Biotechnology & Synthetic Biology
Programming life: CRISPR, protein design, biofoundries, biomaterials
Overview
Programming and engineering living systems. CRISPR gene therapies, designed proteins, biological fermentation, bio-inspired materials.
Impact: Cures for genetic diseases, exajoule-scale bioproduction, new materials, zero-waste manufacturing
Involved actors
Projects
Active
Editas Medicine — CRISPR Gene Therapy
Editas
Pipeline of 20+ indications. First approvals 2024-2025, aggressive expansion 2026+.
Clinical CRISPR therapies. Inherited diseases, cancers, infections.
- CRISPR delivery
- Clinical trials
- Rare disease indication
- Manufacturing
Roadmap: Approvals across multiple indications
2025-2026
DeepMind — AlphaFold & Protein Design
DeepMind/Google
AlphaFold across every problem. Massive drug discovery acceleration. Custom-designed therapeutics.
AlphaFold3 structure prediction. Ab initio protein design. Therapeutics pipeline.
- AlphaFold3
- Protein design
- Drug discovery
- Biologics
- Academic releases
Roadmap: First AlphaFold-discovered drug Phase 3
2027-2028
Intrexon (Precigen) — Biomanufacturing
Precigen / Intrexon
Bio-manufacturing at scale. Chemicals, fuels, materials via optimized fermentation.
Production biofoundries. Yeast, algae, bacteria for industrial products.
- Strain engineering
- Fermentation optimization
- Industrial scale
- Product portfolio
- Cost reduction
Roadmap: Gigaton-scale production
2027-2028
Mylo & Bolt Threads — Biomaterials
Bolt Threads
Producing otherwise impossible materials via fermentation. Sustainable, high-performance fashion.
Biosynthetic materials. Mylo (mushroom leather), spider silk proteins, performance textiles.
- Mycelium cultivation
- Silk protein production
- Textile manufacturing
- Durability
Roadmap: Production scaled to 1,000 tonnes/year
2026-2027
Genentech & Collaborators — mRNA Therapeutics
Genentech / Roche
Expansion beyond COVID. RSV approval, influenza clinical data, cancer vaccines in Phase 2/3.
Post-COVID mRNA platforms. Vaccines, cancers, monogenic diseases.
- mRNA platform
- Lipid nanoparticles
- Vaccine development
- Cancer immunity
Roadmap: Multiple cancer vaccine approvals
2026-2027