Share to twitterIt’s taken 30 years of biotech, but synthetic biology can now engineer antibodies in the lab faster than the body can do it, with potential cures for everything from snake bites to a universal flu vaccine.For decades, the field of immunology was a black box. Leading experts in science and medicine had only a basic understanding of the powerful complexity of the human immune system.
Nearly forty years later, the fields of immunology and pharmacology are in the midst of another surge of scientific growth. Equipped with knowledge and tools acquired from various disciplines, biotechnology companies likeare redefining how pharmaceutical companies identify, design, and synthesize therapeutics.
Distributed Bio then used its platform and cash to build a powerful antibody discovery and optimization lab. “We started licensing out not just on the data, but the ability to actually engineer new medicines,” says Glanville. “That’s when our company really started growing much faster because that was worth a lot more. That bootstrapped us to the point where we’re producing therapeutics, which is where we are now.
“If you can make an antibody, it’s an awesome drug,” he says, “but it’s really hard and time consuming. It can take over a year to do the engineering. It used to take longer.”
So much variability in our immune system can one drug or vaccine work for everyone.
Furry blue balls
Outstanding.