Genentech, a genetic engineering technology company, was founded in 1976. Its founders are venture capitalist Robert A. swanson and biochemist Dr. Herbert W. Boyer. In the early 1970s, Boyer and geneticist Danny Cohen started a new scientific field called DNA recombination technology. Swanson was so excited about this breakthrough that he called Boyle and asked for a meeting. Boyle agreed to give the young entrepreneur ten minutes. Swanson's enthusiasm for this technology and firm belief in its business prospects are very infectious. The meeting was extended from 10 minutes to 3 hours. As a result, the genetic engineering technology company was announced.
Although both academic and business circles are skeptical about swanson and Boyle, they are determined to put their ideas into practice. In just a few years, they proved the dissidents wrong. Here you can review the development history of Genentech. 1976 On April 7th, swanson and Boyle founded the genetic engineering technology company.
1977, the company of genetic engineering technology produced human protein (growth hormone inhibin) by microorganism (Escherichia coli) for the first time.
1978, scientists from genetic engineering technology company synthesized artificial insulin. 1980, the genetic engineering technology company went public, and its price soared from $35 to $88 in one hour, so its value soared to $35 million. This incident is one of the cases with the biggest increase in the stock market.
1982, the first DNA recombinant drug on the market: artificial insulin. (Lilly Company won the franchise. )
1984, the laboratory product of anti-hemophilia factor coagulation factor VIII came out. Gene engineering technology company granted Carter the franchise of global production and sales of biological coagulation factor VIII.
1985, the genetic engineering technology company obtained the permission of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market its first product, protropin (R) (growth promoting hormone for injection). This is an auxin used to treat auxin deficiency in children. This is also the first drug produced and sold by biotechnology companies using DNA recombination technology.
1986, Gene Engineering Technology Company authorized Hoffman-Roche Interferon α-2 to the FDA for the treatment of hairy cell leukemia, with the trademark of roferon (r)-A. Gene Engineering Technology Company launched an uninsured plan in the United States to provide human growth hormone to poor patients without insurance for free.
During the period of 1987, the genetic engineering technology company was approved by FDA to be listed as Activase (R), which is a tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) that can dissolve the thrombus formed in patients with heart disease when they suddenly have myocardial infarction.
1988 the non-insurance plan of genetic engineering technology company was extended to Activase.
1989, genetic engineering technology company opened the children's care center "Genentech II", which is one of the children's care centers under the largest company in the United States. FDA approves Activase, a genetic engineering technology company, to treat acute massive pulmonary thrombosis. Genetic engineering technology company and Swiss Bessel Rossi Co., Ltd. completed the merger of 2 1 100 million US dollars. 199 1, two Japanese t-PA franchisees began to sell this product in Japan.
1992, genetic engineering technology company and Rossi company announced an agreement to jointly develop, register and sell Pulmozyme(R) (recombinant streptavidin α) absorption solution in major European countries. Genetic engineering technology company and Rossi company have entered into R&D cooperation in the following fields: automatic retrieval system of Rossi chemical library based on biotechnology identification to replace new drugs. A Special protein Based on Tumor Adverse Factor (TNF) Uptake. Genetic engineering technology company put Founder Research Center, the largest biotechnology research institution in the world, into use. The honor of this center is dedicated to the founders, Robert swanson and Dr. Herbert Boyer, in order to praise their vision and determination to pursue the development of biotechnology wholeheartedly.
1993, Gene Engineering Technology Company approved the FDA to market Nutropin(R)[ growth hormone for injection with ribosomal DNA as the replication origin] for the treatment of children with chronic kidney deficiency before renal transplantation. Genetic Engineering Technology Company established the Growth and Development Foundation of Genetic Engineering Technology Company, which is an independent non-profit organization. Its purpose is to promote people's understanding of children's growth and development, encourage medical practitioners and nurses to engage in research, and create opportunities for them that have never existed before.
Genetic engineering technology company has obtained the permission of distributors in the United States, Canada, Sweden and New Jersey to sell Pulmozyme for treating gallbladder fibrosis. Gene engineering technology company Coagulation Factor VIII-1984 granted Miles a franchise (formerly Cutter Biological)- bovine growth hormone approved by FDA for treating hemophilia A. Gene engineering technology company licensed it to Monsanto Company and distributed it under the name of Posilac-and obtained FDA permission. Gusto (global coronary occlusion with streptomycin and t-Pa) trial shows that in the trial of 465,438+0,000 patients, compared with the single injection of streptomycin (carbokinase), the mixed rapid injection of activin and heparin ester No.4 can reduce the mortality of heart patients by 65,438+04%. Gene engineering technology company announced a permanent regulation for Wellcome Foundation, forbidding Wellcome Company to sell t-PA in the United States before the patent period of Gene engineering technology company expired in 2005. Genetic engineering technology company started Access Excellence, a national communication network project with a cost of1million dollars, aiming at enabling senior high school biology teachers in China to establish contact with experts and their colleagues.
During the period of 1994, Genetic Engineering Technology Company launched "Pulmozyme Patient Protection" to ensure that every eligible patient with gallbladder fibrosis who needs Pulmozyme and its related equipment can get it, and to ensure that the company's research on gallbladder fibrosis continues to keep unremitting pace. Genetic engineering technology company announced that it will build a new factory in Vacaville, California with a cost of10.50 billion US dollars. Genetic engineering technology company and Lilly company have solved all outstanding patent infringement, contract breach and related claims, and ended the long-term dispute over recombinant human growth hormone. Genetic engineering technology company reached an agreement with Alkermes Company to carry out the research on the sustained release process of two kinds of protein, both of which adopted the proprietary ProLease(r) microcapsule technology of Alkermes Company. Genetic engineering technology company reached an agreement with IDEC pharmaceutical company to develop IDEC anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody C2B8 for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphoma. The company has obtained permission from the US Food and Drug Administration to market a rapid injection therapy of activated enzyme. The genetic engineering technology company signed an agreement with Roche Holdings Limited, which extended Roche's four-year option to buy the company's repayable common stock at a prerequisite price of 82.5 US dollars, which was higher than 65,438+0/4 per share. As part of the agreement, genetic engineering technology company began to obtain the patent of Pulmozyme in Europe and all the products of Canadian genetic engineering technology company, because Roche was responsible for the sales of these products.
1996: The company celebrated its 20th anniversary. With the approval of FDA, Nutropin AQ(R) (growth hormone for injection with ribosomal DNA as the replication origin) was approved by the company. ), the first and only liquid (water-based) recombinant human growth hormone, is used to treat growth defects in children with chronic kidney deficiency before kidney transplantation, and can also be used to treat growth hormone imbalance in children. The company was approved by FDA to market activin for treating acute ischemia and cerebral hemorrhage. With the approval of FDA, Nutropin, which is used to treat short stature and Turner's complications, will be on the market. The FDA approved the company to market Pulmozyme for the treatment of patients with worsening gallbladder fibrosis.
In 1997, rituximab is listed by the company and its partner IDEC Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and approved by FDA for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory low-grade malignant or vesicular CD20 non-Khodykin B-cell lymphoma. Nutropin has been approved by FDA for the treatment of short stature complicated with Turner's disease. Atropine and Atropine AQ are approved by FDA for the treatment of adult auxin deficiency. The company launched a service called SPOC (Single Point of Contact) for auxin patients, cancer patients and their doctors, and provided reimbursement assistance to customers. The company signed an agreement with Alteon, Inc. for further development and marketing of Pimadin. Pimatidine is an oxygen inhibitor with advanced glycation end products (A.G.E) structure, which is currently in the third clinical trial stage and is used for renal treatment of diabetic patients. The agreement also includes the rights of the second generation A.G.E structural oxygen inhibitor, which is currently in the pre-clinical development stage. The company signed an agreement with LeukoSite, Inc. on the development and commercialization of LeukoSite's LDP- 02 (an artificial monoclonal antibody for treating enteritis). The company signed an agreement with Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc. on the use of DNA sequence and gene expression information database of Incite's LifeSeq(Tm).
The technology of recombinant artificial coagulation factor VIII in treating hemophilia and the pharmaceutical technology of recombinant artificial coagulation factor VIII were patented. Accordingly, the European patent 199 1 was also granted. In recognition of the outstanding contribution of genetic engineering technology company to the establishment of biotechnology industry in this city, San Francisco renamed 400 blocks of Point San Bruno Avenue as "DNA Road" and designated the address of genetic engineering technology company in the new avenue as "1 DNA Road".
From 65438 to 0998, with the permission of FDA, genetic engineering technology company changed the trademark of Pulmozyme, including the safe and flexible management method of using Pulmozyme for patients with gallbladder fibrosis under 5 years old. Genetic engineering technology company has obtained two new patents for t-Pa variants. The company filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Centecor, Inc., accusing Centecor of selling, quoting, using and importing Rete Vase (Rete Plaste) T-PA in the United States, infringing two new patents of genetic engineering technology company. Genetic engineering technology companies seek permanent legal protection and compensation for losses. Genetic Engineering Technology Co., Ltd. agreed to provide Sumitomo Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. with the development, import and distribution of AQ Nutropin and protease capsule slow-release human growth hormone in Japan. Genetic engineering technology company authorized Connetics Company to sell Actimmune for controlling chronic granulomatosis in the United States, and the right to research, develop and commercialize the product in the United States. Genetic engineering technology company submitted a monopoly application for listing Herceptin (R) (trastuzumab) for the treatment of malignant breast cancer. Herceptin has been designated as a fast-tracking product by FDA, which can ensure that the monopoly application seeking market development will be reviewed in time. The genetic engineering technology company signed an agreement with DAKO, according to which DAKO can develop a set of in vitro diagnostic equipment to identify breast cancer patients caused by excessive secretion of an auxin receptor called HER2. Dakota also has the right to cooperate with genetic engineering technology companies to treat HER2 and Herceptin with artificial monoclonal antibodies.
In the process of its development, genetic engineering companies constantly develop new products and technologies to maintain their technological and competitive advantages. Biotechnology is a promising industry. In the great cycle of world economy, biotechnology is insignificant compared with information technology industry. Different from IT industry, biomedicine has the characteristics of long investment cycle. However, truly discerning investors, especially venture capitalists and entrepreneurs in the biomedical field, will not give up this world full of opportunities and challenges. Robert swanson and Herb Boyle were among them. Robert swanson (1947-)
summary
What did a venture capitalist leave in the history of biotechnology development? In order to establish an enterprise and finally make drugs available to people in need, venture capital, perhaps more importantly, business acumen and creativity, is a powerful and indispensable partner of genetic engineering technology itself.
occupation
That year, Robert swanson was only 27 years old and worked for one of the most influential and successful venture capital companies in Silicon Valley. He began to think about the gold buried in the cells that were strangely fiddled with in the laboratory. These laboratories are all over the world, and even more attractive, maybe in his own backyard? He looked around and met someone he thought could inspire him to seek business opportunities from the exciting development of microbiology. His educational background provides a strong guarantee for him to engage in this career. He holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry from MIT and a master's degree from MIT Si Long Business School. He also served as the investment director of Citibank for four years.
But swanson only meditated in these hazy consciousness, without clear and profound knowledge. He didn't expect that a randomly arranged meeting with scientists from UCSF (University of California, San Francisco) would bring the man who turned the possibility of gene control into a technology with great market potential to him. There is an eternal truth in science and business-opportunities are always accompanied by the most agile minds-which is an undeniable quality of swanson. When arranging this meeting, he remembered his desperate determination in the field of genetic engineering, and was ready to leave his comfortable job in Kaipeng Huaying and put all his eggs in the basket of the startup company.
This conference from 65438 to 0975 proved to be a milestone in the career and life of swanson and many others who benefited from the commercialization of genetic engineering. At that time, it was exciting for Herbert Boyle, and UCSF gave him overwork and insufficient funds. As swanson recalled: "All the scholars I called said that the commercial application of gene separation was still 65,438+00 years, but Herbert didn't." Swanson's vision and enthusiasm deeply touched Boyle. They ate sandwiches and drank beer and imagined the future for hours. Although Boyle successfully engaged in scientific research, he was not involved in the pursuit of business and enterprise cooperation, because swanson was only a young man.
1976 In the spring, swanson had not convinced Boyle that everything was ready to start a company, but he had convinced his boss, Thomas Perkins. Perkins took out the seed fund, and swanson set out to combine the capital, objectives and return on investment with the principles of molecular biology, which proved to be his very good job. The company first focused on the synthesis of human insulin, which was completed by scientists from genetic engineering technology company on 1978. After the franchise of this technology was awarded to Lilly Company, Genetic Engineering Technology Company took the lead in launching its own biomedical product-human auxin on 1985. Since then, genetic engineering technology company has established its leading position in biotechnology industry and health care industry-an extremely successful commercial and scientific research institution.
postal service
Swanson served as the director and president of the company since its establishment until 1990 was appointed as the chairman. Unlike his sports-loving partner Herbert Boyle, swanson's hobby tends to be art. Besides holding a long list of titles in various professional committees, swanson is also a patron of art, serving in the San Francisco Ballet Committee and the Museum of Modern Art Committee. summary
Herbert Boyer
Herbert Boyle was born in a remote village in western Pennsylvania on 1936 and grew up there. The final destination of most young people there is the railway company and the mining bureau. After graduating from high school, Boyle continued to study at the nearby Saint Vincent College in latrobe, while staying at home to prepare for pre-medical courses. Before high school, it was obvious that he could not take shortcuts from the ordinary mode of cultivating doctors. In the short-term temptation of doctor's career, he has not found himself deeply attracted by research work at this time, and Boyle's career is completely different from many other molecular biologists as pioneers.
occupation
Boyle received a bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry from Saint Vincent College in 1958, and married Grace in 1959. Postgraduate work was completed at the University of Pittsburgh on 1963, and then worked as a postdoctoral fellow at Yale for three years. When biochemistry, protein chemistry and enzymology caught his attention, he took part in the civil rights movement that was popular all over the country.
1966, Boyle moved to the west and naturally applied for the position of teaching assistant at the University of California, San Francisco. From 65438 to 0969, an ordinary visceral bacterium Escherichia coli attracted his attention, especially some particularly useful inhibitory enzymes in Escherichia coli. Boyle found that these enzymes have the ability to cut DNA chains in a special way, which left a so-called "sticky end" on the DNA chain. These cutting tips stick DNA fragments together through precise movements.
Because of this discovery, Boyle talked with a Stanford scientist named Stanley cohen at a meeting in Hawaii. Cohen was studying the small circular structure called plasmid in DNA, which can flow freely in the cytoplasm of some bacterial cells and replicate itself independently through DNA strand decoding. Cohen developed a set of techniques to isolate these plasmids from cells and implant them into other cells. Combining this process with DNA division, Boyer and Cohen can combine DNA fragments into desired structures and implant them into bacterial cells, which will enable plants to produce protein meeting special needs. This breakthrough is the cornerstone of the establishment of biotechnology industry.
1975 A young man named Robert swanson was employed by one of the largest venture capital companies in Silicon Valley. He saw the prospect of emerging biotechnology and came into contact with Boyer. The subsequent conversation between the two broadened Boyer's horizons and made him see the considerable commercial potential of using cells as a "factory" for making hormones. 1976, they co-founded Genentech (Genetic Engineering Technology Company), focusing on the artificial synthesis of human insulin. This goal was achieved by scientists from Genetic Engineering Technology Company in 1978. After granting Lilly human insulin franchise, Genetic Engineering Technology Company became the first biotechnology company in 1985 to launch biomedical products, and its result was human auxin. Boyer served as vice president from the establishment of the company to 1990. At that time, he gave up the position of vice president in exchange for a seat on the board of directors. As the earliest and largest enterprise supported by biotechnology venture capital in the United States, genetic engineering company represents the future development direction of American biomedical industry, and also provides new ideas for the development of world venture capital.