#USA #SOLARBIOTECH #Norton #GPC Bio #Eleszto Genetika

Pictor Biotech Inc., GPC Bio, and Eleszto Genetika: A New Era in Biotech

On January 23, 2025, biotechnology firms SOLARBIOTECH, GPC Bio, and Eleszto Genetika proudly announced their strategic unification under a single ownership. This merger represents a significant step towards creating a vertically integrated hub for synthetic biology and biofabrication, poised to harness the disruptive potential of precision fermentation. By merging decades of expertise, the unified organization aims to drive innovations in synthetic biology from ideation to commercial production.

The consolidation brings together a formidable team of over 100 experienced engineers, scientists, and biotech leaders, marking a notable development in the rapidly evolving biofabrication landscape. The newly formed entity is well-equipped to deliver unmatched support at every stage of bioproduction, including microbial strain development, bioprocess engineering, facility design, automation, and large-scale operations. In the coming months, further integration efforts will be conducted to capitalize fully on the strengths of this new organization.

Strategic Relevance

Addressing lingering challenges in microbial strain engineering often hindered by restrictive intellectual property and technical barriers in scaling bioprocesses, CEO Alex Berlin of Pictor Biotech Inc. (operating as SOLARBIOTECH) states, “By unifying these companies, we can directly confront these challenges and transform the biofabrication landscape by providing the necessary financial and operational support for growth.”

Zsolt Popsé, CEO of GPC Bio, emphasizes the importance of experience in their mission: “With nearly 20 years of expertise in the design, engineering, automation, and deployment of biofabrication equipment, we have delivered world-class facilities to leading biopharmaceutical companies such as Merck, Sanofi, and Millipore-Sigma, as well as major food industry players like Cargill and Lesaffre. The integration of GPC Bio with Eleszto Genetika and SOLARBIOTECH positions us uniquely to mitigate risks and accelerate growth in biofabrication.”

Lóránd Szabó, managing director of Eleszto Genetika Kft., adds, “Over the past twenty years, we have developed numerous microbial strains for the production of biopharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics. Joining forces with SOLARBIOTECH and GPC Bio enables us to efficiently transition products from the lab to commercial production, overcoming hurdles typically faced by unintegrated organizations.”

Peter Rosholm, the owner of EG, GPC Bio, and Pictor Biotech (dba SOLARBIOTECH), notes, “I am fully committed to investing in sustainable biofabrication technologies and accelerating commercial development. Bringing SOLARBIOTECH, GPC Bio, and EG together enables our teams to thrive in this growing sector. We have a solid, customer-focused, and diverse organization with highly experienced leadership, and this commitment adds significant funding to the infrastructure of the existing firms.”

Company Overviews

The leadership teams of all three companies will continue to maintain their respective roles. Peter Rosholm will serve solely as the owner and investor in the merged entity.

SOLARBIOTECH (SBC), based in Norton, Virginia, USA, specializes in precision fermentation across microbial, animal, and plant domains, providing innovative bioprocessing solutions regularly to its partners in synthetic biology.

GPC Bio (GPC), headquartered in La Rochelle, France, focuses on the design, automation, software control, engineering, and manufacture of biofabrication equipment for the biopharmaceutical, food, and beverage industries.

Eleszto Genetika Kft. (EG), located in Budapest, Hungary, brings nearly two decades of research and development expertise for advanced industrial microbial strains, with a portfolio supporting the production of diverse biopharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic products.

For further information, please contact:

• - Alex Berlin, CEO & CTO, Pictor Biotech Inc. (d.b.a. SOLARBIOTECH), [email protected], www.solarbiotech.com
• - Zsolt Popsé, CEO of GPC Bio, [email protected], www.gpcbio.com
• - Lóránd Szabó, Managing Director, Eleszto Genetika Kft., [email protected], www.elesztogenetika.com