Ginkgo Bioworks announced a collaboration with ProQR Therapeutics that gives the biotech firm access to more than 50 autonomous laboratory instruments on Ginkgo’s Nebula platform, a move that aligns with Ginkgo’s strategy to monetize its automation infrastructure and move beyond its legacy service‑based model.
Under the agreement, ProQR will use the Nebula platform to accelerate its Axiomer™ RNA‑editing research. The partnership is expected to speed the development of ProQR’s lead program AX‑0810 for cholestatic liver disease and other RNA‑editing candidates, with a clinical trial filing anticipated in mid‑2026.
Ginkgo’s pivot toward autonomous labs is underscored by the launch of its Ginkgo Cloud Lab in March 2026 and the divestiture of its biosecurity business. Full‑year 2025 revenue of $170 million, down 25% from the prior year, highlights the need for new revenue streams. The ProQR partnership adds a high‑profile customer and a potential recurring revenue source from instrument usage and cloud‑based services.
While the financial terms of the deal are undisclosed, Ginkgo has made a strategic equity investment in ProQR. The partnership also positions Ginkgo to expand adoption of its Reconfigurable Automation Carts (RACs) among other life‑science companies, potentially driving future sales of the platform.
CEO Jason Kelly said, "Autonomous labs are poised to scale and accelerate the high‑mix work that a lab bench supports. By opening up our autonomous infrastructure through the Cloud Lab, we’re giving scientists access to these tools today." ProQR’s founder Daniel A. de Boer added, "We’re pleased to have announced the partnership with Ginkgo Bioworks, providing us access to their state‑of‑the‑art autonomous lab enabling high‑throughput data generation to further scale up our AI‑enabled drug discovery."
The collaboration signals Ginkgo’s confidence in its automation platform and its ability to generate recurring revenue from cloud‑based lab services. For ProQR, the partnership removes a key bottleneck in data generation, accelerating its AI‑driven RNA‑editing pipeline and positioning the company to file a clinical trial for AX‑0810 in 2026.
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