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ZymoGenetics

ZymoGenetics, Inc was one of the oldest biotechnology/pharmaceutical companies in the USA, based in Seattle, Washington. The company was involved in the development of therapeutic proteins. Located on Lake Union, the address of the ZymoGenetics headquarters was 1201 Eastlake Avenue East.[1] It was closed in 2019 after its acquisition by Bristol Myers Squibb.[2][3]

The company was founded in 1981[4] by Professors Earl W. Davie and Benjamin D. Hall of the University of Washington and 1993 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry Michael Smith of the University of British Columbia.[1] Initially named Zymos,[5] the company was forced to change its name to ZymoGenetics under threat of trademark infringement from the similarly named semiconductor company ZyMOS.[6] Soon after its founding, ZymoGenetics began working on recombinant proteins with Danish company Novo Nordisk, and was acquired by that company in 1988.[7] It was spun off as a public company in 2000.[8] Bristol-Myers Squibb acquired the company in 2010 for $885 million.[9][10]

ZymoGenetics' headquarters occupied the landmark Lake Union Steam Plant building beginning in the mid-1990s.[11] This structure was built from 1914 to 1921 by Seattle City Light, the municipal electric utility.[12] At the time, the building was in poor condition with many broken windows; Bruce Carter, the chief executive at the time, described it as "the mother of all fixer-uppers".[13] In December 2016, ZymoGenetics announced that they would not renew the lease to the Steam Plant building, due to expire in 2019;[14] the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center later moved into it.[15] At the time, ZymoGenetics did not plan on closing its Bothell manufacturing site;[14] however, it was sold to Seattle Genetics in August 2017.[16] ZymoGenetics closed completely in 2019.[2][3]

Corporate governance

In late 2013, the company's president, Stephen W. Zaruby, left and took up the president and chief executive officer roles at Aurinia Pharmaceuticals.[17]

External links

References

  1. ZymoGenetics, a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Bristol-Myers Squibb, retrieved 21 May 2015^
  2. Clare McGrane. Bristol-Myers Squibb will close its Seattle Zymogenetics operations next year GeekWire, November 1, 2018^
  3. Benjamin Romano. Seattle biotech stalwart ZymoGenetics prepares for year-end closure The Seattle Times, November 1, 2018^
  4. Luke Timmerman. Bristol-Myers Squibb to Stay in Seattle, Keep ZymoGenetics Workers Xconomy, 25 January 2011, retrieved 21 May 2015^
  5. In Remembrance: Dr. Benjamin D. Hall (1932-2019) Washington Research Foundation, retrieved 2023-08-13^
  6. Dr. Ben Hall - November 1, 2011 retrieved 2023-09-13^
  7. Novo Nordisk completes divestment of ZymoGenetics, Inc. Bionity.com, 13 October 2010, retrieved 21 May 2015^
  8. Andrew Pollack. ZymoGenetics Will Become Independent of Novo Nordisk The New York Times, 23 October 2000, retrieved 21 May 2015^
  9. John Carroll. BMS forges $885M deal to buy ZymoGenetics FierceBiotech, 8 September 2010, retrieved 21 May 2015^
  10. Bristol-Myers Squibb buying ZymoGenetics September 7, 2010^
  11. Focus: Seattle; Transforming a Rundown Lake Shoreline (Published 1993) 1993-07-04, retrieved 2023-08-13^
  12. Luke Timmerman. What Will Happen to ZymoGenetics' Landmark Headquarters when Bristol Calls the Shots? Xconomy, 13 September 2010, retrieved 21 May 2015^
  13. Benjamin Romano. The Hutch's 30-year journey to the Lake Union steam plant The Seattle Times, June 15, 2018^
  14. Rachel Lerman. ZymoGenetics won't renew South Lake Union lease The Seattle Times, December 14, 2016^
  15. Benjamin Romano. Hutch cancer center will put labs in Seattle's historic Lake Union steam plant The Seattle Times, June 11, 2018^
  16. George Erb. Seattle Genetics buys biotech factory in Bothell The Seattle Times, August 1, 2017^
  17. Joshua Slatko. BMS changes senior management team Med Ad News, December 2013^