Next Chapter For Biological Development at Bayer
Last week, Bayer announced it will successfully close the joint venture created between Leaps by Bayer and Ginkgo Bioworks in 2017. And moving forward, Ginkgo Bioworks will become a multi-year microbial strategic partner with Bayer. This will focus on biological solutions in nitrogen optimization, carbon sequestration, next generation crop protection, and more.
The transaction, expected to close in 2022 pending approvals, also leads to Gingko Bioworks acquiring Bayer’s West Sacramento Biologics Research & Development (R&D) site and internal discovery and lead optimization platform. Also, Bayer will get Joyn Bio’s nitrogen-fixing technologies.
In its external announcement, Bayer says this is a strategic shift to exclusively focus on an external biologics research discovery pipeline. The goal is to equip Bayer to better leverage its proven capability in commercializing biologicals to create category-leading products.
“Bayer’s work in the rapidly growing biologics space is an essential part of our commitment to sustainability and providing effective climate-smart products like nitrogen fixing and optimization technologies,” said Bob Reiter, Head of R&D for Bayer’s Crop Science Division. “Our work with Ginkgo will accelerate our biologicals pipeline by leveraging Bayer’s expertise in bringing reliable and effective biological products to market against Ginkgo’s synthetic biology research engine – now enhanced by an expanded ag biologics research and development platform – and help Bayer continue to expand our biologics product range to create tailored solutions for additional crops.”
Joyn Bio has about 75 employees in California and Boston. Bayer and Gingko leaders say the R&D platform of Joyn Bio is intended to join forces with Ginkgo Bioworks along with Bayer’s West Sacramento R&D platform. You can read more about its work with nitrogen fixation development here.
“Ginkgo is an established and growing leader in synthetic biology and we are now bringing the success that we’ve demonstrated in other complex, regulated industries to agriculture through the acquisition of the Bayer Biologics West Sacramento Site along with its discovery and lead optimization platforms, and continuing to build on the work of our joint venture with Bayer, Joyn Bio,” said Jason Kelly, CEO and cofounder of Ginkgo Bioworks. “We want agricultural biological development to be as simple and efficient as programming a computer, and by combining Ginkgo’s expertise in biologics early discovery and development with Bayer and Joyn’s platforms, we will be able to offer effective paths to market for Bayer’s Biologics division.”
In the announcement, Bayer underscored how it sees biological products as part of its current success and future success.
“This is an exciting time for biologicals and Bayer understands that development of the next generation of biological products must be accelerated to help growers face the challenges of climate change and food security as well as to meet the demands of sustainability,” said Benoit Hartmann, Senior Vice President and Head of Biologics, Crop Science Division. “Leading Bayer biologics products like Serenade and BioRise 2 are already being used by growers across the world to reduce their use of products associated with higher greenhouse gas emissions and improve yields. We expect that in the coming decade biologicals as an industry will continue to grow rapidly, and we are ready to leverage our expertise, experience, and resources to not only maintain, but expand on our leadership position in biologicals with a diverse set of leading partners.”
