This state-of-the-art facility not only doubles IDT's production capacity but also introduces cutting-edge technologies and energy-efficient measures to enhance gene synthesis capabilities. With rapid gene synthesis offerings on the horizon and a strategic vision for growth, IDT is poised to meet the burgeoning demand in the synthetic biology market and drive the next wave of genomic medicine advancements. We spoke to Demaris Mills, vice president and group executive, genomics medicine at Danaher.
Facility details and capacity
Can you provide more details about the new 25,000-square-foot synthetic biology facility in Coralville, Iowa? How will doubling your production capacity impact your overall operations and customer offerings?
The new facility expands IDT’s existing synthetic biology manufacturing operations, adding additional lab spaces and manufacturing capacity to support our long-term growth strategy for our synthetic biology product portfolio. The increased footprint will enable IDT to introduce new features and product enhancements, such as a rapid gene synthesis offering, which we anticipate launching soon.
With the synthetic biology market experiencing rapid growth, IDT has made a strategic investment in the U.S. to expand its manufacturing capacity. This demonstrates our commitment to continuing to innovate for our customers and develop solutions that meet their synthetic biology needs.
Technological advancements
What specific technologies or innovations will this modern, energy-efficient facility utilize to enhance gene synthesis capabilities?
The facility was entirely renovated to create a state-of-the-art chemical processing lab equipped with all of the support systems required to enable the synthetic biology process. The facility and flow were designed for lean manufacturing, feature LED lighting to reduce energy consumption and environmental harm, and allows us to deploy waste minimization strategies to offset our environmental impact.
Can you elaborate on the new rapid synthesis offerings that are expected to be released later this year?
Our new rapid genes offering, launching soon, will enable pharmaceutical researchers to move quickly into their high‑throughput screening experiments. With rapid genes, customers can expect faster turnaround times and a complete solution to advance their drug discovery work sooner.
Operational efficiency
How will the 24/7 operation of this facility contribute to IDT’s efficiency and turnaround times for synthetic biology products? What measures are in place to ensure the facility remains energy-efficient despite increased production?
All IDT facilities are purpose-built to meet or exceed building-industry standards. Our facilities are also supported by an internal environmental and sustainability program, and are continually monitored to track our environmental footprint.
To ensure production can maintain operations at all times, we added a building-wide generator to ensure a 24/7 power supply to the building, which is also equipped with its own uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system.
We also incorporated energy efficient measures as part of the design. For example, the facility features LED lighting that helps to reduce energy consumption and environmental harm.
Product portfolio expansion
How does the launch of this facility expand IDT’s synthetic biology portfolio? Can you highlight some of the key gene and gene fragment products that will benefit from this increased capacity?
With this increased footprint, we’re introducing new product enhancements, including a rapid gene synthesis offering launching soon. In addition, IDT is also rolling out enhancements to its existing gene synthesis offerings, including additional bacterial and mammalian expression vectors, expanded yield up to 100 µg with an endotoxin-free option, and lower pricing.
Recently, we launched a custom vector onboarding tool as the latest addition to IDT’s broad synthetic biology portfolio, which is comprised of genes and gene fragments.
Market demand and trends
What trends in the field of synthetic biology are driving the growing demand that this new facility aims to meet? How does IDT plan to stay ahead of emerging trends and technological advancements in synthetic biology?
Our decision to invest in this facility was driven by increasing customer demand for our synthetic biology product offerings. The synthetic biology market is experiencing rapid growth, with market research studies predicting growth rates in the range of 20-30% within the next 8-10 years. IDT intends to continue playing a pivotal role in the market, and this investment demonstrates our commitment to continue innovating for our customers and developing solutions to meet their synthetic biology needs.
IDT remains at the forefront of these emerging trends and technological advancements. The expansion of IDT's synthetic biology manufacturing facility marks IDT’s second facility completion in the last 12 months. In late 2023, IDT announced the completion of its new Therapeutic Oligonucleotide Manufacturing facility in Iowa, which commemorated our entrance into the therapeutics space.
These recent investments reinforce IDT’s legacy in DNA synthesis and research, which is backed by decades of experience serving the field of genomics, and showcase us as a present-day industry leader that
continually evolves to meet the ever-changing needs of customers.
Strategic vision and leadership
As IDT's president and the new vice president and group executive of Genomic Medicines at Danaher, what is your strategic vision for IDT's role in the synthetic biology market?
We are at a pivotal moment in the field of genomic medicine. The FDA’s landmark approval of the first commercially available CRISPR-based gene therapy for the treatment of sickle cell disease last year has unlocked an exciting chapter—one that has transformed healthcare as we know it. With more promising treatments in the pipeline, we’ve now hit a turning point in how medicine is practiced, ultimately to cure diseases that were once considered incurable.
In light of these advancements, IDT’s strategic vision is to be at the forefront of this genetic revolution. We aim to be a trusted partner for researchers and developers in the gene writing and editing field, providing them with solutions that are foundational to delivering on the promise of therapies to patients.
We are making strategic investments in our manufacturing infrastructure and innovation to achieve these goals. Our new synthetic biology manufacturing facility and increased production capacity reflects our commitment to meet the growing demand for synthetic biology products.
How do you see the relationship between IDT and Danaher evolving, particularly in the context of genomic medicines?
The relationship between IDT and Danaher is one of synergy and mutual growth. Our recent investment in a new synthetic biology manufacturing facility reflects this.
As I lead at both levels, at the Genomic Medicines Group for Danaher while maintaining my seat as president of IDT, I’ve been leveraging the synergies both the operating company and group can provide to achieve our common goal of accelerating the impact we’re making in genomic medicine, and the patients that are at the center of what we do. This type of coordination is already happening, as reflected in the Danaher-Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI) Beacon for CRISPR Cures that launched earlier this year. The collaboration brings together the power of many Danaher operating companies, including IDT, along with the IGI, to develop gene-editing therapies for rare and other diseases with the goal of creating a new model for future development for a wide range of genomic medicines.
In this extended capacity, I’ll continue to harness the power that both IDT and the Danaher Genomic Medicines Group can provide to create greater value, accelerate speed to market, and deliver differentiated solutions and capabilities to customers.
Customer impact
How will the increased production capacity and new offerings benefit your existing and potential customers? Are there any specific customer segments or industries that you expect to see the most impact from this expansion?
The increased production capacity and new offerings at Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT) will bring significant benefits to both our existing and potential customers, enabling them to conduct their research more efficiently and effectively, ultimately accelerating the pace of innovation in genomic medicine. Increased capacity means we can meet our customers’ need for high-quality synthetic DNA in a timely manner.
Our new offerings, such as the upcoming rapid gene synthesis offering and our newly launched custom vector onboarding tool, are designed to streamline and accelerate the research process. For example, our custom vector onboarding tool enables researchers easily validate their vector online so they can skip in-house cloning steps and move quickly into functional studies with 100% sequence-verified clonal DNA. This not only saves valuable time but also allows customers the flexibility to express genes in their own custom vector anytime, without reoccurring cloning fees.
Future growth and expansion
Are there any plans for further expansion or additional facilities in the near future?
We are continually assessing our business needs alongside market demand, as well as looking for opportunities to grow, expand, and optimize our existing footprint. For example, in our synthetic biology facility, we intentionally designed the space to support future expansion needs as our business evolves.
How does this new facility fit into IDT’s long-term growth strategy?
The new synthetic biology manufacturing facility is a key component of Integrated DNA Technologies’ (IDT) long-term growth strategy. Our investment in this new facility is a strategic move designed to support our ambitious growth plans. By doubling our synthetic biology footprint, we are significantly increasing our production capacity, allowing us to meet the global demand for synthetic DNA and keep pace with the speed of innovation happening in medicine.
Looking ahead, this facility lays the groundwork for future expansion. As the field of genomic medicine continues to evolve, so too will IDT’s capabilities. In that sense, this facility is more than just a building; it represents our commitment to growth, innovation, and the future of genomic medicine.
Community and workforce
What impact will the new facility have on the local community in Coralville, Iowa?Can you provide insight into any new job opportunities or workforce expansions associated with this new facility?
IDT is proud to be a longstanding contributor of the science and innovation activity happening in Coralville, supporting the business community and providing a great place to work for employees and potential associates who are pursuing a career in science and manufacturing.
As we continue to execute our growth strategy, we anticipate that this new facility will add dozens of new positions over the next few years.