Samsung Life Science Fund Invests in US Arbor Biotechnologies

Investment in a Company Specializing in Gene Editing Technology

On October 30, Samsung announced that it will invest in Arbor Biotechnologies, a US-based company specializing in gene editing technology, through its Life Science Fund, which was established to develop new technologies and businesses in the life sciences sector.

The Samsung Life Science Fund is a venture investment fund jointly created by Samsung C&T, Samsung Biologics, and Samsung Bioepis. Samsung Venture Investment Corporation formed and currently manages the fund.

Through its investment in Arbor Biotechnologies, which possesses innovative gene editing technology, Samsung plans to explore new business opportunities with high growth potential and seek possibilities for collaboration in core research on gene editing technologies.

Arbor Biotechnologies is a biotech venture company that has gene editing technology capable of recognizing and cutting specific locations within genes, as well as inserting, deleting, modifying, or replacing particular genes. Gene editing technology is being utilized for the treatment and prevention of various diseases, including hereditary intractable diseases, blood disorders, cancer, and congenital conditions.

In particular, Arbor Biotechnologies owns a range of optimized enzymes of various sizes and functions, developed through artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning-based predictive methods and high-throughput screening experiments. This enables the company to edit most regions of the human genome.

Additionally, Dr. Feng Zhang, co-founder of Arbor Biotechnologies, has made groundbreaking contributions to the application of CRISPR-Cas-based gene editing technology (derived from bacterial immune systems) in animal and human cells. He is a globally recognized authority in gene editing technology and has co-founded Editas Medicine and Beam Therapeutics, both Nasdaq-listed gene editing therapy developers.

Kim Yooncheol, Head of the Enable Team (Executive Director) at Samsung Bioepis, stated, "Gene editing is a core technology for treating gene-related diseases, and Arbor Biotechnologies is a company with high expertise and growth potential in gene editing technology. It is a promising company with the potential to become a leading enterprise in this field."

Meanwhile, since 2022, the Life Science Fund managed by Samsung Venture Investment Corporation has been diversifying its investment areas, ranging from gene therapies and ADCs (antibody-drug conjugates) to blood protein analysis technology, generative AI-based protein drug development, and gene editing technology.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.