美國Maxygen?
DNA改組技術的發明人Stemmer博士,他以5項美國專利為技術支撐點,于1997年創立了專門從事DNA改組研究的公司Maxygen。公司剛剛建立,世界上幾家最大的公司紛紛與之洽談并建立了合作關系。這些公司包括最大的農業公司 duPont公司、生產抗生素的世界巨頭 DSM公司和工業酶研究生產之最的Novo nordisk公司。此外,迄今為止,Maxygen公司還得到了來自美國國防高級研究計劃局(DARPA)和國家科學技術協會(NIST)的5項資助,共計2100萬美元。這也從另一角度反映了DNA改組的重要性及美國政府及商家對DNA改組技術的重視程度。
Maxygen is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing improved versions of protein drugs through both internal development and external collaborations and other arrangements. We use our MolecularBreeding? directed evolution technology platform, along with ancillary technologies, and extensive protein modification expertise to pursue the creation of biosuperior proteins.
In 1997, Maxygen was founded on the observation that nature has a powerful means of improving upon previous generations through the iterative process of evolution and breeding. We have industrialized this evolutionary process by developing a series of technologies designed to improve specific properties of genes and proteins to create more effective therapies to treat disease.
In September 2009, we consummated a joint venture arrangement with Astellas Pharma, Inc. pursuant to which we contributed substantially all of our programs and technology assets in protein pharmaceuticals, including our MAXY-4 co-development and commercialization agreement with Astellas, together with $10 million in cash, to Perseid Therapeutics LLC, a newly-formed subsidiary in which we have an ownership interest of approximately 83.3%. Astellas also invested $10 million in Perseid in exchange for the remaining ownership interest of approximately 16.7%. As part of the joint venture arrangement, Astellas has been granted an option to acquire all of our ownership interest in Perseid at specified exercise prices that increase each quarter from $53 million to $123 million over the three-year term of the option.
The consummation of the joint venture transaction largely completes a multi-year strategic process to position our programs and assets in collaborations and other arrangements that are primarily supported by external parties. In addition to our majority ownership of Perseid, we will continue to retain a number of significant assets, including substantial cash resources; our MAXY-G34 program (including the previously announced licensing arrangement with Cangene Corporation for Acute Radiation Syndrome); an ownership interest in Codexis, Inc. and a revenue stream from Maxygen’s biofuels license to Codexis; a potential million milestone payment from Bayer HealthCare LLC; our MolecularBreeding? platform and intellectual property portfolio (including certain additional fields of application of the technology platform not yet licensed); and a fully funded vaccine discovery program. Going forward, our focus will be to manage these arrangements to maximize the return to our stockholders over the next several years.
?