Ginkgo Bioworks has been awarded a grant by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to advance a groundbreaking cell-based technology, aiming to enhance the delivery of protein therapeutics to patients in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite the transformative impact of protein therapeutics, exemplified by insulin for diabetes, their widespread accessibility is hindered in LMICs due to intricate manufacturing processes and degradation issues during storage and transportation. The development of an innovative therapeutic delivery method holds the potential to improve access and reduce the cost of treatment.
The primary focus of Ginkgo's efforts will involve the creation of a prototype-engineered cell line capable of expressing antibodies for treating HIV and/or malaria through an implantable device. Globally, approximately 39 million people are affected by HIV, which compromises the immune system, while nearly half of the world's population is at risk of malaria transmission, with the majority of malaria-related deaths occurring in the WHO Africa Region. The envisioned engineered cell line is designed to function as a "cell factory," delivering protein therapeutics to patients for extended periods, potentially up to a year or longer. This prototype could pave the way for the development of long-term and cost-effective protein therapeutic delivery systems for these diseases.
Ginkgo, with the backing of the foundation, plans to leverage its expertise in mammalian cell engineering to create highly synthetic cell lines with elevated productivity and extended longevity. Utilizing genomics and systems biology, Ginkgo aims to identify the genomic components underlying these complex cellular phenotypes. Subsequently, the company will employ its proficiency in genome engineering, including a fully automated clonal cell line generation workflow, to integrate these features into a mammalian chassis. This engineered cell line will be combined with an implant device to facilitate the continuous delivery of therapeutic antibodies. If successful, the resulting product could establish a novel delivery platform for antibody-based therapies in communities facing challenges in accessing such drugs.
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