Intrexon Forms Second Collaboration for its Natural Gas Bioconversion Platform
Joint Venture to Produce 1,4-Butanediol, A High-Value Widely Utilized Chemical Building Block, from Low-Cost Natural Gas
Joint Venture to Produce 1,4-Butanediol, A High-Value Widely Utilized Chemical Building Block, from Low-Cost Natural Gas
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Dec. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Intrexon Corporation (NYSE: XON), a leader in synthetic biology, today announced the formation of Intrexon Energy Partners II (IEP II), a joint venture with a select group of external investors, to produce 1,4-butanediol (BDO), a key chemical intermediate with a global market value exceeding $5 billion that is used to manufacture spandex, polyurethane, plastics, as well as polyester. This is Intrexon's second partnership utilizing the Company's proprietary gas-to-liquids bioconversion platform to generate high-value products from natural gas, the most inexpensive source of industrially usable carbon for fermentation today.
"As an intermediate used in the manufacture of multiple industrial compounds, plastics, and fibers, the market demand for 1,4-butanediol is significant, despite the costly and energy intensive processes currently used for its production," said Robert F. Walsh, Senior Vice President, Head of Intrexon's Energy Sector and Industrial Products Division. "With the knowledge framework in place to optimize microbial engineering and fermentation, we believe our methanotroph bioconversion approach will reduce energy use, production costs, and waste while producing a single high value product."
Through Intrexon's advanced suite of technologies, methanotrophs that naturally consume methane have already been engineered to produce isobutanol as well as farnesene. Production of BDO within these microbes follows similar metabolic pathways enabling translation of the Company's unique know-how and proprietary genetic technologies to achieve commercial-scale production of this valuable chemical along an accelerated timeline.
Intrexon's approach may result in significant economic advantages in the production of BDO. Traditional methods require multi-step catalytic processes with high energy and hydrogen inputs. In contrast, the Company's bioengineering of methanotrophs will create BDO through a cost-effective, single-step fermentation process. Additionally through its superior yield potential versus other microbes and utilization of low-cost natural gas feedstock for fermentation, Intrexon's methanotroph bioconversion platform has the potential to drive industry-leading margins for the fuels and chemicals it produces including BDO.
"IEP II will synergize with our ongoing isobutanol program within our earlier-formed Intrexon Energy Partners joint venture. Each of these programs highlights the strength and flexibility of our underlying bioconversion platform in generating varied compounds from a single low cost carbon feedstock," said Randal J. Kirk, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Intrexon. "Establishing additional ventures that leverage our technology leadership positions while retaining significant participating economics for our shareholders remains an important business goal for Intrexon, especially since we continue to note increasing efficiencies with scale at this point in our growth trajectory. Our capital efficient business model and strong balance sheet enable us to co-invest in some of these opportunities without the necessity of selling any additional shares, a prospect that we do not entertain for the foreseeable future."
Through an Exclusive Channel Collaboration (ECC) agreement, Intrexon will receive a technology access fee of $18 million. IEP II will be responsible for all costs related to the development, manufacture, approval and commercialization of the product. Intrexon owns a 50% interest in the new venture.
About Intrexon Corporation
Intrexon Corporation (NYSE: XON) is Powering the Bioindustrial Revolution with Better DNA™ to create biologically-based products that improve the quality of life and the health of the planet. The Company's integrated technology suite provides its partners across diverse markets with industrial-scale design and development of complex biological systems delivering unprecedented control, quality, function, and performance of living cells. We call our synthetic biology approach Better DNA®, and we invite you to discover more at www.dna.com.
Trademarks
Intrexon, Powering the Bioindustrial Revolution with Better DNA, and Better DNA are trademarks of Intrexon and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Safe Harbor Statement
Some of the statements made in this press release are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations and projections about future events and generally relate to our plans, objectives and expectations for the development of our business. Although management believes that the plans and objectives reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and actual future results may be materially different from the plans, objectives and expectations expressed in this press release.
For more information regarding Intrexon Corporation, contact:
Investor Contact:
Christopher Basta
Vice President, Investor Relations
Tel: +1 (561) 410-7052
[email protected]
Corporate Contact:
Marie Rossi, Ph.D.
Senior Manager, Technical Communications
Tel: +1 (301) 556-9850
[email protected]
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SOURCE Intrexon Corporation
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