Zydus Affiliate Scales Optogenetics Platform

The biopharmaceutical landscape is witnessing a significant technological leap as Zylidac Bio LLC, a wholly owned biologics contract development and manufacturing organisation of Zydus Lifesciences Limited joins forces with the biotechnology innovator Prolific Machines. This strategic partnership is specifically structured to scale Prolific's proprietary, light-controlled biomanufacturing technology from early-stage cell line development all the way up to commercial Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards. By combining cutting-edge biotechnology with industrial-scale infrastructure, the two Emeryville, California-based entities intend to introduce a streamlined, end-to-end drug substance production pathway for clients globally. Prolific Machines has developed a bespoke photomolecular platform that leverages light and optogenetics to directly control gene and protein expression within living cell lines. Traditional biomanufacturing relies heavily on chemical triggers to manage cellular behavior, which can often result in unpredictable yields or poor process control. Prolific's method introduces artificial intelligence (AI) process data, hardware illumination tools, and advanced analytics to optimize outputs. The efficiency of this light-based system has already yielded impressive milestones, including a record productivity level of 21 g/L for monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and up to three-fold titer increases for structurally intricate biological formats. This approach is particularly effective for multi-specific antibodies, fusion proteins, and complex cytokines that are historically difficult to express.