BOSTON - In a move to expand its gene therapy services, Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) has acquired Proof Diagnostics, a company specializing in life sciences tools, diagnostics, and computational discovery. The acquisition, announced today, centers on Proof's OMEGA RNA programmable enzymes and related intellectual property, which are expected to enhance Ginkgo's capabilities in genetic medicine.
Proof Diagnostics, co-founded by Dr. Feng Zhang of the Broad Institute and others, has developed a portable diagnostic system for diseases such as COVID-19, influenza, and RSV, utilizing CRISPR-based technologies. Their OMEGA libraries are considered a significant advancement in the gene editing toolkit, offering more compact and diverse enzymes than those currently in widespread use.
Ginkgo's acquisition aims to integrate these technologies into its Gene Therapy Services, providing customers with new tools for gene editing. The company believes that the diversity and robustness of OMEGAs will facilitate the development of next-generation therapies.
Jason Kelly, CEO and co-founder of Ginkgo Bioworks, emphasized the importance of a diverse array of tools to address the complexities of biology, expressing pride in Ginkgo's role in assembling such a toolbox. Sid Shenai, CEO and co-founder of Proof Diagnostics, expressed confidence in Ginkgo's ability to advance the full scope of Proof's technologies.
Previously, Ginkgo acquired StrideBio's AAV capsid discovery platform, which is now part of its end-to-end AAV gene therapy development platform. The company's partnership with Arbor Biotechnologies also aims to advance precision gene editors.
This acquisition is based on a press release statement and is part of Ginkgo's broader strategy to address challenges across various markets, including food, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and industrial chemicals. The company's biosecurity unit, Concentric by Ginkgo, focuses on building infrastructure to prevent and respond to biological threats.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.