Genomatica in synthetic biology collaboration in US

Three synthetic biology companies have launched the Synthetic Biology (SynBio) Coalition to promote investment and support for the American synthetic biology industry. Synthetic biology is a field of science that involves redesigning microorganisms for useful purposes. It is backed by three of America's leading synthetic biology companies: Antheia, based in Menlo Park, California; Genomatica, based in San Diego, California; and Ginkgo Bioworks, based in Boston, Massachusetts.

Synthetic biology is already being leveraged across many industries, including pharmaceuticals and medical treatments, food and agriculture, plastics, apparel, energy, consumer electronics, and personal and home care items, and is poised to have a significant impact on American economic growth over the coming years.

Working in collaboration with the US federal government, the SynBio Coalition aims to support the development and growth of the world's 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.

"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/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."

"America's strengths in Synbio innovation and growing crops can power a new era of industrial growth and prosperity, while making the products we use every day, better and more sustainable," said Christophe Schilling, Co-founder/CEO at Genomatica. "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."

"We see the potential for biology to transform all the industries that produce physical goods," said Jason Kelly, Co-founder/CEO of Gingko Bioworks. "The ongoing efforts of the US government to invest in next generation technologies, including synthetic biology, are laying the groundwork for continued investment, governance, and prioritization of this transformative technology at a national scale."

Synbio adds that creating a national synthetic biology infrastructure and manufacturing base will strengthen the US' position as a global leader in technology and innovation, help grow a robust and resilient domestic supply chain, support the development of a next-generation workforce, and empower next generation, sustainable manufacturing.

America is said to be the current global leader in the development of synthetic biology. The coalition believes that continued investment in synthetic biology, research infrastructure and manufacturing capacity is critical to realising the full potential of this industry and maintaining American global leadership.

The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed significant supply chain challenges for US companies in critical industries. The coalition believes that a greater investment in an American synthetic biology manufacturing base will increase US resilience and national security by decreasing reliance on overseas products, including Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), Key Starting Materials (KSMs), and widely used chemicals and materials.

Building a greener economy is of critical importance to business leaders, public officials, and consumers. The coalition believes that synthetic biology builds cleaner solutions for a host of industries dedicated to lowering their emissions and having an improved environmental footprint.

The three steering committee members of SynBio Coalition are:

(PRA)

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