Genome engineering company Synthego has partnered with synthetic biology company bit.bio to build a platform that will implement synthetic circuitry in cells for therapeutic applications. The goal of the project is to advance the field of genetic engineering for cell therapies, making them safer, more efficient, and more accessible to millions of patients worldwide.
Bit.bio is developing cell therapies for serious diseases that currently lack effective treatments, including liver, immune and metabolic diseases. The company’s precision cell programming and manufacturing technology can convert induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into various human cell types in a single step, at an industrial scale, and within a short timeframe.
The partnership will apply Synthego’s expertise in gene editing to bit.bio’s precision cell programming technology, with the aim of discovering and developing advanced genetic engineering solutions for cell therapies.
“We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with bit.bio to facilitate a leap forward in the development of synthetic biology-based cell therapies,” said Paul Dabrowski, CEO of Synthego. “By coordinating our respective technologies, expertise and resources, we will unlock new opportunities for addressing critical challenges in the field by advancing the R&D cycle of innovative cell therapies.”
Synthego will work on rapidly designing, constructing, testing, and delivering a multiplexed genetic editing strategy. The approach aims to streamline the engineering process, potentially reducing clinical cell engineering and development timelines by up to 10 months.
“Synthego are experts when it comes to industrialized cell engineering,” said Mark Kotter, CEO of bit.bio. “Teaming up with Synthego will boost our genetic engineering capabilities. We expect efficiency gains across bit.bio’s platform which will allow us and our partners to deliver transformative therapies more rapidly to patients in need.”
