Quotes from AgFunderNews, June 6, 2024
The innovative enterprise known as Prolific Machines, which operates from California and specializes in utilizing photoreceptive proteins to regulate cellular functions within the biomanufacturing sector (Including cultivated Meat nutritional and therapeutic proteins, pharmaceuticals, and more), has successfully secured funding of $55 million during their series B1 financing. This significant financial injection was spearheaded by the Ki Tua Fund, a strategic investment division associated with the New Zealand-based dairy conglomerate, Fonterra Co-operative Group.
The initial completion of this funding phase has elevated the company’s total investment to $86.5 million. This milestone was achieved with the backing of a consortium of investors including Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Mayfield, SOSV, Shorewind Capital, Darco Capital, Conti Ventures, In-Q-Tel, among additional participants.
In 2020, Prolific Machines was established by a trio of experts: CEO Dr. Deniz Kent, a specialist in stem cell biology; CTO Dr. Max Huisman, who brings a background in physics and biomedical science; and CIO Declan Jones, an authority in computer science and machine learning. The company is at the forefront of integrating light-sensitive proteins into cells, a pioneering technique that facilitates the biomanufacturing of a diverse range of products, including vaccines, cultivated Meat and essential components for infant nutrition.
Instead of manipulating cellular functions by introducing costly growth factors or other substances into cell culture media, as is the current cultivated meat industry, Prolific Machines utilizes a method where cells equipped with light-responsive proteins are subjected to particular light frequencies. This approach referred to as optogenetics, has the capability to switch on or off specific genes, proteins, or cell processes, offering a level of cellular manipulation in the cultivated meat industry that is highly precise.. Dr. Deniz Kent, the CEO, described this technique to AgFunderNews as providing a degree of control over cells that is without precedent.
Kent points out that for many years, the approach to cellular control has involved the use of molecules, ranging from chemicals to proteins. This method, however, is not without its challenges.
Occasionally, the concern arises from the financial aspect, as highlighted by the expert. Certain growth factors that are integral to the development of therapeutic proteins (such as IGF and EGF), the cultivation of stem cells (including FGF and TGF-β), the field of tissue engineering (VEGF and PDGF), the manufacturing of vaccines (GM-CSF and IL-2), and the realm of gene therapy (FGF2 and HGF) are associated with significant costs.
Kent points out that the unpredictability of molecule behavior is a significant challenge: “The path these molecules take is not something we can direct. They are introduced into bioreactors without a way to ensure their desired trajectory. This approach is akin to casting seeds into the wind and wishing for a favorable outcome. Additionally, the introduction of any new element into a bioreactor could compromise its sterile environment, heightening the risk of contamination. Furthermore, the inherent variability of biological molecules contributes to inconsistencies in reproducibility.”
The fibroblast growth factor 2, commonly utilized in regulating various cellular processes including development, differentiation, regeneration, aging, growth, and movement, may be acquired from a consistent supplier under an identical catalog reference. However, the product’s consistency is not guaranteed to match the one purchased previously, whether it was a month or a year prior.
He elaborates that each of the mentioned challenges can be addressed using light, an economical and readily available resource in biological processes. The advantage of light lies in its manageability in terms of location and timing, enabling precise application for enhanced productivity. Moreover, the ability to direct light spatially opens avenues for the development of unique, patented products, distinct from those produced by the random movement of molecules.
Light possesses the intrinsic property of sterility, thereby mitigating the risk of contamination—a common concern when introducing molecules into bioreactors. Furthermore, its reproducibility addresses issues of inconsistency, as the characteristics of light, such as a 450 nanometer wavelength, remain constant over time, ensuring that light observed today will be identical to that seen in the future, even far beyond our lifetimes. This consistency and sterility make light an invaluable tool in scientific processes where precision and cleanliness are paramount.
