The Cultivated B, a Heidelberg, Germany-based company, reports the discovery of a chemical class of FGFR1 agonists mimicking basic fibroblast growth factor’s (bFGF) effect on cell proliferation, an essential component of cell-culture media. A preprint of the study is published on bioRxiv.
“This class of small molecules offers a stable, highly cost-effective alternative, poised to transform cultivated meat, biopharmaceuticals, regenerative medicine, and large-scale cell manufacturing by addressing key challenges,” said Hamid Noori, PhD, CEO and founder of The Cultivated B and a Forbes Councils member.
The discovery revolutionizes cell production by overcoming key bottlenecks such as rapid degradation, high production costs, batch variability, and complex storage requirements, according to Noori, who added that, unlike traditional bFGF, small molecules remain active for over 13 days, thus providing where stability, consistency, and scalability.
“We are unlocking new possibilities for entire industries,” he continued. “This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize the scalability, consistency, and cost-effectiveness of cell-based product manufacturing, including applications in cultivated meat and cell therapy.”
The Cultivated B was founded in 2009 and develops technologies involved in cellular agriculture, precision fermentation, and bioreactor engineering. The German Institute for Innovation in Sustainability and Digitalization named The Cultivated B the “2024 Employer of the Future.”