ProteoNic licenses vector technology for antibody manufacturing consortium
ProteoNic BV has announced that Ginkgo Bioworks has licensed its proprietary 2G UNic vector technology for a $22.2 million project funded by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). The initiative aims to enhance domestic biomanufacturing capabilities for monoclonal antibodies targeting filovirus infections, including Ebola and Sudan Virus.
The Leiden-based biotechnology company will contribute its vector and transposon technologies to a consortium led by Ginkgo Bioworks, which includes Advanced BioScience Laboratories, Isolere Bio by Donaldson, and NeuImmune. The collaboration forms part of BARDA’s Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Preparedness Consortium (BioMaP-Consortium), designed to strengthen domestic biomanufacturing infrastructure for critical medical countermeasures.
Enhancing protein expression in mammalian systems
ProteoNic’s 2G UNic technology focuses on maximising gene expression and productivity in mammalian cell culture systems. The company’s vector and transposon platforms are designed to integrate into monoclonal antibody production workflows, with the objective of improving manufacturing efficiency and yield whilst reducing production timelines and costs for large-scale bioproduction.
Frank Pieper, CEO of ProteoNic, said: “We are proud that Ginkgo has chosen to license and apply our 2G UNic in this important initiative. Our 2G UNic technology has consistently demonstrated substantial improvements in protein expression and manufacturing productivity. Contributing this capability to a project of such public health importance aligns perfectly with our mission to enable more efficient, accessible biologics production globally.”
Integrated approach to biomanufacturing
The consortium will develop and integrate technologies spanning the complete monoclonal antibody production process, from cell line development through to purification. This integrated approach aims to create a more rapid, scalable, and cost-effective biomanufacturing solution for therapeutic antibodies required during public health emergencies.
The technology licensing represents ProteoNic’s continued expansion into next-generation biologics manufacturing, supporting applications in therapeutic protein production and cell and gene therapy. By enabling higher productivity from existing manufacturing infrastructure, the company’s platform provides a framework for strengthening biomanufacturing resilience in response to emerging global health threats.
