Biomanufacturing company The Cultivated B has developed a synthetic molecule that could significantly reduce the cost of growing cells for cultivated meat, biopharmaceuticals, and other cell-based industries. The newly identified molecule, TCB-32, functions as a replacement for basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), a key ingredient in cell culture that stimulates cell growth but is expensive and unstable.
Addressing challenges in cell culture
Producing cultivated meat requires growing large numbers of cells in bioreactors. One of the biggest challenges is the high cost of growth factors like bFGF, which are essential for cell proliferation but difficult to produce consistently. bFGF is also fragile—it breaks down quickly, requiring frequent replenishment, which further increases costs.
The Cultivated B’s research team has identified TCB-32, a synthetic small molecule that mimics bFGF’s role in cell growth. Unlike bFGF, TCB-32 remains stable for at least 13 days, reducing the need for frequent media replacement. Because it is chemically synthesized, it can be produced in large quantities with consistent quality, addressing a major bottleneck in cultivated meat production.
“By replacing bFGF with a chemically synthesized alternative, we can provide a more scalable, stable, and cost-effective solution for industries relying on cell cultures,” said Dr. Hamid Noori, CEO and founder of The Cultivated B.
Potential impact on cultivated meat
This innovation could benefit cultivated meat companies, which rely on stable and cost-effective growth media to scale production. Since growth factors represent a major expense, a lower-cost alternative like TCB-32 could make cultivated meat more affordable and competitive with conventional meat.
Additionally, as TCB-32 is produced synthetically, it avoids ethical concerns associated with using animal-derived ingredients like fetal bovine serum (FBS), making it a more appealing option for companies moving toward fully animal-free production.
“This discovery unlocks new possibilities for industries across biotechnology”
The Cultivated B has made the findings available to the scientific community by publishing the research on bioRxiv. The preprint, along with a pending patent application, is currently under formal review.
Dr. Noori continued, “This discovery unlocks new possibilities for industries across biotechnology. By offering a more sustainable and scalable solution for cell-based product manufacturing, we’re positioning ourselves at the forefront of biomanufacturing innovation.”
