The Future of the Bio Industry Transformed by Synthetic Biology: Market Status and Outlook for 2025
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Rapid Growth and Industry Restructuring in the Synthetic Biology Market
As of 2025, the global synthetic biology market is estimated to be worth approximately $58 billion, recording an explosive annual growth rate of 31.2% compared to 2020. This represents the fastest growth rate within the traditional biotechnology sector, driven primarily by innovations in biological design capabilities combined with artificial intelligence. The concept of ‘programmable biology,’ led by U.S.-based Ginkgo Bioworks (located in Massachusetts) and Zymergen (now acquired by Ginkgo), is spreading across the industry, accelerating the shift from chemical synthesis to biological manufacturing methods.
South Korea’s Samsung Biologics achieved sales of 1.24 trillion won in the fourth quarter of 2024, marking a 28% growth compared to the same period the previous year, driven by a surge in demand for contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) of synthetic biology-based biopharmaceuticals. The operational rate of Plant 4 in Songdo, Incheon, exceeded 95%, prompting the announcement of additional expansion plans. Plant 5, scheduled for completion in the second half of 2025, will have an annual production capacity of 360,000 liters, matching the total capacity of Plants 1-4, further solidifying its status as a global hub for biopharmaceutical production.
Novozymes, headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, holds a unique position in enzyme development utilizing synthetic biology. Novozymes reported annual sales of 2.1 billion euros in 2024 and announced that its synthetic biology platform reduced development time from the traditional 3-5 years to 12-18 months. The company produces various industrial enzymes, including those for laundry, biofuels, and food processing, through microbial fermentation, and plans to commercialize next-generation plastic-degrading enzymes starting in the first quarter of 2025.
The core technology of synthetic biology, DNA editing and synthesis technology, has seen the cost per base pair drop to $0.07 as of 2025, an approximately 80% decrease compared to 2020. Twist Bioscience, based in Emeryville, California, produces over 10 million oligonucleotides monthly through its silicon-based DNA synthesis platform and offers custom gene circuit design services. This cost reduction significantly lowers market entry barriers for small biotech companies, with approximately 340 new synthetic biology startups established globally in 2024 alone.
Innovation and Market Trends in Medical Synthetic Biology
In the medical field, the most notable application of synthetic biology is in the development of cell and gene therapies (CGT). The U.S. FDA approved 18 new CGT drugs in 2024, with 12 utilizing synthetic biology technology. In particular, the next-generation technology in the CAR-T cell therapy sector, which uses synthetic DNA delivery systems instead of traditional viral vectors, is gaining attention. Tmunity Therapeutics, a spin-off from the University of Pennsylvania, raised $300 million in Series C funding for its synthetic biology-based next-generation CAR-T platform and plans to announce Phase 2 clinical trial results in the first half of 2025.
South Korea’s Celltrion achieved biosimilar sales of 2.18 trillion won in 2024, positioning itself as the third-largest global biosimilar company. The second plant in Songdo introduced a next-generation monoclonal antibody production process utilizing synthetic biology technology, reportedly improving production yield by 40% compared to previous methods. Celltrion’s synthetic biology research center currently employs 120 researchers, with an annual R&D investment of 320 billion won, approximately 15% of total sales, similar to the average R&D investment ratio of global biopharmaceutical companies.
Synthetic biology is also presenting a new paradigm in the field of precision medicine. Roche, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is developing a synthetic biology-based companion diagnostic system by linking its diagnostics and pharmaceuticals divisions. As of the fourth quarter of 2024, Roche’s precision medicine-related sales reached 7.8 billion Swiss francs annually, with about 30% generated from products utilizing synthetic biology technology. The system for selecting optimal treatments through genetic profiling of cancer patients reportedly improved treatment success rates by 45% compared to previous methods.
The microbiome therapeutics field is one of the fastest-growing applications of synthetic biology as of 2025. Seres Therapeutics, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, received FDA approval for SER-109, a microbial consortium designed using synthetic biology, in 2024, with expected first-year sales of $230 million. This treatment is used for antibiotic-resistant Clostridium difficile infections and has been shown in clinical trials to reduce recurrence rates by over 70% compared to traditional antibiotic treatments.
Industrial Synthetic Biology and the Sustainability Revolution
The introduction of synthetic biology in the chemical industry is accelerating the transition to environmentally friendly manufacturing processes. DSM, headquartered in Heerlen, Netherlands, reported that sales of synthetic biology-based products accounted for 35% of total sales, approximately 3.1 billion euros, in 2024. By adopting fermentation processes using genetically modified microorganisms instead of traditional chemical synthesis for nutrient production, such as vitamin B2 and vitamin E, carbon emissions were reduced by over 60%. DSM’s synthetic biology R&D centers currently operate across 25 countries, with plans to establish five additional centers by 2025.
In the biofuel sector, the production of next-generation biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has entered the commercialization stage. Amyris, based in Emeryville, California, commercialized technology for producing biodiesel directly from sugarcane using yeast strains developed through synthetic biology. As of 2024, Amyris’s annual biofuel production reached 120,000 barrels, reducing carbon emissions by 80% compared to traditional petroleum-based fuels. Amyris’s production facility in São Paulo, Brazil, plans to expand its annual production capacity to 200,000 barrels by the second half of 2025.
Synthetic biology is also driving innovation in the food industry. Perfect Day, a leader in the alternative protein sector based in Emeryville, California, produces casein and whey proteins identical to animal dairy products using genetically modified yeast. Perfect Day’s sales reached $180 million in 2024, an 85% increase from the previous year. The proteins produced with this technology reportedly reduce water usage by 98% and greenhouse gas emissions by 97% compared to traditional livestock farming. Perfect Day is currently establishing production facilities in Singapore, the Netherlands, and India, with plans to secure an annual alternative protein production capacity of 100,000 tons by 2026.
In the textile industry, the development of bio-based materials using synthetic biology is gaining attention. Bolt Threads, based in North Carolina, U.S., developed technology to produce silk alternative materials by fermenting spider silk proteins using microorganisms. In 2024, Bolt Threads signed long-term supply contracts worth a total of $750 million with global fashion brands such as Adidas and Stella McCartney. This bio-silk material is evaluated to have five times the tensile strength of traditional silk while saving 90% of water usage during production.
The key infrastructure supporting the growth of the synthetic biology market is automated bio-foundry facilities. The Manchester Institute of Biotechnology at the University of Manchester, UK, currently has the capability to design, produce, and test over 1,000 gene circuits monthly. This facility operates the entire process from DNA synthesis to microbial culture and performance evaluation 24/7 without human intervention through a robotic automation system, reportedly reducing R&D costs by 70% compared to previous methods.
As of 2025, the major challenges facing the synthetic biology industry are the establishment of regulatory environments and ensuring public acceptance. The U.S. EPA announced a new regulatory framework for synthetic biology products in 2024, which includes a system for assessing biological safety separately from existing chemical regulations. The European Union also plans to announce integrated guidelines for the market launch of synthetic biology products in the first half of 2025, expected to serve as a benchmark for global regulatory standards. South Korea, led by the Ministry of Science and ICT, plans to establish a comprehensive plan for fostering the synthetic biology industry in the second half of 2025, with a government investment of 1 trillion won planned over the next five years.
From an investment perspective, the synthetic biology sector attracted a total of $12.7 billion in venture capital investments worldwide in 2024, a 23% increase from the previous year. The average investment size for Series A rounds was $28 million, significantly higher than the overall biotech sector average of $19 million, reflecting investors’ high expectations for the commercialization potential and market potential of synthetic biology technology. In 2025, more than 15 synthetic biology companies are preparing for IPOs, with related investment opportunities in the public market expected to expand significantly over the next 2-3 years.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice or a recommendation of specific stocks. All investment decisions should be made at the discretion and responsibility of the individual.
