Recently, the 2nd Synthetic Biology Industry Conference&Exhibition 2024 (SBC2024), organized by the Office of Development and Management of the Life Health Industry in Jiangbei New District of Nanjing, and endorsed by the Chinese Society for Microbiology, was successfully concluded at the Yangtze River International Conference Center in Nanjing.
With the theme “Building for Knowledge, Building for Application,” the conference was led by three academicians, including Academician Zi-Xin Deng from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Academician Anping Zeng from the National Academy of Engineering of Germany, and Academician Guoping Zhao from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The event was chaired by Professor Meijin Guo, Director of the Biochemical Process Modeling and Control Professional Committee of the Chinese Society for Microbiology and a professor at the State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering at East China University of Science and Technology. It brought together over 100 experts, scholars, and entrepreneurs in the field of synthetic biology, attracting 3000 industry professionals to discuss and share insights, contributing to the flourishing development of the synthetic biology industry.
During the conference, GeneIII Biotech Co., Ltd., headquartered in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, stood out as the sole designated sponsor for the gala dinner of the 2nd Synthetic Biology Industry Conference&Exhibition 2024, garnering significant attention from the industry.
Leading the Benchmark of Synthetic Biology “New Quality Productivity”
International Top Manufacturer of Ergothioneine — GeneIII Biotech
GeneIII Biotech Co., Ltd., headquartered in the ancient capital of Nanjing, was co-founded two years ago by Wei Ding and Dr. Yang Wang, a postdoctoral fellow in biomedical sciences from UIUC. It is a synthetic biology technology company that integrates research, production, and sales. In just two years since its establishment, leveraging synthetic biology technology, GeneIII Biotech has risen to become an international top manufacturer of ergothioneine raw materials. It was not only listed on the Synthetic Biology Industry Value List Top 50 alongside Bloomage and Giants Bio but also successfully selected as a partner in the synthetic biology industry collaboration with CCTV’s “Quality China.”
During the roundtable discussion, Wei Ding, the founder and chairman of GeneIII Biotech, along with Duan Zhiguang, Senior Vice President & CTO of Giants Bio, Professor Yuan Qipeng from Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Dr. Lu Shuhuan, Research and Development Director & Chief Scientific Officer of Cabio Biotech, and Associate Dean Gaowei Zheng from the School of Biotechnology at East China University of Science and Technology, engaged in an in-depth discussion themed “How to Utilize Synthetic Biology as a Breakthrough Pabiooint to Create ‘New Quality Productivity.'” The roundtable discussion, moderated by Professor Baishan Fang from Xiamen University, covered dimensions such as how synthetic biology can unleash “new quality productivity,” how synthetic biology can bring about changes in various industries, and how to cultivate talent in the field of synthetic biology.
“In just two and a half years, GeneIII Biotech has swiftly achieved the engineering production of ergothioneine, a mitochondrial-level antioxidant. Our first project at GeneIII Biotech is ergothioneine, and over the past two and a half years, we can proudly say that GeneIII Biotech has become an international top manufacturer of ergothioneine raw materials because we have the highest quality, maximum production capacity, and optimal cost,” shared Wei Ding, the founder and chairman of GeneIII Biotech.
Regarding how synthetic biology can bring about changes in various industries, Ding emphasized that ergothioneine was once hailed as the “Hermes of the Antioxidant World.” Two years ago, its price soared to 300,000 USD/kg. However, now, leveraging perfected techniques in strain construction, fermentation, purification, and engineering production, GeneIII Biotech has reduced the price to one-tenth of its original, allowing this precious ingredient to enter thousands of households. In the health product field, ergothioneine, when taken orally, can improve sleep, deepen sleep, and combat aging. When used in eye drops, it can improve vision and alleviate dry eyes. In the skincare field, ergothioneine brightens and revitalizes the skin, reduces fine lines, and restores a healthy complexion.
“To create products, we must strive to become the champions of niche markets. We cannot be satisfied with superficial achievements; we must achieve depth and become the leaders in niche markets,” added Wei Ding, the founder and chairman of GeneIII Biotech.
It is worth noting that with synthetic biology technology, GeneIII Biotech has achieved a purity of 99.99% for ergothioneine raw materials. Leveraging a cGMP engineering production platform, it has achieved a monthly production capacity of 3 tons, meeting the global market’s supply demands. With the advantage of raw materials, GeneIII Biotech’s skincare brand, EGT Rejuvenated Radiant Cream, and oral health product, GeneIII Ergothioneine Capsules, have received positive feedback upon their launch. According to data from the Alibaba Business Insights platform, in March of this year, GeneIII Ergothioneine ranked first in the Tmall International “Ergothioneine Category Store List” in terms of transaction index.
2B2C Dual-Drive Rapid Commercialization
Bringing Gold-Class Ergothioneine into Every Household
At the Special Forum on Innovative Medical Aesthetics and Cosmetics Applications, Dr. Yang Wang, Co-founder and Chief Scientist of GeneIII Biotech, delivered a presentation titled “Negative Carbon Biosynthesis of Ergothioneine Based on Directed Evolution.”
Dr. Wang stated that in today’s era, synthetic biology has become an integral part of national strategy. The “14th Five-Year Plan and Vision 2035 Outline” explicitly lists synthetic biology as one of the forefront areas of technology. It not only nurtures new changes in the field of life sciences but also points the way forward for future technological development. As an active explorer in this field, GeneIII Biotech is committed to promoting the production and application of ergothioneine through synthetic biology technology, bringing revolutionary innovation to the medical aesthetics and cosmetics industries.
During the speech, Dr. Wang shared the principles of ergothioneine’s role in “mitochondrial-level anti-aging” from the perspective of anti-aging science. He explained, “Long-term aerobic respiration fills mitochondria with free radicals. After mitochondrial damage reaches a certain level, mitochondrial cells release signaling molecules for cell death, participating in regulating the life and death decisions of cells. Ergothioneine is the only intelligent antioxidant with a clear mechanism that can enter cells and mitochondria to remove free radicals. How to benefit the public and make it more widely used is a challenge for molecular biologists. In the pursuit of this challenge and through reflection, we have gained more and more information.”
As Dr. Wang mentioned, for a long time, ergothioneine has not been widely used due to its complex extraction process and high raw material costs. It is reported that initially, ergothioneine was extracted from mushrooms, with only 40mg of ergothioneine contained in 1 kg of Ganoderma lucidum. Therefore, even international skincare brands could only achieve “conceptual addition.”
“We need to control gene expression and find metabolic pathways because the original protein structure cannot meet industrial production requirements. With the support of synthetic biology technology, we have established a platform for chromosome editing systems. They are like computers that can produce what we want by re-editing these ‘software.’ Through fermentation, purification, and engineering production, we achieve a purity of 99.99%, allowing ergothioneine, this precious ingredient, to be abundantly added to skincare products and oral health products, and brought into ordinary households,” said Dr. Wang.
Gathering Elites, Shaping the Future
“GeneIII Biotech Night” Illuminates a New Chapter in Synthetic Biology
At the climax of the 2024 Synthetic Biology Industry Expo, the “GeneIII Biotech Night” banquet, as the sole designated sponsor of the gala dinner for this expo, was hosted by Professor Meijin Guo from East China University of Science and Technology, bringing together over 100 distinguished figures in the field of synthetic biology.
At the banquet, Wei Ding, the founder and chairman of GeneIII Biotech, shared the company’s development history and future vision. He also sought new directions for synthetic biology research and development from industry experts present, hoping to work together with colleagues in the industry to promote innovation and development in synthetic biology.
Mr. Ding stated that GeneIII Biotech is not only constantly breaking through in products and technologies but also committed to building an open academic exchange platform. GeneIII Biotech sincerely invites experts and scholars to come to Nanjing and GeneIII Biotech, participate in salon seminars, and jointly explore cutting-edge topics in synthetic biology, promoting the deep integration of industry, academia, and research. “GeneIII Biotech Night” is not only a celebration of achievements in the field of synthetic biology but also the starting point for in-depth dialogue and cooperation within the industry.
With the successful conclusion of the 2024 2nd Synthetic Biology Industry Expo, we have reason to believe that the future of synthetic biology will be brighter, and GeneIII Biotech will continue to play a leading role in this field, contributing more to human health and sustainable development.
