Ginkgo Datapoints launches the Virtual Cell Pharmacology Initiative to build a community-driven data standard for AI drug discovery

(Press-News.org) BOSTON — Nov. 20, 2025 — Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) today announced the launch of the Virtual Cell Pharmacology Initiative (VCPI) through Ginkgo Datapoints. This open-source platform is designed to build the first standardized framework for virtual cell modeling in drug discovery by bringing together researchers, pharmaceutical companies and AI developers in a community-driven effort to create the largest public dataset of its kind, aiming to test at least 100,000 compounds and generate >12 billion data points.

Virtual cells, AI-powered digital representations of biological cells, are emerging as a critical tool for drug discovery. However, a lack of standardization, reliable wet lab methods and appropriate pharmacology data prevents these models from reliably predicting how drugs will impact cells. VCPI is purpose-built to address this foundational gap.

“To develop a drug, you need measurements on drug-like molecules. VCPI focuses on generating exactly that: high-quality pharmacology data on a standardized cell line that the entire research community can build upon,” said John Androsavich, PhD, General Manager of Ginkgo Datapoints. “We're not just generating data; we’re creating the standard for how this field should develop.” 

Unlike other virtual cell initiatives, which release finished datasets, VCPI is the first to allow contributors to participate before data creation by offering high-throughput RNA profiling via Ginkgo Datapoints, free of charge. While some approaches pursue massive datasets measured in hundreds of billions of data points, VCPI prioritizes the generation of high-quality, pharmacologically relevant data optimized specifically for drug discovery applications. 

“The AI and biology communities haven’t always been aligned on what makes good training data,” added Androsavich. “Current approaches rely on large quantities of low-quality data. It’s like empty calories — lots of data, but it’s noisy and may not be reproducible. We believe VCPI will prove that quality and quantity can co-exist. We’re offering both, with a method specifically designed for the pharmacology applications that matter most to drug developers.”

VCPI tackles the two biggest challenges for developing predictive virtual cell models: 

Challenge One: Lack of a Defined “Cell” in a Virtual Cell
Ginkgo Datapoints’ Solution: V-Ref293 is a novel engineered cell line designated specifically as the reference standard for virtual cell research — a robust, controlled standard for building the first cellular digital twin. The same way biomanufacturing relies on standardized cell lines for reproducibility, V-Ref293 provides researchers with a consistent biological baseline. Master cell bank vials will be made available to the community in 2026, ensuring labs worldwide can generate comparable results.

Challenge Two: Lack of Scalable Wet Lab Methods with High Signal-to-Noise
Ginkgo Datapoints’ Solution: DRUG-seq is a pharma-validated high-throughput RNA bulk sequencing method that delivers clearer, more reliable data for drug screening than single-cell approaches. Ginkgo Datapoints has taken DRUG-seq services to the next level, processing over 100 x 384 plates a week, from cell culture and perturbation to sequencing and data analysis. 

Key features of the initiative:

Open Participation: Researchers and companies can contribute compounds for free testing, with data released, on a rolling basis, to the public domain under Creative Commons (CC BY 4.0).

Optional Embargo: Participants may elect to contribute compounds under terms that include a period of exclusive data access prior to public release, or to reserve data indefinitely for their own use.

Community-Driven: Unlike existing databases, VCPI invites contributions before data generation, allowing the community to shape the resource from the ground up through compound submissions, model sharing and active engagement.

Built-in Incentives: To encourage participation, contributors can vote on prioritization, share models, take part in future competitions and engage in a community discussion forum. Active contributors can achieve “super user” status and gain early data access.
 

VCPI builds on Ginkgo Datapoints’ momentum in eliminating data bottlenecks in AI-driven biology. Ginkgo Bioworks has invested over $1 billion in automation infrastructure, enabling it to process data at scales few organizations can match — and to make that capability freely available to the research community through VCPI.

Learn more about the Virtual Cell Pharmacology Initiative and sign up at https://thevirtualcell.com. Registrations are now open. Data generation will begin immediately, with the first public data releases expected in early 2026.

About Ginkgo Datapoints

Ginkgo Datapoints uses state-of-the-art automation infrastructure to generate large, high-quality biological datasets that power AI models for drug discovery and beyond. By combining advanced laboratory automation with streamlined data generation workflows, Ginkgo Datapoints addresses critical bottlenecks in AI model training — delivering the data the industry needs at the scale and quality AI demands.

About Ginkgo Bioworks

Ginkgo Bioworks builds the tools that make biology easier to engineer for everyone. Ginkgo R&D Solutions delivers customizable R&D packages—such as protein engineering, nucleic acid design, and cell-free systems—giving partners a comprehensive way to accelerate innovation across therapeutics, diagnostics, and manufacturing. Ginkgo Automation sells modular, integrated laboratory automation so scientists can spend their days planning and analyzing experiments rather than pipetting in the lab. Ginkgo Datapoints uses Ginkgo's in-house automation to generate the large lab datasets to power your AI models. For more information, visit ginkgobioworks.com.

Forward-Looking Statements of Ginkgo Bioworks

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding the capabilities and potential success of the partnership and Ginkgo's cell programming platform. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "can," "project," "potential," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: (i) our ability to realize near-term and long-term cost savings associated with our site consolidation plans, including the ability to terminate leases or find sub-lease tenants for unused facilities, (ii) volatility in the price of Ginkgo's securities due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive and highly regulated industries in which Ginkgo operates and plans to operate, variations in performance across competitors, and changes in laws and regulations affecting Ginkgo's business, (iii) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations, and to identify and realize additional business opportunities, including with respect to our solutions and tools offerings, (iv) the risk of downturns in demand for products using synthetic biology, (v) the uncertainty regarding the demand for passive monitoring programs and biosecurity services, (vi) changes to the biosecurity industry, including due to advancements in technology, emerging competition and evolution in industry demands, standards and regulations, (vii) the outcome of any pending or potential legal proceedings against Ginkgo, (viii) our ability to realize the expected benefits from and the success of our Foundry platform programs and Codebase assets, (ix) our ability to successfully develop engineered cells, bioprocesses, data packages or other deliverables, (x) the product development, production or manufacturing success of our customers, (xi) our exposure to the volatility and liquidity risks inherent in holding equity interests in other operating companies and other non-cash consideration we may receive for our services, (xii) the potential negative impact on our business of our restructuring or the failure to realize the anticipated savings associated therewith and (xiii) the uncertainty regarding government budgetary priorities and funding allocated to government agencies. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of Ginkgo's annual report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on February 25, 2025 and other documents filed by Ginkgo from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Ginkgo assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Ginkgo does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations.

 

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