Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings Inc Stock Price, News & Analysis

Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) and Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Investment (MISA) have signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding to enhance biotechnology and biosecurity capabilities in Saudi Arabia. The collaboration aims to improve public health initiatives through pathogen monitoring and sequencing, leveraging technologies like laboratory automation and bioinformatics. The partnership strives to build a sustainable global biosecurity infrastructure, addressing both domestic and international biological threats as part of broader bioeconomic development.

Bolt Threads has announced a collaboration with Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) to enhance the production efficiency of its Mylo™ material, a sustainable leather alternative made from mycelium. The partnership aims to lower production costs and improve accessibility to Mylo, which is already utilized by brands such as adidas and lululemon. Through this initiative, Ginkgo will leverage its biotechnology platform to increase the growth rate of mycelium. This partnership builds on their previous work with Bolt's b-silk™ protein.

Ginkgo Bioworks has completed its acquisition of Zymergen, enhancing its cell programming platform with Zymergen's automation and software capabilities. This acquisition, finalized on October 19, 2022, was based on a merger agreement that provided Zymergen shareholders with 0.9179 shares of Ginkgo Class A common stock for each share they held. Ginkgo's CEO expressed optimism about integrating Zymergen's expertise and exploring new partnerships. Zymergen's shares will no longer be traded on Nasdaq, while Ginkgo continues under the ticker DNA.

IARPA, Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA), and Draper have successfully completed the FELIX program, aimed at enhancing biodetection capabilities for genetically engineered organisms. The collaboration resulted in the development of advanced computational tools, particularly ENDAR software, which enables the detection of engineered DNA in complex biological samples. This breakthrough promises to transform national biosecurity efforts by providing faster, more accurate monitoring. Results will be presented on October 17, 2022, at 11 am Eastern on YouTube.

Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) announced a collaboration with Merck to develop up to four engineered enzymes for drug manufacturing. This partnership leverages Ginkgo's expertise in biocatalysis and enzyme optimization, aiming to enhance Merck's pharmaceutical production efficiency. The agreement includes an upfront research fee and potential milestone payments totaling up to $144 million. Ginkgo's innovative approach focuses on utilizing fungal strains for enzyme expression, which may lower production costs and improve supply chain resilience.

Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) announced the acquisition of Circularis, a biotechnology firm specializing in circular RNA and promoter screening technologies. This acquisition aims to enhance Ginkgo's capabilities in cell and gene therapy, particularly in RNA therapeutics, by leveraging Circularis's platform for high-throughput screening of gene expression regulatory elements. The move is expected to strengthen Ginkgo’s offerings across various biopharmaceutical applications, including collaborations with industry leaders like Biogen and Moderna.

Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) has announced the acquisition of Altar, a French biotechnology firm specializing in adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE). This strategic tuck-in acquisition aims to enhance Ginkgo's capabilities by integrating Altar's automated ALE instruments into its Foundry, supporting a range of industries including food, biofuels, and healthcare. Ginkgo's partnership with Altar has been fruitful, and the integration is expected to improve strain engineering for various applications, addressing challenges in creating optimized microorganisms under industrial conditions.

The White House has announced the appointment of Renee Wegrzyn, PhD, as the first Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). Currently serving as Vice President for Business Development at Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA), Dr. Wegrzyn aims to propel transformative health breakthroughs. Her background includes significant contributions to biosecurity and synthetic biology. Established in March 2022, ARPA-H is designed to tackle challenging health issues through innovative research.

Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) announced the appointment of Behzad Mahdavi as Senior Vice President of Biopharma Manufacturing and Life Sciences Tools. Dr. Mahdavi brings over 20 years of experience in biopharmaceuticals and cell therapies, previously serving as VP at Catalent Pharma Solutions. His role will focus on expanding Ginkgo's market presence in bio-reagents and gene therapies. Ginkgo aims to leverage its expertise in custom organism design and enzyme discovery to enhance biopharma innovation, backed by collaborations with industry leaders.