Ginkgo Bioworks Acquires Proof Diagnostics, Growing Gene Editing Service Offerings for its Customers

BOSTON, Feb. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA), which is building the leading platform for cell programming and biosecurity, announced the acquisition of Proof Diagnostics, an innovative life sciences tools, diagnostics and computational discovery company which uncovered genome engineering tools for both therapeutic and diagnostics applications while developing a smart, portable system for the detection of infectious and other diseases.

Proof was founded by gene editing pioneer Dr. Feng Zhang of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Drs. Omar Abudayyeh and Jonathan Gootenberg of the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, and Sid Shenai to develop a low cost, rapid, easy-to-use, and sensitive diagnostic system – for SARS-CoV-2, Flu A/B, RSV and other diseases, including oncology – using CRISPR-based and other technologies. Proof's libraries of OMEGA (Obligate Mobile Element Guided Activity) RNA programmable, non-Cas enzymes and associated intellectual property are the key focus of Ginkgo's acquisition.

Gene editing systems have revolutionized the therapeutics industry, enabling a vast array of potential programmable medicines. The emerging class of OMEGAs represents an exciting potential expansion of the current tools most commonly used in genomic medicines. OMEGAs are significantly smaller and more diverse and robust than many other classes of programmable nucleases, which makes them easier to deliver to cells and opens up new therapeutic approaches. Ginkgo is primarily using Proof's OMEGA libraries to bolster its Gene Therapy Services, providing its customers another tool to more easily edit genes and build the next generation of therapies.

Ginkgo has years of experience leveraging its platform-driven approach to contribute to the gene editing sector's fast-moving evolution. Its current partnership with Arbor Biotechnologies is working to advance the development of precision gene editors. Last year, Ginkgo announced the acquisition of StrideBio's adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsid discovery and engineering platform. StrideBio's capabilities are being integrated into Ginkgo's end-to-end AAV gene therapy development platform. Through this, Ginkgo's customers can leverage these new tools to better target and improve the safety profile of their future gene therapies.

Jason Kelly, CEO and co-founder of Ginkgo Bioworks: "Ginkgo is committed to building world-class capabilities in engineering genetic medicines. Integrating Proof's technologies and libraries gives our customers a new tool to overcome the limitations of current gene editing systems. We don't believe that there is a one-size-fits-all approach to biology.  Biology is complex and that complexity demands a wide array of tools and approaches - we are proud to be building that toolbox at Ginkgo."

Sid Shenai, CEO and co-founder of Proof Diagnostics: "We are excited for Ginkgo to integrate Proof's OMEGA nuclease and related technologies into its genetic medicines programs. These enzymes are more compact and diverse than other classes of programmable nucleases – including CRISPR Cas – and are a powerful addition to the gene editing toolkit for therapeutics. The entire Proof team has admired Ginkgo's progress for many years and is confident that the team at Ginkgo is uniquely well-suited to advance the full scope of Proof's technologies to serve customers and patients worldwide."

To learn more about Ginkgo Gene Therapy Services, please visit https://www.ginkgobioworks.com/offerings/gene-therapy-services/

About Ginkgo Bioworks

Ginkgo Bioworks is the leading horizontal platform for cell programming, providing flexible, end-to-end services that solve challenges for organizations across diverse markets, from food and agriculture to pharmaceuticals to industrial and specialty chemicals. Ginkgo's biosecurity and public health unit, Concentric by Ginkgo, is building global infrastructure for biosecurity to empower governments, communities, and public health leaders to prevent, detect and respond to a wide variety of biological threats. For more information, visit ginkgobioworks.com and concentricbyginkgo.com, read our blog, or follow us on social media channels such as X (@Ginkgo and @ConcentricByGBW), Instagram (@GinkgoBioworks), Threads (@GinkgoBioworks) or LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements of Ginkgo Bioworks

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding the capabilities and potential success of the acquisition and Ginkgo's cell programming platform. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "can," "project," "potential," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: (i) volatility in the price of Ginkgo's securities due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive and highly regulated industries in which Ginkgo operates and plans to operate, variations in performance across competitors, and changes in laws and regulations affecting Ginkgo's business, (ii) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations, and to identify and realize additional business opportunities, (iii) the risk of downturns in demand for products using synthetic biology, (iv) the uncertainty regarding the demand for passive monitoring programs and biosecurity services, (v) changes to the biosecurity industry, including due to advancements in technology, emerging competition and evolution in industry demands, standards and regulations, (vi) our ability to realize the expected benefits of merger and acquisition transactions, (vii) the outcome of any legal proceedings against Ginkgo, including as a result of recent acquisitions, (viii) our ability to realize the expected benefits from and the success of our Foundry platform programs, (ix) our ability to successfully develop engineered cells, bioprocesses, data packages or other deliverables, and (x) the product development or commercialization success of our customers. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of Ginkgo's quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on November 8, 2023 and other documents filed by Ginkgo from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Ginkgo assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Ginkgo does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations.

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SOURCE Ginkgo Bioworks