SAN DIEGO, Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Genomatica, Inc., a leading systems biology company addressing metabolism-driven product opportunities announced today the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 7,127,379, entitled “Method for the Evolutionary Design of Biochemical Reaction Networks.” This patent provides core coverage for a central component of Genomatica’s integrated approach for the metabolic engineering of living cells. By combining the power of rational computational-based design with the ability to adaptively evolve organisms, this technology enables Genomatica to transform living cells into biological factories, so called Bio-Factories, aimed at producing a range of valuable chemical and biological products.
“This patent is a key part of the Company’s proprietary Integrated Metabolic Engineering Platform, where we are now combining validated metabolic modeling and simulation technologies with synergistic high throughput experimental capabilities,” commented Christophe H. Schilling, Ph.D., President and Chief Scientific Officer of Genomatica. “This technology and others that are rounding out our platform, are now enabling us to unlock large market opportunities for biologically-derived products including small molecule chemicals and fuels, as well as protein-based therapeutics.”
The origins of the technology are based on pioneering research at the University of California, San Diego in the laboratory of Professor Bernhard O. Palsson, the lead inventor on the patent. “Bringing together computational design tools with evolutionary engineering principles is this manner is opening a new dimension in Metabolic Engineering. We now have the ability to produce stable strains that can self-optimize in a processing environment, something which has not previously been possible,” commented Bernhard O. Palsson, Ph.D., Professor of Bioengineering at the University of California, San Diego and member of the National Academy of Engineering.
Genomatica has established a significant intellectual property portfolio around its Integrated Metabolic Engineering Platform based on internal technology development and in-licensing of external technologies. This recent patent was issued to the Regents of the University of California, and was originally filed in 2001 by UCSD’s TechTIPS office. Genomatica has an exclusive license from the university. The Company currently has over 60 pending US and foreign patent applications.
About Genomatica
Genomatica is an innovative biotechnology company that possesses proprietary technologies to transform the design, engineering, and manipulation of living cells for the production of valuable biological and chemical products. Genomatica is dedicated to developing and commercializing these high throughput research technologies to address metabolism-driven product opportunities in the chemical, material, energy, pharmaceutical, and other industries. As recognized industry leaders in systems biology with worldwide commercial partnerships, Genomatica is enabling and accelerating the development of its customers’ bio-derived products and research programs. By implementing integrated computational/experimental platforms designed around its advanced award-winning modeling and simulation technologies, Genomatica performs research for its customers to rapidly develop next generation product development processes, and licenses proprietary technologies and intellectual property for use in its partners own laboratories. Genomatica is currently pursuing commercial relationships with major industrial biotechnology, chemical, energy and pharmaceutical companies seeking to leverage the power of systems biology for rapid development of biological and chemical products. For more information, please visit us on our website at www.genomatica.com.
Genomatica, Inc.
CONTACT: Christophe H. Schilling, Ph.D., President & Chief ScientificOfficer, or Thomas A. Reed, Vice President, Finance & CorporateDevelopment, both of Genomatica, Inc., +1-858-824-1771; or Amy L. Buono,+1-858-824-1771, Media Relations for Genomatica, Inc.
Web site: http://www.genomatica.com/
