Revitalizing Cultivated Meat Research: GFI Acquires SCiFi Foods’ Cell Lines
The landscape of cultivated meat is evolving as the Good Food Institute (GFI) steps in to address critical challenges related to the development of cell lines. With time and financial constraints stifling innovation, GFI has acquired cell lines and serum-free media formulations from the now-defunct SCiFi Foods. This initiative aims to make these resources accessible first to academic institutions and then to the broader industry.
Removing Barriers for Startups
According to Dr. Amanda Hildebrand, Vice President of Science and Technology at GFI, the availability of SCiFi’s cell lines and growth media formulations will eliminate significant barriers for future startups. This approach promises to catalyze the cultivated meat sector while minimizing redundancies across various stakeholders.
“SCiFi’s pioneering work is like a baton in a relay. Given our role in the field, GFI was able to ensure that baton didn’t drop.”
The Need for Standardized Cell Lines
Dr. Elliot Swartz, a principal cultivated meat scientist at GFI, emphasizes that the cultivated meat industry currently lacks standardized, commercially viable cell lines akin to CHO or C2C12 cells used in biopharmaceuticals. “CHO cells produce about three-quarters of the world’s biologic drugs because everyone possesses the same cell line and can thus communicate in a common language,” he explained to AgFunderNews. “However, there is no standard cell line for cultivated meat yet.”
The cell lines acquired include several immortalized bovine cell lines, specially adapted for suspension culture—an essential element for scaling up production.
Applications in Academic Research
By facilitating access to these cell lines, GFI hopes to expedite research that could inform future techno-economic models and address factors affecting commercialization, such as ammonia or lactate concentrations in media. Historical studies have often relied on data from the biopharmaceutical sector, which raises questions about comparisons to cultivated meat.
A Costly Journey for SCiFi Foods
Joshua March, co-founder of SCiFi Foods, noted that it took four years and tens of millions of dollars to develop these cells into commercial lines capable of growing quickly in serum-free media. The company eventually stopped operations in June 2024 due to financial constraints.
“As a nonprofit at the center of alt protein, GFI was uniquely able to take our hard-won progress and leverage it for the greater good of the whole sector.”
Advancements in Cell Culture
Dr. Andrew Stout from Tufts University expressed excitement about the immortalized bovine fibroblasts adapted for single-cell suspension, which will permit researchers to move away from traditional tissue culture systems.
“Chicken fibroblasts are easier to adapt to suspension, but it’s thrilling to have a bovine option too,” Dr. Stout remarked, acknowledging the insights gained from commercial applications during their development.
Intellectual Property Considerations
When questioned about whether startups might prefer developing their own cell lines for intellectual property value, Stout clarified, “Using SCiFi Foods’ cell lines is not the end of the journey; it’s a solid starting point.” He noted that further enhancements to cell lines and bioprocessing would likely be necessary.
Shifting Media Formulations
Currently, many media formulations are considered trade secrets, limiting academic access. Stout pointed out the significance of SCiFi’s serum-free media formulations being publicly available, allowing researchers to utilize high-density growth recommendations used in industry settings.
Swartz added, “This is undeniably the first public media formulation that is commercially relevant for cultivated meat, providing a substantial improvement in existing knowledge.”
A Bright Future for Cultivated Meat
Despite funding challenges recently facing the cultivated meat sector, Swartz remains optimistic. “While some companies may have overhyped their claims, the reality of economic viability may also have been overstated,” he stated. Positive indicators are emerging, such as increased government support, growing student interest, and new businesses forming in the sector.
For researchers interested in accessing the newly available cell lines, they can join a waitlist here. Shipments to academic institutions will begin first, with plans for commercial access in a later phase. The media formulations are open-source and can be found here.
Further Reading
- Under six months of runway and no term sheet? SCiFi Foods’ guide to a ‘graceful exit’
- Meatable acquires Uncommon Bio’s cultivated meat platform as the latter pivots to therapeutics
- ORF Genetics scales growth factor production for cultivated meat: ‘The question is not if this market will grow, but when’
