In a groundbreaking move that promises to transform the landscape of biologics production, KBio and ZERO have joined forces to establish the world’s first transportable globally distributed plant-based molecular farming network. KBio, renowned for its expertise in developing biological treatments derived from a plant-based production system, and ZERO, an Italian agtech company specializing in advanced controlled growing environments, are set to combine their strengths to create tailor-made solutions for therapeutic, pandemic preparedness, and bioactive ingredient production.
The strategic alliance between these two innovative companies aims to capitalize on KBio’s groundbreaking N. benthamiana bioreactor technology and ZERO’s automated, modular, and contamination-free vertical plant growing setup. The partnership intends to design and build a diverse portfolio of end-to-end solutions, which can be rapidly deployed worldwide in emergencies or function in large, centralized hubs to provide commercial supply and CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) services to multi-sector customers.
KBio’s status as a world leader in plant-based biologics production stems from its platform’s ability to generate highly pure proteins more efficiently and at a lower cost compared to traditional technologies. Patrick Doyle, the CEO of KBio, emphasized the significance of the collaboration with ZERO, revealing their plans for joint research and development activities in the United States, the UK, and Italy. These initiatives will encompass the production of monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, and various bio-industrial products with diverse applications in the food, nutraceutical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical sectors.
Daniele Modesto, the CEO of ZERO, echoed this enthusiasm, underscoring the advantage of ZERO’s proprietary hardware and software technologies in terms of productivity, installation speed, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. Through integrating KBio’s technologies into all of its commercial farms across Europe, the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council), Southeast Asia, and North America, ZERO envisions an immediate response to pandemic emergencies by rapidly producing antibodies and vaccines. The collaboration aims to leverage ZERO’s state-of-the-art vertical farming technology in tandem with KBio’s plant-based platform to achieve their shared mission of swiftly developing innovative solutions to enhance people’s lives globally.
KBio’s vision revolves around creating a new generation of biologics by utilizing its plant-based platform, which has demonstrated the remarkable ability to develop drug candidates at a fraction of the time and cost compared to conventional methods. Focused on discovering monoclonal antibodies that target validated pathways for rare and infectious diseases, KBio’s rapid antibody production system allows them to develop fast-follower therapies against established drug targets. Moreover, the platform’s unique capabilities make it well-suited for addressing public health challenges, where rapid development and large-scale production of vaccines are essential. The company collaborates with various health organizations that fund its public health-specific pipeline.
ZERO’s mission centers on setting the standard for vertical farming. Acknowledging the significant advantages of vertical farms in terms of product quality, safety, and environmental impact, ZERO aims to make vertical farming accessible, reliable, scalable, and financially sustainable. The company aspires to become the leading B2B technology solution provider, capable of conceiving, building, and operating turn-key vertical farms in collaboration with industry leaders across different sectors and geographies.
The collaboration between KBio and ZERO represents a powerful fusion of expertise and cutting-edge technologies. By combining their strengths, these two companies are poised to drive advancements in biologics production, leading to breakthroughs in treatments, pandemic preparedness, and bioactive ingredients on a global scale. As they forge ahead with their mission, the world eagerly awaits the groundbreaking solutions that will emerge from this pioneering partnership.
Photo by Noah Buscher on Unsplash
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