SemBioSys Genetics

SemBioSys Genetics Inc. (tsx|SBS) is a biotechnology company focussed on developing pharmaceutical proteins, industrial reagents, food additives, protein-purification technologies and drug-delivery systems that take advantage of the company’s proprietary oilbody/oleosin technology platform. It is the only company in the world involved in both the purification and bulk production of plant-based proteins. Its goal is to become a fully integrated biopharmaceutical business and the world’s leading supplier of transgenic proteins for the pharmaceutical market. The company strategy is to partner with other companies in these sectors, enabling the commercialization of products that might not otherwise be commercially viable because of high formulation and manufacturing costs. Their first commercial product was the [http://www.sembiosys.ca/Main.aspx?id=17 DermaSphere Oleosome] , which they introduced to the market in 2004. It should be noted, however, that their partnership with the Swiss life sciences company [http://www.lonza.com/ Lonza] resulted in failure and was prematurely terminated. Lonza brought SemBioSys' DermaSphere technology to the personal care market under the brand [http://cosmeticsdesign.com/productnews/productpresentation.asp?id=123 Natrulon OSF] , which was touted as a revolutionary innovation in cold process emulsification. The product was positively received by the market, and won Lonza the [http://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/news-by-product/news.asp?id=60262&k= Frost & Sullivan 2005 Personal Care Chemicals & Intermediates Technology Innovation of the Year Award] . Despite considerable market interest, poor initial sales coupled with problems manufacturing commercial volumes and product spoilage led to its ultimate demise. In late 2006 it is understood that Lonza ceased promoting its Natrulon OSF product, and SemBioSys re-acquired the rights to its DermaSphere technology in Q1 2007. SemBioSys remain confident the product has strong formulator appeal, and is presently seeking to develop new partnerships to re-establish its DermaSphere product in a broad range of personal care products around the World.

A University of Calgary spin-off (1994), SemBioSys is a publicly held firm. Investors include Bay City Capital, the Business Development Bank of Canada, Dow AgroSciences (a Canadian subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company), Royal Bank Ventures Inc. (now RBC Capital Partners), the University of Calgary, Ventures West Capital Ltd., and Dr. Maurice Moloney.

See also

*Plant-made pharmaceuticals

External links

* [http://www.sembiosys.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.innovationstrategy.gc.ca/gol/innovation/site.nsf/en/in05263.html/ Company profile from Innovation in Canada website]