Ginkgo Bioworks Partners with Universal Cells, an Astellas Company, to Advance Next-Generation iPSC-Derived Cell Therapies for Solid Tumors
Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) has announced a research collaboration with Universal Cells, an Astellas company, to optimize next-generation induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cancer cell therapies. The partnership aims to enhance the potency and persistence of iPSC-derived immune cell therapeutics for solid tumors.
The collaboration combines Universal Cells' proprietary iPSC-derived cell technologies with Ginkgo's expertise in design and screening large CAR libraries and its high-throughput, multimodal immune cell engineering platform. Ginkgo's approach utilizes computational tools, library assembly and screening expertise, and statistical analysis to accelerate therapeutic design optimization.
The platform enables simultaneous testing of numerous CAR designs from transcriptome to cell function, focusing on improving immune cell persistence and functionality. This partnership represents a significant expansion of Ginkgo's cell therapy portfolio.
Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) ha annunciato una collaborazione di ricerca con Universal Cells, una società di Astellas, per ottimizzare le terapie cellulari contro il cancro derivate da cellule staminali pluripotenti indotte (iPSC) di nuova generazione. L’obiettivo della partnership è migliorare la potenza e la persistenza delle terapie immunologiche derivate da iPSC per i tumori solidi.
La collaborazione combina le tecnologie proprietarie di cellule derivate da iPSC di Universal Cells con l'expertise di Ginkgo nella progettazione e screening di ampie librerie CAR e nella sua piattaforma di ingegneria cellulare multimodale ad alta capacità. L'approccio di Ginkgo utilizza strumenti computazionali, competenze nell'assemblaggio e screening delle librerie, e analisi statistica per accelerare l'ottimizzazione del design terapeutico.
La piattaforma consente il test simultaneo di numerosi design CAR dal trascrittoma alla funzione cellulare, concentrandosi sul miglioramento della persistenza e della funzionalità delle cellule immunitarie. Questa partnership rappresenta un'espansione significativa del portfolio di terapie cellulari di Ginkgo.
Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) ha anunciado una colaboración de investigación con Universal Cells, una empresa de Astellas, para optimizar terapias celulares contra el cáncer derivadas de células madre pluripotentes inducidas (iPSC) de nueva generación. El objetivo de la asociación es mejorar la potencia y la persistencia de las terapias inmunológicas derivadas de iPSC para tumores sólidos.
La colaboración combina las tecnologías celulares derivadas de iPSC de Universal Cells con la experiencia de Ginkgo en el diseño y cribado de grandes bibliotecas CAR y su plataforma de ingeniería celular multimodal de alto rendimiento. El enfoque de Ginkgo utiliza herramientas computacionales, experiencia en ensamblaje y cribado de bibliotecas, y análisis estadístico para acelerar la optimización del diseño terapéutico.
La plataforma permite probar simultáneamente numerosos diseños CAR desde el transcriptoma hasta la función celular, centrándose en mejorar la persistencia y funcionalidad de las células inmunitarias. Esta colaboración representa una expansión significativa del portafolio de terapias celulares de Ginkgo.
징코 바이오웍스 (NYSE: DNA)는 아스텔라스의 자회사 유니버설 셀스와 협력하여 차세대 유도 다능성 줄기 세포(iPSC) 유래 암세포 치료제를 최적화하기 위한 연구 협력을 발표했습니다. 이 파트너십의 목표는 고형 종양을 위한 iPSC 유래 면역 세포 치료제의 효능과 지속성을 향상시키는 것입니다.
이 협력은 유니버설 셀스의 독점적인 iPSC 유래 세포 기술과 대규모 CAR 라이브러리의 설계 및 스크리닝에서 징코의 전문성을 결합합니다. 징코의 접근 방식은 치료 설계 최적화를 가속화하기 위해 컴퓨터 도구, 라이브러리 조립 및 스크리닝 전문 지식, 통계 분석을 활용합니다.
이 플랫폼은 전사체에서 세포 기능까지 수많은 CAR 디자인을 동시에 테스트할 수 있게 하며, 면역 세포의 지속성과 기능을 개선하는 데 중점을 둡니다. 이 파트너십은 징코의 세포 치료 포트폴리오의 중요한 확장을 나타냅니다.
Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) a annoncé une collaboration de recherche avec Universal Cells, une société d'Astellas, pour optimiser les thérapies cellulaires contre le cancer dérivées des cellules souches pluripotentes induites (iPSC) de nouvelle génération. L'objectif de ce partenariat est d'améliorer la puissance et la persistance des traitements par cellules immunitaires dérivés d'iPSC pour les tumeurs solides.
La collaboration combine les technologies cellulaires dérivées d'iPSC brevetées de Universal Cells avec l'expertise de Ginkgo en matière de conception et de criblage de grandes bibliothèques CAR, ainsi que sa plateforme d'ingénierie cellulaire multimodale à haut débit. L'approche de Ginkgo utilise des outils informatiques, un savoir-faire en assemblage et criblage de bibliothèques, ainsi qu'une analyse statistique pour accélérer l'optimisation du design thérapeutique.
La plateforme permet de tester simultanément de nombreux designs CAR, allant du transcriptome à la fonction cellulaire, en se concentrant sur l'amélioration de la persistance et de la fonctionnalité des cellules immunitaires. Ce partenariat représente une expansion significative du portefeuille de thérapies cellulaires de Ginkgo.
Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) hat eine Forschungskooperation mit Universal Cells, einem Unternehmen von Astellas, angekündigt, um die Therapien gegen Krebszellen, die aus induzierten pluripotenten Stammzellen (iPSC) der nächsten Generation stammen, zu optimieren. Ziel der Partnerschaft ist es, die Wirksamkeit und Persistenz von iPSC-abgeleiteten Immunzelltherapeutika für solide Tumoren zu verbessern.
Die Zusammenarbeit kombiniert die proprietären, iPSC-abgeleiteten Zelltechnologien von Universal Cells mit Ginkgos Expertise im Design und Screening großer CAR-Bibliotheken sowie seiner Hochdurchsatz-Plattform für die multimodale Ingenieurtechnik von Immunzellen. Ginkgos Ansatz nutzt computergestützte Werkzeuge, Fachwissen im Zusammenbau von Bibliotheken und Screening sowie statistische Analysen, um die Optimierung des therapeutischen Designs zu beschleunigen.
Die Plattform ermöglicht das gleichzeitige Testen einer Vielzahl von CAR-Designs vom Transkriptom bis zur Zellfunktion, wobei der Fokus auf der Verbesserung der Persistenz und Funktionalität von Immunzellen liegt. Diese Partnerschaft stellt eine bedeutende Erweiterung von Ginkgos Portfolio für Zelltherapien dar.
- Strategic partnership with Astellas' Universal Cells expands Ginkgo's cell therapy portfolio
- Access to high-value solid tumor therapy market through iPSC-derived cell therapies
- Potential to develop scalable, 'off-the-shelf' treatment options
- None.
Insights
This strategic partnership between Ginkgo Bioworks and Universal Cells represents a significant advancement in the iPSC-derived cell therapy space. The collaboration combines Ginkgo's high-throughput screening capabilities with Universal Cells' proprietary iPSC technology to develop more effective solid tumor treatments. The key value proposition lies in the potential to accelerate the development of 'off-the-shelf' cell therapies, addressing major industry challenges like manufacturing scalability and treatment durability.
The technical approach focuses on optimizing CAR designs and implementing armoring strategies for enhanced cell survival - critical factors that have historically cell therapy efficacy in solid tumors. Ginkgo's platform capabilities, particularly in simultaneous testing of multiple CAR designs, could significantly reduce development timelines and improve success rates in identifying optimal therapeutic candidates.
The collaboration strengthens Ginkgo's position in the rapidly growing cell therapy market, estimated to reach
The emphasis on solid tumors is particularly noteworthy, as this represents an underserved market with significant commercial potential. Current cell therapies primarily target blood cancers, leaving a substantial opportunity in solid tumors. Success in this collaboration could position Ginkgo as a key enabler in the next generation of cell therapies, potentially leading to significant revenue streams through milestone payments and royalties.
The focus on improving cell persistence and durability addresses a critical limitation in current iPSC-derived therapies. Solid tumors present unique challenges due to their immunosuppressive microenvironment and physical barriers. The multi-modal approach proposed, combining optimized CAR designs with cell armoring strategies, could potentially overcome these obstacles.
The 'off-the-shelf' nature of these therapies could dramatically improve treatment accessibility compared to traditional autologous CAR-T approaches. If successful, this could reduce manufacturing costs and treatment delays, making cell therapy more widely available to patients. The high-throughput screening platform's ability to simultaneously evaluate multiple CAR designs could accelerate the identification of optimal therapeutic candidates, potentially reducing the time from development to clinical implementation.
Collaboration leverages Ginkgo's cell engineering and screening platform to enhance the potency and persistence of Universal Cells' iPSC-derived immune cell therapeutics
iPSC-derived cell therapies have the potential to transform cancer care by offering scalable, 'off-the-shelf' treatment options. However, bringing efficacious therapies to patients requires robust design and screening processes to improve persistence in the patient to enable durable clinical responses. By combining Universal Cells' proprietary iPSC-derived cell technologies with Ginkgo's expertise in design and screening large CAR libraries and its high throughput, multimodal immune cell engineering platform, the companies aim to accelerate the development of more potent and durable cell therapies while maintaining manufacturability at scale.
Ginkgo's approach leverages computational tools, deep expertise in library assembly and screening, and rigorous statistical analysis and biological insight to help partners discover and engineer optimal therapeutic designs with greater speed and precision. Ginkgo's platform capabilities extend across multiple dimensions of cell therapy development, including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) discovery and optimization, armoring strategies for enhanced cell survival and persistence, and gene editing tools for immune cell engineering. Ginkgo employs high-throughput pooled and arrayed screening methods that enable the simultaneous testing of numerous CAR designs from transcriptome to cell function. This approach facilitates discoveries that aim to improve immune cell persistence and functionality.
"We're excited to embark on this collaboration, which represents a significant milestone for Ginkgo as we expand our cell therapy portfolio," said Jason Kelly, CEO and co-founder of Ginkgo Bioworks. "Teaming up with Universal Cells, part of Astellas, allows us to bring our comprehensive immune cell engineering capabilities to a highly respected, global pharmaceutical leader. We look forward to working together to optimize iPSC-derived allogeneic cell therapies that have the potential to improve patient outcomes and reshape how we treat solid tumors."
"Cell therapies hold immense promise, but realizing their full potential requires innovation at every step, from design to delivery," said Dr. Narendra Maheshri, VP, Genetic Medicines at Ginkgo Bioworks. "Our platform enables partners to rapidly explore the functional impact of a large number of CAR designs simultaneously, and then iterate to further refine those designs. By applying this approach with Universal Cells, we aim to help accelerate CAR approaches, opening up new possibilities in the fight against cancer."
To learn more about how you can leverage Ginkgo's capabilities in cell therapy and gene editing - from CAR-T to CRISPR and beyond - please visit our website.
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
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ginkgo-bioworks-partners-with-universal-cells-an-astellas-company-to-advance-next-generation-ipsc-derived-cell-therapies-for-solid-tumors-302348279.html
SOURCE Ginkgo Bioworks
FAQ
What is the purpose of Ginkgo Bioworks' (DNA) collaboration with Universal Cells?
How will Ginkgo Bioworks (DNA) contribute to the Universal Cells partnership?
What technology will be used in the Ginkgo Bioworks (DNA) and Universal Cells collaboration?
What is the potential market impact of the Ginkgo Bioworks (DNA) and Universal Cells partnership?
