News Digest #231 – New chemicals and materials report, living medicines, P&G embraces the biobased future (sponsored by P&G)

Hi all,This week’s digest is made possible by Procter & Gamble, whose Amy Trejo spoke with me yesterday about opportunities for synthetic biology companies to partner with the P&G’s of the world. Today, we also take a look at how major companies like P&G are embracing the bioeconomy, listening to their customers and responding to the demand for environmentally sustainable products.Next week we’ll be announcing the first of five special SynBioBeta reports on how synthetic biology is transforming long-established industry sectors. The first will be on chemicals and materials - a $5 trillion sector that thrives on innovation to make everything from plastics to perfumes. Join us to hear about how the latest synbio research and startups can help address this sector’s new unmet needs.This week, we discuss how giving beneficial microbes the ability to produce human proteins may make them more powerful contributors to skin health, and how Azitra is harnessing such microbes to treat a range of skin diseases.

In other news, Synlogic published preclinical data that highlight the potential of synthetic live bacterial therapeutics to treat phenylketonuria. SynBioBeta columnist Embriette Hyde has more on how Synlogic, through their partnership with Ginkgo Bioworks, is able to target conditions like PKU and many others.Finally, check out my recent talk "If you don’t have a bio strategy, you’re doomed!" in France about why every company needs a plan to incorporate biology into their existing mission, vision, and goals. Check out our latest speakers and join us in October for SynBioBeta 2018 and Synthetic Biology Week.

Have a wonderful week!John

The assembly line of the future: Automation, DNA construction, and synthetic biology

UKI2S announces seed investment in Cagen, a company using protein nanocages

Inari secures $40 million in Series B funding to expand gene-editing for crop breeding

Canada’s first Genome Foundry is using robots to build synthetic genomes

Bactevo announces addition to scientific advisory board and company name change

Call for nominations: NAS announces a consensus study “Safeguarding the Bioeconomy"</