{{Short description|American life sciences company}} {{Infobox company | name = New England Biolabs, Inc. | logo = New England Biolabs logo.svg | logo_size = | foundation = {{Start date and age|1974}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.neb.com/about-neb/news-and-press-releases/in-loving-memory-of-donald-comb |title=In loving memory of Donald G. Comb, Founder of New England Biolabs, Inc. |publisher=New England Biolabs |access-date=October 5, 2020}}</ref> | founder = Donald Comb | location = 240 County Road, Ipswich, Massachusetts 01938 | key_people = {{ubl|Salvatore Russello, CEO}} | num_employees = 501-1000 | subsid = {{Unbulleted list|Australia|Canada|China|France|Germany|Japan|Korea|Singapore|United Kingdom}} | homepage = {{Official url}} }}
'''New England Biolabs, Inc.''' ('''NEB''') is an American life sciences company which produces and supplies recombinant and native enzyme reagents for life science research.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Philippidis|first=Alex|date=15 March 2013|title=New England Biolabs Looks Past Enzymes|url=http://www.genengnews.com/gen-articles/new-england-biolabs-looks-past-enzymes/4769/|journal=Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News|volume=33|issue=6|pages=08–09|doi=10.1089/gen.33.6.02|access-date=8 June 2016|url-access=subscription}}</ref> It also provides products and services supporting genome editing, synthetic biology and next-generation sequencing.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Staff|date=1 April 2015|title=News: Products & Services|journal=Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News|type=Paper|volume=35|issue=7|page=8|doi=10.1089/gen.35.21.05}}</ref> NEB also provides free access to research tools such as REBASE, InBASE, and Polbase.
==About== The company was founded in 1974 by Donald "Don" Comb, a Harvard Medical School professor, as a cooperative laboratory of experienced scientists and initially produced restriction enzymes on a commercial scale.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Julie Manganis Staff |title=New England Biolabs founder dies at 93 |url=https://www.salemnews.com/news/local_news/new-england-biolabs-founder-dies-at-93/article_ce963458-cb30-54c0-a935-db5421d21557.html |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=Salem News |date=13 October 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Comb held the CEO title until 2005 when, at 78 years old, he moved from management back into research at the firm.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Allis |first=Sam |date=August 7, 2005 |title=Sea quest |page=A6 |work=The Berkshire Eagle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117195092/sea-quest-comb/ |access-date=January 24, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
NEB received approximately $1.7 million in Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants between 2009 and 2013 for this research.<ref name=":0" />
NEB produces 230 recombinant and 30 native restriction enzymes for genomic research, as well as nicking enzymes and DNA methylases. It pursues research in areas related to proteomics, DNA Sequencing, and drug discovery. NEB scientists also conduct basic research in Molecular Biology and Parasitology.<ref name=":0" />
The company has subsidiaries in Singapore, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, the U.K., and Australia,<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.biospace.com/article/releases/new-england-biolabs-inc-opens-eighth-subsidiary-in-australia/ |publisher=Biospace |access-date=February 20, 2020 |title=New England Biolabs, Inc. opens eighth subsidiary in Australia |date=3 July 2019 }}</ref> and distributors in South America, Australia, and other countries in Europe and Asia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=8382115 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091101193056/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=8382115 |archive-date=November 1, 2009 |publisher=Business Week |access-date=May 7, 2014 |title=New England BioLabs Company Overview}}</ref> Its headquarters are in Ipswich, MA. Development of the current headquarters began in 2000, and was completed in 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2000/11/27/story7.html?page=all |access-date=May 7, 2014 |date=November 27, 2000 |title=Firm plans $70M project on Ipswich 'great estate' |author=Bill Archambeault |publisher=Boston Business Journal}}</ref> Donald Comb served as the company's Chairman and CEO from the company's founding in 1974, until 2005. In 2005, he was replaced as chief executive by James Ellard, though Comb continued to serve as chairman of the board of directors. In October 2020 Comb died at the age of 93.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-comb-created-tools-for-gene-splicing-11604066400|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=October 30, 2020 |title=Donald Comb Created Tools for Gene-Splicing|date=30 October 2020 |last1=Hagerty |first1=James R. }}</ref> NEB employs over 450 people at its headquarters.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/reforest-the-tropics-and-new-england-biolabs-inc-enter-into-agreement-to-plant-100-hectares-of-forest-to-offset-carbon-emissions-300902561.html |date=August 15, 2019 |title=Reforest the Tropics and New England Biolabs, Inc. enter into agreement to plant 100 hectares of forest to offset carbon emissions}}</ref> As company policy, all scientists and some executives must work at least one day per month on the customer support telephone line, answering technical support questions about the company's products.<ref name=":0" /> In 2022 Jim Ellard stepped down as CEO, but remained chairman of the board of directors, he was succeeded by Salvatore (Sal) Russello, previously NEB's director of OEM & customized solutions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-07 |title=New England Biolabs: Jim Ellard, Sal Russello |url=https://www.genomeweb.com/people-news/new-england-biolabs-jim-ellard-sal-russello/586001 |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=GenomeWeb |language=en}}</ref>
Sir Richard John Roberts is the company's chief scientific officer.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/cio/2014/04/24/the-morning-download-tech-giants-act-to-stop-next-heartbleed/ |publisher=Wall Street Journal |date=April 24, 2014 |title=The Morning Download: Tech Giants Act to Stop 'Next Heartbleed' |author=Michael Hickens}}</ref> He shared the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Phillip Allen Sharp for the discovery of introns in eukaryotic DNA and the mechanism of gene-splicing.
In 2015, NEB committed to establishing a GMP manufacturing facility near its headquarters in Ipswich, Massachusetts,<ref>{{cite news |title=New England Biolabs announces plans for GMP manufacturing |author=Staff |date=June 12, 2015 |work=Pharmaceutical Processing |url=http://www.pharmpro.com/news/2015/06/new-england-biolabs-announces-plans-gmp-manufacturing }}</ref> and the 40,000-sq-ft facility was completed in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hpac.com/columns/engineering-green-buildings/article/20929500/|title=Process Cooling System Saves Both Water, Energy at New England BioLabs|date=2 May 2018|website=HPAC Engineering}}</ref> The multi-product Rowley Cleanroom Manufacturing Facility makes GMP-grade products and has a 10,000-sq-ft mechanical mezzanine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.columbiacc.com/markets/portfolio/new-england-biolabs-inc/|title=New England Biolabs, Inc.|website=Columbia|access-date=3 February 2020}}</ref>
==Applications and Tools== ===Luna kits=== In January 2017, NEB released Luna universal quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) kits.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.clpmag.com/2017/01/universal-kits-optimized-dna-rna-quantitation/|title=Universal Kits Optimized for DNA, RNA Quantitation|website=Clinical Lab Products|date=3 January 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-18}}</ref> The Luna kits are used for DNA or RNA quantitation.<ref name=":3" />
===NEBNext products=== In December 2017, the company released the NEBNext Ultra II FS DNA library prep kit for next-generation sequencing (NGS).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.clpmag.com/2017/12/new-england-biolabs-releases-next-generation-sequencing-preparation-kit/|title=New England Biolabs Releases Next-Generation Sequencing Preparation Kit|website=Clinical Lab Products|date=20 December 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref> In October 2019, NEB released a new RNA depletion product, the NEBNext Globin & rRNA Depletion Kit (Human/Mouse/Rat) and NEBNext rRNA Depletion Kit (Bacteria).<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://www.bio-itworld.com/2019/12/23/caris-genscript-news-dec-2019.asp|title=Bio-IT World|website=www.bio-itworld.com|language=en-us|access-date=2020-03-12}}</ref> The kits offer specific depletion of the RNA species that interfere with the analysis of coding and non-coding RNAs.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-scientist.com/the-marketplace/new-england-biolabs-helps-researchers-to-tackle-transcriptomics-in-bacteria-and-blood-with-its-nebnext-line-of-rnase-h-based-rna-depletion-reagents-66658|title=New England Biolabs helps Researchers to Tackle Transcriptomics in Bacteria and Blood|website=The Scientist Magazine|access-date=2020-03-25}}</ref> That same month, the company announced its NEBNext Direct Genotyping Solution.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-scientist.com/the-marketplace/new-england-biolabs-launches-nebnext-direct-genotyping-solution-for-cost-effective--sequence-based-genotyping-in-agbio-applications-66593|title=New England Biolabs launches NEBNext Direct Genotyping Solution|website=The Scientist|access-date=2020-03-19}}</ref> The product delivers a one-day, automatable genotyping workflow for a variety of applications in Agricultural biotechnology.<ref name=":5" />
In January 2020, NEB signed an agreement with ERS Genomics Limited that gave NEB rights to sell CRISPR/Cas9 tools and reagents, used for gene editing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200109/ERS-Genomics-and-New-England-Biolabs-sign-agreement-to-commercialize-CRISPRCas9-tools-reagents.aspx|title=ERS Genomics and New England Biolabs sign agreement to commercialize CRISPR/Cas9 tools, reagents|date=2020-01-09|website=News-Medical.net|language=en|access-date=2020-02-06}}</ref>
=== Cloning and synthetic biology === The NEBuilder HiFi DNA Assembly Cloning Kit and Master Mix enable one-step cloning and multiple DNA fragment assembly. The proprietary DNA polymerase in the NEBuilder HiFi enzyme mix can assemble DNA fragments ranging from 100 bp to 19 kb. NEB also offers the Gibson Assembly Master Mix.<ref>{{Cite web|title=New England Biolabs, Inc. Introduces Novel Cloning And DNA Assembly Method: NEBuilder® HiFi|url=https://www.biospace.com/article/new-england-biolabs-inc-introduces-novel-cloning-and-dna-assembly-method-nebuilder-and-174-hifi-/|access-date=2020-07-10|website=BioSpace|language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Monarch nucleic acid purification === NEB provides purification kits for both DNA and RNA.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":9">{{Cite journal|last1=Tipton|first1=Craig D.|last2=Wolcott|first2=Randall D.|last3=Sanford|first3=Nicholas E.|last4=Miller|first4=Clint|last5=Pathak|first5=Gita|last6=Silzer|first6=Talisa K.|last7=Sun|first7=Jie|last8=Fleming|first8=Derek|last9=Rumbaugh|first9=Kendra P.|last10=Little|first10=Todd D.|last11=Phillips|first11=Nicole|date=2020-06-18|title=Patient genetics is linked to chronic wound microbiome composition and healing|journal=PLOS Pathogens|language=en|volume=16|issue=6|article-number=e1008511|doi=10.1371/journal.ppat.1008511|issn=1553-7374|pmc=7302439|pmid=32555671 |doi-access=free }}</ref> In May 2019, NEB released the Monarch Genomic DNA Purification Kit which is designed to minimize RNA contamination and allow high-yield purification of large DNA fragments.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|title=New England Biolabs Monarch Genomic DNA Purification Kit|url=https://www.genomeweb.com/resources/new-product/new-england-biolabs-monarch-genomic-dna-purification-kit|access-date=2020-09-16|website=GenomeWeb|date=17 May 2019 |language=en-us}}</ref> NEB's nucleic acid purification products have been used in various studies, including:
* Purification of genomic DNA used to discover naturally occurring DNA modifications in bacteriophages.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Identification and biosynthesis of thymidine hypermodifications in the genomic DNA of widespread bacterial viruses|journal=PNAS|bibcode=2018PNAS..115E3116L |last1=Lee |first1=Yan-Jiun |last2=Dai |first2=Nan |last3=Walsh |first3=Shannon E. |last4=Müller |first4=Stephanie |last5=Fraser |first5=Morgan E. |last6=Kauffman |first6=Kathryn M. |last7=Guan |first7=Chudi |last8=Corrêa |first8=Ivan R. |last9=Weigele |first9=Peter R. |date=2018 |volume=115 |issue=14 |pages=E3116–E3125 |doi=10.1073/pnas.1714812115 |pmid=29555775 |pmc=5889632 |doi-access=free }}</ref> * Purification of RNA from wound biopsies to study the relationship between genetics, wound microbiome diversity, and wound healing.<ref name=":9" /> * Purification of genomic DNA from squid embryos used in the first gene knockout in a cephalopod.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Crawford|first1=Karen|last2=Quiroz|first2=Juan F. Diaz|last3=Koenig|first3=Kristen M.|last4=Ahuja|first4=Namrata|last5=Albertin|first5=Caroline B.|last6=Rosenthal|first6=Joshua J. C.|date=2020-09-07|title=Highly Efficient Knockout of a Squid Pigmentation Gene|journal=Current Biology|language=en|volume=30|issue=17|pages=3484–3490.e4|doi=10.1016/j.cub.2020.06.099|issn=0960-9822|pmid=32735817|pmc=7484294|bibcode=2020CBio...30E3484C }}</ref> * Purification of RNA from mouse samples in a study identifying a pathway that selectively regulates cancer stem cells, which may be responsible for treatment resistance, tumor metastasis, and disease recurrence.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Wang|first1=Guohao|last2=Xu|first2=Junji|last3=Zhao|first3=Jiangsha|last4=Yin|first4=Weiqin|last5=Liu|first5=Dayong|last6=Chen|first6=WanJun|last7=Hou|first7=Steven X.|date=2020-01-10|title=Arf1-mediated lipid metabolism sustains cancer cells and its ablation induces anti-tumor immune responses in mice|journal=Nature Communications|language=en|volume=11|issue=1|page=220|doi=10.1038/s41467-019-14046-9|pmid=31924786|pmc=6954189|bibcode=2020NatCo..11..220W|issn=2041-1723|doi-access=free}}</ref> * Purification of total RNA from ''Arabidopsis'' seedlings in a study demonstrating the first known response by a biological receptor to radio frequency exposure.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Albaqami|first1=Maria|last2=Hammad|first2=Merfat|last3=Pooam|first3=Marootpong|last4=Procopio|first4=Maria|last5=Sameti|first5=Mahyar|last6=Ritz|first6=Thorsten|last7=Ahmad|first7=Margaret|last8=Martino|first8=Carlos F.|date=2020-07-09|title=Arabidopsis cryptochrome is responsive to Radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields|journal=Scientific Reports|language=en|volume=10|issue=1|page=11260|doi=10.1038/s41598-020-67165-5|pmid=32647192|pmc=7347919|issn=2045-2322|doi-access=free}}</ref>
==Response to COVID-19== New England Biolabs developed a colorimetric loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for research use.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://www.genengnews.com/insights/nyc-scientists-swab-the-subway-in-search-of-sars-cov-2/|title=NYC Scientists Swab the Subway in Search of SARS-CoV-2|date=2020-04-01|website=GEN|access-date=2020-04-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Tanner|first1=NA|last2=Evans|first2=TC|date=2014|title=Loop-mediated isothermal amplification for detection of nucleic acids|journal=Curr Protoc Mol Biol|volume=105|pages=Unit 15.14|doi=10.1002/0471142727.mb1514s105|pmid=24510439|s2cid=31241082}}</ref> This assay can be used to test for the presence of virus through nucleic acid detection, returning results in only 30 minutes.<ref name=":6" /> In 2020, the LAMP method was one of several molecular tests used to detect RNA from SARS-CoV-2, a strain of coronavirus that causes COVID-19.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Recent advances and perspectives of nucleic acid detection for coronavirus|year=2020|doi=10.1016/j.jpha.2020.02.010|last1=Shen|first1=Minzhe|last2=Zhou|first2=Ying|last3=Ye|first3=Jiawei|last4=Abdullah Al-Maskri|first4=Abdu Ahmed|last5=Kang|first5=Yu|last6=Zeng|first6=Su|last7=Cai|first7=Sheng|journal=Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis|volume=10|issue=2|pages=97–101|pmid=32292623|pmc=7102540|doi-access=free}}</ref>
RNA isolation kits were also used to develop assays to detect SARS-CoV-2. NEB's Monarch Total RNA Miniprep Kit was not designed specifically for viral RNA extraction, but it was successfully used by different companies to extract viral RNA from biological samples.<ref name=":7">{{cite web |title=Availability of RNA Isolation Kits Not as Dire as Reported |url=https://www.biocompare.com/Life-Science-News/561924-Availability-of-RNA-Isolation-Kits-Not-as-Dire-as-Reported/}}</ref> NEB also released a supplementary protocol for processing saliva, buccal swabs, and nasopharyngeal samples.<ref name=":7" />
Three next-generation sequencing kits to support SARS-CoV-2 monitoring were launched in February, 2021. These kits, based on ARTIC Network protocols, provide virus transmission and evolution insights.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scienceboard.net/index.aspx?sec=ser&sub=def&pag=dis&ItemID=2236 |publisher=Science Board |access-date=February 26, 2021|title=New England Biolabs supports SARS-CoV-2 monitoring with NGS kits}}</ref>
In April, 2021, the Color SARS-CoV-2 RT-LAMP Diagnostic Assay, utilizing New England Biolabs reagents, was approved for emergency use at Color Health Inc in Burlingame, California.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fda.gov/media/138249/download|publisher=FDA|access-date= July 7, 2021|title=EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION (EUA) SUMMARY FOR THE COLOR SARS-COV-2 RT-LAMP DIAGNOSTIC ASSAY}}</ref>
==Databases== The company runs free scientific databases. REBASE, the restriction enzyme database, contains the details of commercial and research endonucleases.<ref name="Terence A. Brown 1998 41">{{cite book |page=41 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=02Z1ZAtmGBIC&dq=New+England+BioLabs+Rebase&pg=PA41 |title=Molecular Biology Labfax, Volume 1 |author=Terence A. Brown |access-date=May 7, 2014 |publisher=Elsevier |year=1998|isbn = 978-0-12-136055-9}}</ref> In 2011 the company founded Polbase, an online database which provides information specifically about polymerases.<ref name="Genome Web">{{cite web |url=http://www.genomeweb.com/pcrsample-prep/product-watch-thermo-fishers-pikoreal-system-new-england-biolabs-polbase |publisher=Genome Web |title=Product Watch: Thermo Fisher's PikoReal System; New England Biolabs' Polbase |date=November 10, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Rodney H. Brown">{{cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/mass-high-tech/2011/11/new-england-biolabs-establishes-polymerase.html |author=Rodney H. Brown |publisher=Boston Business Journal |access-date=May 7, 2014 |title=New England Biolabs establishes polymerase database Polbase |date=November 10, 2011}}</ref> Another free NEB database is InBase, an intein database, which includes the Intein Registry and information about each intein.<ref name="Terence A. Brown 1998 41"/>
==Partnerships== In 2001, NEB co-founded the marine DNA library Ocean Genome Legacy (OGL), which according to the ''Boston Globe'', "catalogues samples of organisms from all over the world, to be made available to scientists for research". Though originally located on the NEB campus, OGLF relocated to the Nahant campus of Northeastern University in 2014.<ref name="Genome Web"/><ref name="Rodney H. Brown"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Researchers collecting DNA from the ocean's depths|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/north/2014/04/16/researchers-nahant-collecting-samples-map-dna-from-creatures-deep/v5yw5R5ocDAdt7uXD91uLI/story.html|date=2014-04-17|website=The Boston Globe|language=en-US}}</ref> To enable point-of-use sales of its reagents, NEB created a digital interface for enzyme-housing freezers to be used at customer storage sites, through a partnership with Ionia Corp. and Salesforce.com. The data is used by the company for both sales logistics and as a part of future enzyme research development.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/cio/2014/04/07/cios-choose-your-digital-future/ |publisher=Wall Street Journal |access-date=May 7, 2014 |title=CIOs: Choose Your Digital Future |author=Nigel Fenwick |date=April 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2014/05/06/logmein-acquires-ionia-for-12m-intensifying-internet-of-things-focus/ |publisher=Xconomy |title=LogMeIn Acquires Ionia for $12M, Intensifying "Internet of Things" Focus |access-date=May 7, 2014 |date=May 6, 2014 |author=Curt Woodward}}</ref> It has also partnered with Harvard University on recycling and reclamation initiatives when its products and packaging come to the end of their use or lifecycle.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/articles/2014/04/collaborative-sustainability |access-date=May 7, 2014 |publisher=Laboratory Equipment |date=April 8, 2014 |author=Michelle Taylor |title=Collaborative Sustainability}}</ref> {{As of|2015}}, NEB also had a distribution agreement with VWR.<ref name=":1" />
In June 2019, NEB, Waters, and Genos announced they would work together on The Human Glycome Project, a global initiative to map the structure and function of human glycans.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.biocompare.com/Editorial-Articles/362878-Introduction-to-Glycan-Analysis/?arev=true|title=Introduction to Glycan Analysis|website=www.biocompare.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-11}}</ref> NEB will supply a version of its Rapid PNGase F technology to aid in increased sample preparation and improve process throughput.<ref name=":2" />
That same month, NEB entered a partnership with Bioz, Inc., an artificial intelligence technology company, to provide its customers with access to examples of real-world applications of its products.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.biospace.com/article/bioz-has-partnered-with-neb-to-empower-life-science-researchers/ |publisher=BioSpace |access-date=March 2, 2020 |title=Bioz Has Partnered With NEB to Empower Life Science Researchers |date=June 13, 2019}}</ref>
==References==
===Notes=== {{Reflist|33em}}
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Category:Research support companies Category:Biotechnology companies established in 1974 Category:Life sciences industry Category:Life science companies based in Massachusetts Category:Companies based in Essex County, Massachusetts Category:1974 establishments in Massachusetts