BIOBASED CHEMICALS
Outsourcing flourishes for synthetic biology firms Ginkgo Bioworks, Amyris partner with firms that supply millions of DNA base pairs Ginkgo Bioworks and Amyris develop modified organisms that produce valuable chemicals. Now, both are choosing to outsource one step of the synthetic biology to-do list: manufacturing new DNA sequences. For that, Ginkgo and Amyris have inked new deals with Twist Bioscience and Gen9, firms that specialize in automating the production of millions of base pairs. Ginkgo develops modified microbes on a contract basis for companies in the flavor, fragrance, and cosmetics industries. For example, it is working on a fermentation route to rose oil. It will tap Twist to source 300 million DNA base pairs—up from its first order of 100 million—and Gen9 for another 300 million. Last week, Ginkgo also announced it has raised $100 million in venture funding. The
money will go not just to Twist and Gen9, but also to building Ginkgo’s new organism engineering facility. “We’re the world’s largest consumer of synthetic genes,” Jason Kelly, Ginkgo’s chief executive officer, tells C&EN. Kelly explains that Ginkgo uses gene sequencing to “read” the DNA of targeted species. Its scientists can use that information to learn how a rose petal makes rose oil. The scientists then use computers to design a version of the rose oil gene that can work inside a microbe. Ginkgo places an order with Twist with instructions on what genes to create, or “write.” Ginkgo then inserts the new custom-made synthetic pathway into microbes and tests them to see if they efficiently produce rose oil. For its part, Twist focuses on increasing
Twist Bioscience’s silicon plate contains 10,000 wells, each 600 µm in diameter. the speed and throughput of synthetic gene manufacturing while decreasing costs. Instead of using a standard 96-well plate to make a single gene, Twist has developed a plate with 10,000 nanowells, each of which can make a gene. In a similar deal, biobased chemicals producer Amyris—a company that pioneered synthetic biology with its fermentation route for the malaria drug artemisinin—says it will buy DNA base pairs from Gen9, another gene synthesis firm.—MELODY BOMGARDNER
CREDIT: LAURA KUDRITZKI PHOTOGRAPHY (WELL PLATE); FUJIFILM DIOSYNTH (FERMENTATION UNIT)
BIOLOGICS
Merck to make drugs for contract manufacturer Pharma giant plans $60 million investment in microbial facility to supply Fujifilm Diosynth When major drug companies sell off their Fujifilm bought from Merck in 2011 reportmanufacturing plants, they often remain edly for $490 million. Diosynth operates tied to the facilities as long-term two plants, one in Research Triangle customers. But once in a while, A microbial Park, N.C., and one in Billingham, the pattern is reversed. Drugfermentation England. Employing 1,000 people, maker Merck & Co., which sold unit at Fujifilm Diosynth produces not only microa contract biologics business to Diosynth. bial biologics but also vaccines and Fujifilm a few years ago, will be a supplier of manufacturing services to the Japanese firm. The pharma giant is investing $60 million at its Brinny site in County Cork, Ireland, to build a 20,000-L facility for microbial biologics. The 30-year-old site is already equipped with facilities for manufacturing biologics. The new Brinny facility will supply Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, a business that
biopharmaceuticals made from mammalian cell culture. A Fujifilm spokesperson in Tokyo tells C&EN that the deal benefits both Merck and Diosynth. Some prospective or existing Diosynth customers require larger production capabilities, which the new plant will provide, she explains. Diosynth currently manufactures microbial biologics in batches ranging from 100 to 5,000 L and animal-cell-based biopharmaceuticals in batches from 110 to 2,000 L. For Merck, the new microbial unit will allow it to maintain employment levels at the Brinny site. Although most investments in biologics plants by contract manufacturers in recent years have been for facilities that grow drugs in mammalian cells, the Merck-Fujifilm collaboration is a reminder that microbial biologics remain competitive. Plants that generate material by microbial fermentation may produce a narrower range of proteins, but they can help drug firms achieve lower costs during the production of some biological drugs, says Qibin Liang, chief operating officer of MabPlex, an antibody-drug conjugate producer based in Yantai, China.—JEAN-FRANÇOIS TREMBLAY JUNE 13, 2016 | CEN.ACS.ORG | C&EN
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