EMERYVILLE, Calif., May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Zymergen Inc. (“Zymergen” or the “Company”), today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Octant for the sale of a modular automation system to Octant’s scale next-generation platform for developing breakthrough drugs.
Zymergen’s comprehensive automation solution includes modular hardware, modern web-based software, custom and turnkey workflows, and active monitoring and support. This technology will be integrated with Octant’s existing platform which uses synthetic biology, high-throughput multiplexed assays, synthetic chemistry and computation to design and interrogate drugs, proteins and signaling pathways. During this multi-phase partnership, the two companies will work together to expand Octant’s platform, enable new automated workflows and increase throughput as instruments are added to the scalable system.
“Octant is a leading therapeutic company focused on developing drugs that match the complexity of human disease,” said Sri Kosuri, Co-Founder and CEO of Octant. “Zymergen is a key partner in helping us move this effort forward. Zymergen’s automation technology will accelerate our ability to create drugs with novel mechanisms of action guided by massive datasets in engineered human cells. These datasets provide insight into genetics, chemistry, biochemical function, and disease phenotypes. Technology will help us accelerate and scale our development of life-changing drugs and therapies for some of the world’s most challenging diseases. »
“At Zymergen, having built and operated our own large-scale in-house automation system for years, we have a unique and insightful view of the challenges that must be solved to fully automate, maintain, scale and reconfigure such a system,” Zymergen said. Acting CEO, Jay Flatley. “Our technology supports the flexibility, throughput and precision demanded by Octant’s rapidly evolving therapeutic platform. We are thrilled to partner with their team and look forward to expanding the business potential of our automation technology with other customers. »
The initial installation consists of 5 reconfigurable automation carts with plans to expand over time as Octant adapts its workflows. Additional terms of the agreement were not disclosed. This is Zymergen’s first customer agreement since the company announced the commercialization of its high-performance automation systems earlier this year.
About Zymergen Automation Technology
Zymergen’s automation technology is designed to improve the throughput, efficiency and reliability of laboratory operations. It is based on building blocks called Reconfigurable Automation Carts, or RACs, which house task-focused instruments such as liquid handlers and analytical devices. RACs are easily connected to form a raceway that moves plates from station to station and can be remotely controlled by Zymergen’s cloud software that schedules workflows, monitors progress, and collects scientific data , process and instrument performance. A RAC system can scale to different sizes depending on throughput and application, and can be reconfigured in hours. To learn more, visit zymergen.com/automation.
About Zymergen
Zymergen is a biotechnology company that designs and produces molecules, microbes and materials for various end markets. We partner with nature to make better products, a better way, for a better world. For more information, visit www.zymergen.com.
About Octant
Octant is a next-generation therapeutics company integrating novel and large-scale experimental technologies (multiplexed measurements and high-throughput synthetic chemistry) with computations to solve complex drug discovery challenges. Octant designs drugs with novel mechanisms of action guided by large, proprietary datasets in engineered human cells that provide insight into genomes, drug candidates, biochemical function and disease phenotypes. The Octant platform uses synthetic biology, high-throughput multiplexed assays, synthetic chemistry and computation to engineer and interrogate drugs, proteins and cellular pathways at unprecedented scales. For more information, visit www.octant.bio.
Forward-looking statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of the Company and on the information currently available to it as of the date of this press release. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “may”, “will”, “continue”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “could”, “plan”, “will”. expect” or the negative or plural of these similar words or expressions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the customer pipeline for our automation business, the potential benefits of our automation technology and services to our customers, and our expectations for future improvement and expansion of our automation technology. and services for our customers. Forward-looking statements may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, risks relating to the Company’s ability to attract and retain automation customers and to provide and develop its automation technology and services for its customers. These and other risks are described in more detail in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, and other documents that the Company subsequently files with the SEC. Except to the extent required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.
Zymergen Investor Contact
investors@zymergen.com
Octant, Inc. Media Contacts
press@octant.bio