Ginkgo Bioworks and Partners Awarded $29 Million Contract by ARPA-H for Distributed Manufacturing of Essential Medicines
Boston-based biotech company, Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA), in collaboration with Tritica Biosciences, US Pharmacopeia (USP), On Demand Pharmaceuticals, and Isolere Bio by Donaldson, have been granted a $29 million contract by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). This two-year program, named Wheat-based High efficiency Enzyme and API Technology (WHEAT), aims to revolutionize the manufacturing process for biologic and small molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) using wheat germ cell-free expression systems.
About the Partnership and the Contract
Ginkgo Bioworks, a leading platform for cell programming and biosecurity, brings its expertise in synthetic biology and cell-free expression to the table. Tritica Biosciences, a company specializing in enzyme engineering, will contribute its enzyme discovery and optimization capabilities. USP, the United States Pharmacopeia, will provide regulatory and quality standards. On Demand Pharmaceuticals, a leader in continuous manufacturing, will contribute its expertise in manufacturing process development and scale-up. Lastly, Isolere Bio by Donaldson, a company specializing in containment solutions for pharmaceutical manufacturing, will provide its expertise in containment and recovery of cell-free expression systems.
The Goal: Distributed Production of Essential Medicines
The ultimate goal of this partnership is to establish a new manufacturing process for the distributed production of essential medicines using wheat germ cell-free expression systems. This process could potentially reduce the reliance on centralized manufacturing facilities, which are often located in specific regions and can be vulnerable to disruptions. With distributed manufacturing, medicines could be produced closer to where they are needed, ensuring a more resilient and efficient supply chain.
Impact on Individuals
For individuals, this development could lead to more accessible and affordable medicines. With distributed manufacturing, medicines could be produced closer to where they are needed, reducing transportation costs and making them more accessible to people in remote areas. Additionally, this new manufacturing process could lead to faster response times during emergencies, as medicines could be produced locally instead of being transported from centralized facilities.
Impact on the World
On a global scale, this development could have significant implications for healthcare systems and the pharmaceutical industry. Distributed manufacturing could lead to a more resilient and efficient supply chain, reducing the reliance on centralized manufacturing facilities and making medicines more accessible to people in remote areas. Additionally, this new manufacturing process could lead to the production of essential medicines at a lower cost, making them more affordable for people in low-income countries.
Conclusion
The collaboration between Ginkgo Bioworks and its partners to develop distributed manufacturing of essential medicines using wheat germ cell-free expression systems is an exciting development in the field of biotechnology. With the potential to reduce the reliance on centralized manufacturing facilities and make medicines more accessible and affordable, this new manufacturing process could have significant implications for individuals and the world as a whole. As this research continues, we can look forward to a more resilient and efficient healthcare system.
- Ginkgo Bioworks and partners awarded a $29 million contract by ARPA-H
- Goal: Establish a new manufacturing process for distributed production of essential medicines using wheat germ cell-free expression systems
- Potential for more accessible and affordable medicines
- Implications for a more resilient and efficient healthcare system
