The partnership combines Ginkgo's AI/ML and
enzyme engineering expertise with Prozomix's wealth of enzyme
sequence data to create best-in-class enzymes for API
manufacturing
NORTHUMBERLAND, England and BOSTON, April 3,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Prozomix, a UK-based biotech
company focused on novel biocatalyst discovery and manufacturing,
and Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA), which is building the leading
platform for cell programming and biosecurity, today announced a
new partnership. Together, Ginkgo and Prozomix aim to build out the
production of next generation enzyme plates for active
pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing. This collaboration
aims to leverage Ginkgo's Enzyme Services and industry-leading
AI/ML models along with Prozomix's existing enzyme libraries and
deep experience manufacturing enzyme plates.
This agreement also marks Prozomix's entry into the Ginkgo
Technology Network, a groundbreaking ecosystem of cutting-edge
technology partners dedicated to driving innovation in customer
R&D programs. Ginkgo's Technology Network brings together a
diverse array of partners, spanning AI, genetic medicines,
biologics, and manufacturing, with the aim of integrating their
capabilities to provide customers with robust end-to-end solutions
for successful R&D outcomes. With Prozomix now in the
Technology Network, Ginkgo customers will have access to Prozomix's
scalable contract manufacturing services, including enzyme samples
from mg to kg scale.
For several decades, demands for both improved supply chain
sustainability and reduction of costs of goods sold has driven the
pharma industry towards the adoption of biocatalysts in commercial
API manufacturing. Existing enzyme plates offer users an
opportunity to rapidly screen potential candidates early in
development to identify and de-risk the use of biocatalysts capable
of supporting specific reactions in API manufacturing routes. As
such, biocatalyst adoption largely depends on the diversity and
performance of the enzymes available in these plates.
Prozomix and Ginkgo are partnering to usher in a new generation
of biocatalysts built off of sequences and activity data from
previous enzyme libraries. Ginkgo will build class-specific AI
models informed by enzyme sequences and data from its own massive
metagenomic database as well as Prozomix's enzyme libraries and
associated screening data. These models can then be used to
discover novel functional enzyme sequences. Prozomix intends to
then use next-gen enzyme libraries, designed by these models, to
manufacture novel enzyme plates.
Together, the partners expect these next-gen enzyme plates to
have a diversity and performance that traditional plates lack,
potentially unlocking biocatalytic opportunities where previous
plates have failed. These plates will be freely available to all
pharma process chemistry groups, provided that screening data is
shared back with Ginkgo to drive further refinement of the Ginkgo
AI/ML models.
Simon J. Charnock, CEO of
Prozomix: "With a global reputation for de-risking early
stage biocatalytic processes, we believe the Ginkgo partnership
will keep Prozomix at the forefront of best in class biocatalyst
provision throughout the AI revolution, enabling our customers to
continue saving and improving more lives."
Cindy Chang, Senior Director,
Business Development at Ginkgo Bioworks: "API
manufacturing is poised to greatly benefit from the latest in
enzyme engineering and AI/ML enzyme models. We are so excited to
partner with Prozomix to get enzymes into as many API routes as
possible and help partners meet both their COGs savings and
sustainability goals."
To learn more about Ginkgo's Enzyme Services, please visit
https://www.ginkgobioworks.com/offerings/biopharma-enzyme-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'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 (@Ginkgo and @ConcentricByGBW),
Instagram (@GinkgoBioworks), Threads (@GinkgoBioworks)
or LinkedIn.
GINKGO BIOWORKS INVESTOR
CONTACT:
investors@ginkgobioworks.com
GINKGO BIOWORKS MEDIA
CONTACT:
press@ginkgobioworks.com
About Prozomix
Exploring unchartered metagenomic
sequence space in collaboration with big pharma and leading
academics for over a decade, Prozomix offers the largest, most
diverse and free-to- screen Biocatalysis Enzyme Toolkit for API
synthesis on the global market. A combined R&D and
manufacturing site, purchased by Prozomix and built-out
specifically in response to customer demand, now offers seamless
scaled-hit production to kgs dry powder within 1 week of request,
and has cemented a global reputation for de-risking early stage
bioprocess development. A private, profitable and progressive UK
entity, Prozomix is a trusted choice for novel enzyme discovery and
production all the way to commercial manufacture. For more
information, visit prozomix.com, or follow us on social media, X
(@Prozomix) or LinkedIn.
PROZOMIX CONTACT:
info@prozomix.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 engineering 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 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