAQ

What is the collaboration between Ginkgo Bioworks and the Ministry of Health of Botswana?

Ginkgo Bioworks and the Ministry of Health of Botswana have announced a pathogen monitoring program to identify new variants of SARS-CoV-2.

What samples will be monitored in the program?

The program will monitor wastewater and nasal swab samples collected from arriving international travelers.

What is the goal of the collaboration?

The collaboration aims to establish Sir Seretse Khama International Airport as a new node in a global network of pathogen monitoring infrastructure.

What are the potential benefits of effective pathogen monitoring?

Effective pathogen monitoring can empower government officials, community leaders, and stakeholders to make informed public health decisions.

What is the long-term impact of building biosecurity infrastructure?

Building biosecurity infrastructure and capacity will support the long-term development of a knowledge-based economy and biotechnology workforce.