Cell Based Tech Weekly – Brooks Automation Acquires Genewiz, Saudi Prince Invests in Geltor, Milk in 2019
Categories Weekly Report
Brooks Automation Inc. (Nasdaq: BRKS) expands its Life Sciences division with its acquisition of Genewiz Group on November 15th. Brooks Life Sciences division specializes in cell tissue and harvesting collection as well as storage and transportation of live cell tissue. With the addition of Genewiz to the Life Sciences division, Brooks will add gene synthesis to their product offerings — a critical input for acellular production.
The Genewiz acquisition was announced just days prior to the Brooks Q4 earnings call on Monday the 19th. While earnings were below Wall Street expectations, the company’s product portfolio demonstrates agility to evolve towards trends in the cell based production landscape. Brooks is expecting to close 2019 with the Life Sciences division accounting for more than 40% of the company’s overall revenue. For the year, the company reported profit of $116.6 million, or $1.64 per share.
Investments
Not just any Prince of Saudi Arabia, Vegan Prince Khaled Bin Alwaleed, broke his own personal rule of not investing in companies at the seed stage for the hot cell based startup, Geltor. Vegan Prince KBA talks more about his Geltor investment and involvement in Memphis Meats and JUST, INC in an exclusive interview with VegNews.
Advancements
A partnership between Perfect Day and Archer Daniels Midland (NYSE:ADM) means cell based milk could fill your cereal bowls in 2019. http://cellbased.link/ed1dd4
Regulation
On Friday, November 16th the USDA issued a press release stating both the USDA and FDA will jointly oversee the production of cell based meat products. The FDA will oversee cell collection and growth while the USDA will oversee cell harvesting and labeling. The press release refers to cell based meat as “food products derived from the cells of livestock and poultry.” http://cellbased.link/2024f
The Great Label Debate!
The Support
“It should be labeled as what it is, meat, and all meat should be have a label detailing how it was produced. I do not want to be tricked into eating meat made in a dirty factory farm or slaughter house.”
posted by Tommy Drake on http://cellbased.link/regul98c65
The Opposition
“Lab grown meat is not beef!”
posted by Kress Barton on http://cellbased.link/regul20396
