Ginkgo Bioworks Partners with Merck to Improve Biologic Manufacturing

Ginkgo Bioworks, which is developing the world's leading platform for cell programming and biosecurity, has announced a new collaboration with Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, to improve biologic manufacturing. Ginkgo will improve production efficiency and yields by leveraging its expertise and capabilities in cell engineering, ultra high-throughput multiplexed screening, protein characterization, and process optimisation. Under the terms of the collaboration, Ginkgo is eligible to receive, in aggregate, up to $490 million in upfront research fees, research milestone fees, option license payments and commercial milestone payments.

"We're thrilled to leverage our platform to improve the production of biologics in collaboration with Merck," said Jason Kelly, CEO and co-founder of Ginkgo Bioworks. "In particular, we will utilize some of our unique capabilities, such as automated protocols to do predictive ultra high-throughput multiplexed screening, product characterization and process optimization. "At Merck, we are constantly looking for new and innovative ways to improve process efficiency while maintaining product integrity," said Dr. Michael Kress, senior vice president, development sciences and clinical supply, Merck Research Laboratories.

"We are excited to strengthen our partnership with the Ginkgo Bioworks team." This is Ginkgo's second collaboration with Merck. The companies announced a biocatalysis project in October 2022 to improve Merck's active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing. Ginkgo Bioworks is the leading horizontal platform for cell programming, offering flexible, end-to-end services to organisations in a wide range of industries, from food and agriculture to pharmaceuticals and industrial and specialty chemicals.