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A groundbreaking innovation by Turkish scientist Deniz Kent is poised to reshape both the pharmaceutical and food industries. At his R&D lab in Silicon Valley, Kent has developed a novel technique that uses light to produce antibody-based drugs and lab-grown meat, drawing international attention for its potential to drive down costs and open new culinary possibilities.
According to Hurriyet daily from Türkiye, Kent’s technology is rooted in optogenetics, a scientific field that combines optics and genetics to control cellular functions using light. By triggering light-sensitive proteins inside cells, Kent’s team at Prolific Machines can direct cells to produce targeted proteins. This approach significantly reduces reliance on traditional chemicals, making the process not only more cost-effective but also safer.
The technology enables the scalable production of biologically derived products, ranging from pharmaceutical proteins to everyday materials. Initially, Kent’s focus has been on medicines, particularly antibody-based treatments used for diseases like cancer, diabetes, and dementia. Instead of relying on chemical synthesis, these therapies are generated entirely through cell-based bioproduction, made more precise by light control.
A 200-liter bioreactor at the company’s U.S. facility is currently being used to produce these medications. According to Kent, “We can use light to make anything that cells make. Medicines will be the first, but this applies to many other products as well.”
Alongside drug development, Kent’s team has turned to cellular agriculture—growing meat in labs without the need for animal slaughter. Using the same light-based technology, they have created Wagyu-style beef solely from cultured cells. Kent revealed that a sample was served to 30 investors as proof of concept.
This light-driven meat production allows chefs to customize nutritional profiles, such as boosting protein or vitamin content. As Kent put it, “We’re entering a new era in dining. Every chef will be able to design their own meat. There will be flavors we’ve never known, and none of them will come from real animals.”
A number of chefs in the U.S. have already invested in Prolific Machines, eager to explore this new frontier in gastronomy.
The promise of the technology has not gone unnoticed. Time Magazine included Prolific Machines among its “Top Inventions” of 2024. The company also secured a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop more affordable, high-quality monoclonal antibodies, underlining its global potential in healthcare.
Looking ahead, Kent aims to bring this technology to Türkiye, a country he believes could benefit significantly from light-based bioproduction. “No one knows this technology in Türkiye yet, and it could help meet many of our needs—from food to medicine,” he said.
He plans to establish two facilities in Türkiye: one for pharmaceuticals and another for food production, mirroring the dual focus of the U.S. operations.
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