Prolific Machines, a trailblazer in biotechnology that utilizes light to achieve unparalleled cellular control, has been awarded a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The funding will support the development of Prolific Machines' groundbreaking platform designed to produce monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) at a fraction of the current cost while also improving the quality of these life-saving drugs. This initiative is particularly focused on making these therapies accessible and affordable for preventing infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV, and RSV in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Monoclonal antibodies have transformed the treatment and prevention of various diseases, offering immediate protection upon administration, even for individuals with compromised immune systems. However, the high costs associated with mAb production have made these therapies largely inaccessible to populations in the developing world. Despite 85% of the global population living in LMICs, the majority of mAb sales are concentrated in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

The potential of mAbs to prevent and halt the transmission of diseases like malaria is immense. The World Health Organization reported that over 600,000 people died from malaria in 2022, with more than 75% of these deaths occurring in children under the age of five. By reducing the production costs of mAbs, Prolific Machines aims to change this grim statistic by making these therapies available to those who need them most.

Optogenetics, the technology at the heart of Prolific Machines' platform, is a cutting-edge tool for biomanufacturing mAbs and other difficult-to-express (DTE) proteins. This technology allows for precise and highly tunable control over biological processes, which could dramatically reduce the cost per dose of mAbs, thereby increasing their accessibility in the world's poorest regions.

With the support of the Gates Foundation, Prolific Machines will demonstrate the application of optogenetics in mAb production. If successful, this method could be adapted to address various unmet medical needs in LMICs, paving the way for the broad implementation of affordable, safe, and effective mAbs to prevent infectious diseases.

"Our platform holds enormous potential to revolutionize the production of biologics and cell-based therapies using light," said Deniz Kent, PhD, Co-Founder & CEO of Prolific Machines. "We are deeply honored to receive this grant from the Gates Foundation, which will allow us to reimagine the manufacturing of these vital medicines. We are eager to apply our learnings from this project to ensure the success of future initiatives."