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Viridos (company)
American synthetic biology company

In September 2021, Synthetic Genomics Inc. (SGI), a private company located in La Jolla, California, changed its name to Viridos. The company is focused on the field of synthetic biology, especially harnessing photosynthesis with micro algae to create alternatives to fossil fuels. Viridos designs and builds biological systems to address global sustainability problems.

Synthetic biology is an interdisciplinary branch of biology and engineering, combining fields such as biotechnology, evolutionary biology, molecular biology, systems biology, biophysics, computer engineering, and genetic engineering. Synthetic Genomics uses techniques such as software engineering, bioprocessing, bioinformatics, biodiscovery, analytical chemistry, fermentation, cell optimization, and DNA synthesis to design and build biological systems. The company produces or performs research in the fields of sustainable bio-fuels, insect resistant crops, transplantable organs, targeted medicines, DNA synthesis instruments as well as a number of biological reagents.

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Core markets

SGI mainly operates in three end markets: research, bioproduction and applied products. The research segment focuses on genomics solutions for academic and commercial research organizations. The commercial products and services include instrumentation, reagents, DNA synthesis services, and bioinformatics services and software. In 2015, the company launched the BioXP 3200 system,3 a fully automated benchtop instrument that produces DNA fragments from many different sources for genomic data.

The company's efforts in bio-based production are intended to improve both existing production hosts and develop entirely new synthetic production hosts with the goal of more efficient routes to bioproducts.

SGI has a number of commercial as well as research and development stage programs across a variety of industries. Some of these research partnerships include:

PartnerFocusTarget
United TherapeuticsOrgan TransplantationTo reduce the risk of rejection in organ transplantation4
Novartis VaccinesVaccinesTo stockpile synthetic flu vaccines for rapid response to global flu outbreaks5
ADMFood OilTo provide nutritional oils that overcome cost barrier in multiple applications6
MonsantoAgricultureTo map microbiome metagenome related to plant health and crop yield7
ExxonMobilBiodieselTo develop an algae platform that can produce economically viable biodiesel8

History

Synthetic Genomics was founded in the spring of 2005 by J. Craig Venter, Nobel Laureate Hamilton O. Smith, Juan Enriquez, and David Kiernan. Venter (and Smith)'s previous company, Celera Genomics, was a driving force in the race to sequence the human genome.9 The firm takes its name from the phrase synthetic genomics which is a scientific discipline of synthetic biology related to the generation of organisms artificially using genetic material.1011

Many of SGI's collaborations have been with energy companies. In 2007, SGI worked with BP to commercialize microbial-based processes for increasing the conversion and recovery of subsurface hydrocarbons.12 In 2009, SGI received funding from ExxonMobil to produce biofuels on an industrial-scale using recombinant algae and other microorganisms.1314 The company purchased an 81-acre site (33 ha) in the Imperial Valley in Southern California to produce algae fuel for their collaboration with Exxon Mobil.15 They also signed a collaborative agreement with New England Biolabs to Launch Gibson Assembly Master Mix Product for Synthetic and Molecular Biology Applications in 2012.16

In 2010, Synthetic Genomics spun off a new subsidiary, Synthetic Genomics Vaccines Inc., to develop next generation vaccines17

In 2014 SGI expanded into the field of organ transplantation with a collaborative agreement with United Therapeutics valued at $50M18 and brought in Oliver Fetzer as CEO.19

References

  1. "News and Media". Viridos. Retrieved 2022-05-23. https://www.viridos.com/media/ ↩

  2. "Algal Genomics and Biotechnology". Viridos. Retrieved 2022-05-23. https://www.viridos.com/about-us/ ↩

  3. "SGI-DNA Launches the BioXp™ 3200 System Early Access Program". SGI-DNA. http://www.syntheticgenomics.com/040215.html ↩

  4. "Synthetic Genomics Inc. Expands Collaborative Research and Development Agreement with Lung Biotechnology PBC, a Subsidiary of United Therapeutics Corporation, to Develop Organs for Transplantation". www.prnewswire.com. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/synthetic-genomics-inc-expands-collaborative-research-and-development-agreement-with-lung-biotechnology-pbc-a-subsidiary-of-united-therapeutics-corporation-to-develop-organs-for-transplantation-300147402.html ↩

  5. "Novartis Teams with Synthetic Genomics Vaccines to Develop Flu Seed Virus Banks". 7 October 2010. http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/novartis-teams-with-synthetic-genomics-vaccines-to-develop-flu-seed-virus-banks/81244037/ ↩

  6. "algaeplanet.com". algaeplanet.com. https://algaeplanet.com/ ↩

  7. "Monsanto Acquires Parts of Agradis, Partners with Synthetic Genomics". http://www.xconomy.com/san-diego/2013/01/31/monsanto-acquires-parts-of-agradis-partners-with-synthetic-genomics/ ↩

  8. "Exxon Sinks $600M Into Algae-Based Biofuels in Major Strategy Shift". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/07/14/14greenwire-exxon-sinks-600m-into-algae-based-biofuels-in-33562.html ↩

  9. "About Synthetic Genomics". Synthetic Genomics' corporate website. Archived from the original on September 24, 2005. Retrieved November 26, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050924142325/http://syntheticgenomics.com/about.htm ↩

  10. Whitehouse, David (July 4, 2005). "Venter revives synthetic bug talk". BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4636121.stm ↩

  11. Pennisi, E. (2010). "Genomics. Synthetic genome brings new life to bacterium". Science. 328 (5981): 958–959. doi:10.1126/science.328.5981.958. PMID 20488994. /wiki/Elizabeth_Pennisi ↩

  12. "Algae Biofuel | Viridos - Formerly Synthetic Genomics". Viridos. https://www.viridos.com ↩

  13. "Juha-Pekka Tikka : Craig Venter Has Algae Biofuel in Synthetic Genomics' Pipeline. Xconomy San Diego. 6/4/09". http://www.xconomy.com/san-diego/2009/06/04/craig-venter-has-algae-biofuel-in-synthetic-genomics-pipeline/ ↩

  14. "Scientist on plan to turn algae to fuel". NPR. July 15, 2009. https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106658672 ↩

  15. "Press Release". http://www.algaeobserver.com/synthetic-genomics-inc-purchases-81-acre-site-in-south-california-desert#more-1033 ↩

  16. "Synthetic Genomics, New England Biolabs Partner to Commercialize DNA Assembly Product". GenomeWeb. February 8, 2012. https://www.genomeweb.com/pcr/synthetic-genomics-new-england-biolabs-partner-commercialize-dna-assembly-product ↩

  17. "Press Release". http://www.xconomy.com/san-diego/2010/10/07/venter-institute-synthetic-genomics-form-vaccine-company-partner-with-novartis/ ↩

  18. "Article". http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2014/may/06/synthetic-genomics-pigs-lung-therapeutics/ ↩

  19. "Union Tribune Article". http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2014/oct/27/synthetic-genomics-ceo-fetzer-venter/ ↩