US Biology Firms Form Consortium
US biotech companies Antheia, Genomatica and Ginkgo Bioworks have backed the launch of the Synthetic Biology (SynBio) Coalition to promote investment and support for the US synthetic biology industry.
Founded by the three firms, SynBio is a non-partisan group of academics, business leaders and government representatives dedicated to advancing synthetic biology as a driver of technological innovation and economic growth.
The companies said that working in partnership with the US government, SynBio aims to support the development and growth of advanced biomanufacturing industry in the US, contributing to technologies that will improve access to medicine, create more sustainable and productive farming practices, help transform industrial manufacturing and unlock a next generation of products across numerous industries.
Synthetic biology – where microorganisms are redesigned for useful purposes – is an area of science that is already being leveraged across industries that include pharmaceuticals, food and agriculture, plastics, energy, among many others.
"Over the last decade, synthetic biology's advances have moved out of the lab and into the real economy, making the potential of this disruptive technology increasingly apparent," said Christina Smolke, CEO and co-founder at Antheia. "As the technology continues to scale, it's essential that industry and government work together to ensure that synbio's advances translate into meaningful innovations that improve people's lives."
Genomatica’s co-founder and CEO Christophe Schilling added: “Synbio manufacturing of widely-used materials can bring back many industries that have moved overseas. This coalition is a great step in building broad support for the policies needed to drive this opportunity."
The companies said the US is the global leader in developing synthetic biology and that continued investment in the biology, research infrastructure and manufacturing capacity “is critical to realizing the full potential of this industry and maintaining American global leadership.”
They also point to the risks associated with relying on overseas manufacturers for key products, such as APIs and key starting materials, that have been exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Antheia’s novel synthetic biology platform reconstructs complex molecules in yeast, aiming to commercialize plant-inspired medicines. Genomatica develops bio-based processes, for example bio-butanediol and bio-based butylene glycol, using plants as raw materials. The California-based company is currently working on nylon intermediates and long-chain chemicals (cleaning products to replace palm oil as feedstock).
Ginkgo Bioworks is a biotech headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts that specializes in using genetic engineering to produce bacteria with industrial applications.
Author: Elaine Burridge, Freelance Journalist
