ATUM Powers the Shift to Biology
“Proteins for medicine are grown much like crops”
From machine learning to gene synthesis, ATUM in Newark is reshaping how biological drugs are made. As the pharmaceutical industry transitions from chemistry to biology, the company’s innovations streamline production and address emerging challenges.
Biologics now dominate the pharmaceutical market, replacing traditional chemical drugs in leading therapies.
“For a century, it was all about small molecules—simple drugs with just a few hundred atoms. Today, biologics—large proteins with thousands of atoms—are at the forefront,” says Claes Gustafsson, co-founder and chief commercial officer at ATUM.
The production of biological drugs relies on living cells, often Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, cultivated in fermentation tanks.
“It’s like growing crops,” Gustafsson explains. “Instead of plants, we’re cultivating proteins that can be used as medicine.”Advances in DNA sequencing, bioinformatics, and machine learning have enabled this shift, making treatments more precise and effective.
“With biologics, we can target specific cancer markers, dramatically reducing side effects,” Gustafsson notes.
Customers license ATUM's technologies. One example is Wheeler Bio, which uses ATUM's Leap-In Transposase® for cell line development.
DiscoCHO - A New Innovation
ATUM recently introduced DiscoCHO™, a service designed to help medical researchers optimize antibody production by solving common challenges.
“Developing stable cell lines takes time and resources,” Gustafsson explains.
“Even if an antibody works well in one cell type, it might not work as well in another. Glycosylation—sugar molecules that attach to proteins—can significantly affect clinical performance.”
DiscoCHO allows antibodies to be developed directly in CHO cells, minimizing the need to switch cell types and reducing risks.
“This approach saves time and money and avoids problems later in the development pipeline,” Gustafsson says.
ATUM has used this new patented method internally, but it was recently standardized and launched as a commercial offering.
“The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,” he adds.
The service has attracted interest from clients, particularly in biotech hubs like San Francisco, San Diego, and Boston.
Pandemic and Market Recovery
During the COVID-19 pandemic, ATUM experienced a significant surge in demand for its synthetic genes and proteins.
“We thought everything would slow down, but instead, demand doubled,” Gustafsson recalls. “Researchers needed tools to develop vaccines and treatments, and we were ready to deliver.”
After the initial pandemic rush, the biotech industry faced a period of reduced activity.
“There was a slower phase for many of our customers,” Gustafsson acknowledges. “But since the summer, things have started looking better. Budgets are returning, and we’re seeing renewed interest in our services.”
Synthetic spike proteins played a critical role in vaccine development during the pandemic.
“When a new virus emerges, researchers identify surface proteins that can be used in vaccines,” Gustafsson explains. “Synthetic biology allows us to produce these proteins quickly and safely.”
A Self-Financed History Since 2003
ATUM operates without external investors, relying entirely on self-financing.
“We’ve been profitable since day one,” Gustafsson notes. “Staying independent allows us to focus on innovation and customer needs.”
The company employs about 150 people and operates from its U.S. headquarters in Newark, in San Francisco Bay, which it owns—an anomaly in the biotech industry.
“This independence gives us the flexibility to pursue projects like Discovery discoCHO without outside pressures,” Gustafsson says.
Gustafsson declined to share financial details such as revenue or profit. When asked about the size of the company, he said:
“But you know how many people we have employed, and they are well educated, so you can estimate their salaries and count backward.”
ATUM, formerly DNA2.0, was founded in 2003 by Jeremy Minshull, Sridhar Govindarajan, Claes Gustafsson, and Jon Ness. The company rebranded to ATUM in 2016 to reflect its expanded focus on engineering biology across various scales.
The name is inspired by the Egyptian deity Atum, the mythological creator of life. It highlights the company's focus on engineering biology. Short and memorable, it reflects the company's commitment to completing its customers' quest for better biology while following key naming principles.