Cell programming company Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE:DNA) announced on Tuesday the completion of the first milestone in its collaboration with US pharmaceutical company Merck & Co Inc (NYSE:MRK), known as MSD outside the US and Canada.

The partnership aims to optimise biologic manufacturing processes.

Ginkgo will receive a USD9m research milestone payment and will continue working with Merck to further enhance production efficiency.

This collaboration leverages Ginkgo's expertise in strain engineering, high-throughput screening and process development to address industry challenges in biologics manufacturing.