NeoSynBio aims to help eliminate the scarcity of medical supplies around the globe. We do this without actively participating in pharmaceutical manufacture. Instead we try to help ensure that both public and private sector operators have access to the functional intellectual property they need to deliver safe, high-quality and cost-price medicines to patients.

Our mission includes the education of an “international generation of synthetic biologists”. Whether it’s from Sydney to Kathmandu, São Paulo to Nairobi, Santiago to Moscow or Boston to Beijing, we’ll be there to facilitate the free sharing of ideas for the advancement of a unified humanity.

Articles

Insulin is UNAFFORDABLE for millions. these ‘biology nerds’ want to fix that

“In some parts of the world, a month’s supply of insulin costs hundreds of dollars. Sydney man Alex Kelly is challenging the world’s biggest pharmaceutical companies by making the life-saving drug in this lab for a fraction of the cost.

Alex is part of the Open Insulin Project that aims to generate research that will be the basis for the generic production of life-saving drug. The ultimate goal for biohackers like Alex is to disrupt the business model of major pharmaceutical companies.

“In some parts of the world [insulin] can cost more than two or three weeks of wages just for a month's supply,” Alex told Dateline

Alex and the team have created their own synthetic bacteria -- dubbed “Winsulin” -- and have “taught” four different types of bacteria to produce insulin.”

Trends in biotechnology opinion piece by gallegos, boyer, pauwels, kaplan & Peccoud.

Abstract: “New innovation ecosystems are emerging that challenge the complex intellectual property and regulatory landscape surrounding drug development in the United States (US). A prime example is an initiative known as the Open Insulin Project. The goal of the project is to sidestep patents and enable generic manufacturers to produce cheaper insulin. However, the US regulatory environment, not patent exclusivity, is the main barrier to insulin affordability.”

“The Open Insulin Project is a collaboration involving groups at community biolabs around the world. Started in 2015 by a group at Counter Culture Labsvii in Oakland, CA, USA, it also includes groups at ReaGent in Ghent, Belgiumviii and BioFoundry in Sydney, Australia and recently welcomed collaborators based in Senegal, Cameroon, and Zimbabwe.”

“Their goal is to increase competition in the market by developing and releasing a protocol for manufacturing off-patent insulin.”

Scientists challenge the status quo - Sydney morning herald opinion by alex kelly

“Scientists are challenging the status quo through something known as the Open Science initiative. This movement is relatively new, though one could argue the idea dates to the late Renaissance "Republic of Letters", as the exchange of ideas by letter, paper and pamphlets between the great thinkers of the Age of Enlightenment was known.

Open Science followers want to to break down the paywalls and barriers to knowledge that are erected by academic publishers. Websites such as Sci-Hub distribute free scientific publications (often illegally); there are new tools such as open-source databases that allow everyone to use a technology without someone imposing a legal restriction.”