GenScript's Rise: From NJ Startup to Global Biotech Powerhouse

PISCATAWAY, NJ – April 22, 2026 – In the competitive world of biotechnology, recognition in the boardroom is often a lagging indicator of impact in the laboratory. For GenScript Biotech Corporation, a recent honor for its leadership team is shining a spotlight on a two-decade journey from a modest New Jersey startup to a global force underpinning scientific research worldwide.

GenScript CEO Sherry Shao and Co-Founder Dr. Frank Zhang were recently named finalists for the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2026 New Jersey Award by Ernst & Young LLP. The nomination places them in the company of some of business's most celebrated visionaries, with past winners including the founders of Amazon and Google. While the regional winners will be announced on June 4, the nomination itself serves as a major validation of the company's strategy and its foundational role in the life sciences industry.

The Architect and the Strategist

GenScript's story began in 2002, not in a sprawling corporate campus, but with a $5,000 investment and the entrepreneurial vision of Dr. Frank Zhang. Armed with a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Duke University and experience as a principal scientist at pharmaceutical giant Schering-Plough, Dr. Zhang identified a critical bottleneck in research: the time-consuming and labor-intensive process of gene synthesis. His mission was to make biotechnology more accessible and efficient, a goal that would become the company's guiding principle.

"This recognition is a reflection of the people of GenScript and the spirit of entrepreneurship that has defined our journey since the beginning," said Dr. Frank Zhang, Co-Founder of GenScript. "We remain committed to advancing biotechnology in ways that create meaningful value for customers, patients, and society."

If Dr. Zhang was the architect, Sherry Shao is the strategist who has overseen the company's recent period of transformative global growth. As CEO, her leadership has focused on expanding GenScript's international footprint and deepening its technological capabilities, turning a pioneering service into a diversified, high-growth enterprise.

"GenScript was built on the belief that scientific innovation can improve lives and shape a healthier future," said Sherry Shao, CEO of GenScript. "We are honored by this recognition, which belongs to the talented teams around the world whose dedication and passion continue to move our mission forward."

From Startup to Global Powerhouse

The leadership's vision is backed by staggering financial performance. In its 2025 fiscal year, GenScript reported revenues of approximately US$959.5 million, a remarkable 61.4% increase year-over-year. Adjusted net profit soared an astonishing 285.0% to US$230.3 million. This explosive growth is not an anomaly but the result of a deliberate strategy to build an integrated, end-to-end platform for life sciences.

The company has successfully expanded from its initial focus on gene synthesis into a broad portfolio of services and products. Its business is now structured across four major segments: life science services and products, biologics development (under its ProBio brand), industrial synthetic biology, and cell therapy. The biologics development services, in particular, have seen extraordinary demand, with revenue increasing over 500% in the first half of 2025. This diversification has enabled the company to serve a vast client base of over 100,000 customers across more than 100 countries, with North American and European markets now contributing nearly 40% of total revenue.

The Unseen Engine of Scientific Breakthroughs

Beyond the impressive balance sheet lies GenScript's most significant contribution: its role as a quiet enabler of scientific progress. For tens of thousands of researchers in academic labs and pharmaceutical R&D departments, GenScript has become an indispensable partner. By outsourcing complex gene synthesis, protein expression, and antibody development, scientists can accelerate their workflows, freeing them to focus on discovery rather than laborious molecular biology tasks. The company's impact is quantified in over 118,000 peer-reviewed scientific publications that cite its services and products.

GenScript is also at the forefront of the industry's most advanced fields. It has become a crucial wet-lab partner for the burgeoning AI-driven drug discovery sector, providing the experimental validation necessary to turn digital designs into tangible therapeutic candidates. In the revolutionary field of Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT), GenScript provides cGMP-compliant reagents essential for CRISPR gene editing. As of early 2026, the company's reagents have supported over 40 clinical trials and IND applications, with 22 receiving approval from major global regulatory bodies like the FDA. This work directly facilitates the development of next-generation treatments for cancer and genetic disorders.

A Cornerstone of New Jersey's "Medicine Chest"

GenScript's journey is deeply intertwined with its home state. Founded and headquartered in New Jersey, the company is a prime example of the state's thriving biotechnology ecosystem. Often called the "medicine chest to the world," New Jersey boasts the highest concentration of scientists and engineers in the United States and is home to a majority of the world's top pharmaceutical companies. This dense network of talent, research institutions, and corporate partners creates a fertile ground for innovation.

GenScript both contributes to and benefits from this environment. It provides critical services to its neighbors in pharma and biotech while drawing from the state's deep talent pool. As New Jersey continues to invest in its status as a global life sciences hub through initiatives like the New Jersey Innovation Hub, companies like GenScript demonstrate the powerful synergy between entrepreneurial drive and a supportive regional ecosystem. The recognition of its leaders is not just a win for the company, but a testament to the innovative spirit that continues to define the Garden State's scientific landscape.