GenScript Biotech, fully known as GenScript Biotech Corporation, usually referred to as simply GenScript, is a
New Jersey-based biotech company.[3][4][5] It was co-founded in 2002 in New Jersey by Fangliang Zhang, Ye Wang, and Luquan Wang.[6] The company mainly provides
life science research application instruments and services.[7] It was listed on the
Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2015.[8] The current rotating CEO of the firm is Shao Weihui,[9] and its main
subsidiaries include Legend Biotech,[10] Probio Technology,[11] and Bestzyme.[12]
Outside of the United States, GenScript has established presences in China, Singapore, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, among others.[13] The company's operations are divided into four main segments,
CDMO platform, life-science services and products platform, integrated cell therapy platform, and industrial synthetic products platform.[13] In September 2021, the firm and its subsidiary Probio received series A funding from
Hillhouse Capital.[14]
History
GenScript was formed in 2002 in New Jersey. In 2004, it set up a research and production base in Nanjing, China.[15] In 2009, the company secured a $15 million investment from
KPCB China Fund.[16]
In 2011, the company opened a subsidiary in Japan. In 2013, it established Bestzyme.[15] In the following year, another subsidiary of the firm, Legend Biotech, was founded.[17] In 2015, GenScript
went public on the
SEHK.
In 2017, the
Chinese government accepted Nanjing Legend's application for running clinical trials for its blood cancer treatment,[18] with its
IND application approved by the
CFDA.[19] In the same year, Legend Biotech USA Inc. and Legend Biotech Ireland Limited, non-wholly owned subsidiaries of GenScript,[20] entered into a collaboration agreement with Janssen Biotech[21] to share CAR-T treatments in the US and China.[22] Subsequently, GenScript fully acquired CustomArray.[23]
In 2020, its subsidiary Probio was launched.[24] In the same year, Genscript collaborated with
Duke-NUS Medical School to develop and manufacture a serology test called cPass for the detection of COVID-19.[25] On November 6, the cPass test received emergency use authorization from the
US FDA.[26][27] Prior to that, Legend Biotech was listed on the
NASDAQ under the symbol "LEGN".[28]
In 2022, Carvykti, a CAR-T cell therapy developed by Janssen Biotech and Legend Biotech,[24] was approved by the US FDA for the treatment of
multiple myeloma in adult patients.[29] In the same year, it opened a protein and gene manufacturing facility in Singapore.[30]
In November 2023, Legend Biotech and
Novartis signed an out-license deal to develop and manufacture Legend’s
chimeric antigen receptor (CAR-T) therapies, that go after delta-like ligand protein 3 (DLL3) including large cell
neuroendocrine carcinoma candidate LB2102. Novartis will pay the New-Jersey-based biotech $100 million upfront, and Legend Biotech will be eligible to receive up to $1.01 billion in clinical, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments and tiered royalties. [31]