Pictor Biotech (operating as SolarBiotech), GPC Bio and Eleszto Genetika have announced their strategic unification under a single ownership structure.

This consolidation aims to create a vertically integrated entity poised to leverage precision fermentation technologies in response to growing demand within the food and beverage manufacturing industries.

The merger brings together over 100 professionals, including engineers and scientists, enhancing the collective expertise in microbial strain engineering and bioprocess development. The newly unified organisation aims to streamline operations across all stages of biomanufacturing, from initial product ideation to large-scale commercial production.

The biomanufacturing landscape faces challenges, particularly in microbial strain engineering, where restrictive intellectual property and scaling difficulties have historically impeded faster product development.

The unification of these three companies is intended to address these obstacles, providing a more robust framework for innovation and operational efficiency.

Alex Berlin, CEO of Pictor Biotech, said: "The challenges of microbial strain engineering often hindered by restrictive intellectual property and the technical hurdles of scaling bioprocesses, have long impeded the faster development of synthetic biology products".

By pooling resources and expertise, the organisation aims to accelerate the development of synthetic biology products.

Zsolt Popsé, CEO of GPC Bio, added: "With nearly 20 years of experience in designing, engineering, automating and deploying biomanufacturing equipment, we have delivered world-class facilities for leading biopharmaceutical companies such as Merck, Sanofi and Millipore-Sigma, as well as major food and beverage companies like Cargill, Groupe Soufflet and Lesaffre. The integration of GPC Bio with EG and SolarBiotech places us in a unique position to mitigate risk and accelerate growth in the biomanufacturing space."

Lóránd Szabó, managing director of Eleszto Genetika, emphasized the importance of transitioning products from laboratory to commercial scale. "By joining forces with Solar Biotech and GPC Bio, we can efficiently transition products from laboratory scale to commercial production, overcoming the typical hurdles faced by non-integrated organisations," he commented.

The executive management teams from the three companies will continue in their current roles, ensuring continuity in leadership as the integration progresses. The focus will be on enhancing operational capabilities and expanding service offerings within the biomanufacturing ecosystem.

Image credit: ©Eleszto Genetika

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