Meatable acquires Uncommon’s cultivated meat platform as founders pivot to RNA therapeutics

Meatable has acquired Uncommon Bio’s cultivated meat platform, including key technologies, intellectual property, high-performing cell lines, and staff, in a move the Dutch company says cements its position as a global leader in sustainable meat production.

The acquisition brings Uncommon Bio’s non-GMO mRNA reprogramming and saRNA differentiation technologies into Meatable’s portfolio, pairing them with its patented opti-ox system. Meatable said the combined capabilities give it the only true multi-platform cultivated meat technology offering in the industry.

According to the company, the integrated platform will allow it to accelerate time to market, navigate regulatory pathways more efficiently, and adapt to diverse cultural and consumer preferences.

“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built at Uncommon Bio, a legacy of innovation and bold thinking in cultivated meat,” said Benjamina Bollag, CEO of Uncommon. “After deciding to focus on therapeutics, we wanted to find the best home for our technology and it’s exciting to see Meatable carry our work forward and apply it at scale. I look forward to continuing our collaboration and watch their continued success and global impact in the years ahead.”

Jeff Tripician, CEO of Meatable, described the acquisition as a decisive step. “This acquisition is more than a strategic step – it sets a new standard for cultivated meat production,” he said. “By combining two highly complementary platforms, Meatable is now equipped to reliably deliver high-quality cultivated meat at a global scale. This enables us to support the meat industry with a stable, secure, and future-proof supply of species like pork, beef, lamb, and poultry, ensuring business continuity and resilience in the face of increasingly uncertain times.”

Already recognized for its work on cultivated pork and beef, Meatable said the addition of Uncommon’s platform accelerates its ability to expand into chicken, lamb, and high-flavor breeds. The technologies also support regulatory dossiers already prepared in several regions and strengthen the company’s intellectual property portfolio with new patents and proprietary assets.

Aris de Rijke, CTO at Meatable, said the deal also carried symbolic value. “The value of the IP is strengthened by the caliber of investors who have supported Uncommon’s mission from the start,” he said. “We’re proud to carry forward technology that has earned the trust of such respected backers, like Apollo Projects and Lowercarbon Capital, further fueling our path toward success at scale.”

Bollag and co-founder Ruth Faram launched Uncommon, originally known as Higher Steaks, in Cambridge in 2018. The company used cultivated pork products as a proving ground for its RNA technology, raising US$50 million in funding and preparing regulatory dossiers in the US, UK, and EU. With the transfer of its cultivated meat platform to Meatable, Uncommon’s leadership has confirmed their shift in focus to developing RNA-based therapeutics.

Meatable framed the acquisition as a reflection of its commitment to complementing, not replacing, the traditional meat industry. By supplying additional sustainable meat produced without animal slaughter, it said it aims to support global demand while avoiding risks such as livestock disease.

“With its broadened base of IP, cell lines, and applications, Meatable now becomes the only cultivated meat company with a true multi-platform strategy – engineered for versatility, speed, and market relevance,” the company said.

The acquisition, it added, positions Meatable to deliver “sustainable, great-tasting meat to feed a hungry planet.”