Genentech: The Splice of Life by Julie Soller

In the relatively new field of biotechnology, Genentech, Inc. based in South San Francisco is considered the venerable patriarch.

By cutting and pasting genetic code, scientists at the famed bioengineering firm hope to edit the instructions of how nature builds healthy people, cell by cell, and transfer that ability to cure or manage hitherto untreatable diseases.

"Our business is applying the latest advances of biotechnology to make innovative medicines for treating human illness," says Dr. Arthur Levinson, President and CEO.

Pioneers Start a Company

Genentech was born from the fortuitious combination of visionary minds. In the early 1970s, UCSF biochemist Herbert W. Boyer and Stanford geneticist Stanley Cohen pioneered a new scientific field called recombinant DNA technology. The process they collaboratively invented involved splicing and recombining desired segments from human DNA (essentially, the blueprint of the organism) and transporting this genetic material to a host bacterial cell, where it could be cloned. This breakthrough was the basis upon which the biotechnology industry was founded.

But without an influx of financial savvy and creativity (along with plenty of venture capital), the new science might not have led to such successful commercial viability. In 1975, a young venture capitalist from Silicon Valley named Robert Swanson, who was excited by the possibilities of this breakthrough, requested ten minutes of the biochemist's time. In a meeting that stretched to three hours, Boyer was swayed by Swanson's vision. In 1976, the men incorporated Genentech, Inc., for "genetic engineering technology."

Despite skepticism from both the academic and business communities, the fledgling company aimed for the synthesis of human insulin. This goal was achieved in 1978, and the product licensed to Eli Lilly & Co. In 1985, Genentech became the first company to bring a bioengineered medicine -- recombinant human growth hormone -- the full distance from research to the market. The company's success since then has been consistent. At least twelve of the biotechnology products approved for use in the United States stem from Genentech's science.

"With seven products that we market ourselves, and one of the most promising pipelines of potential products in the industry, we remain a leader in developing, manufacturing and marketing human pharmaceuticals that address significant unmet medical needs," Levinson said.

Some names of the products Genentech manufactures and markets include:

Protropin and Nutropin growth hormones; Activase, to dissolve blood clots in heart attack patients; Pulmozyne inhalation solution, a new therapeutic approach for cystic fibrosis; Rituxan, to treat a type of lymphoma; and Herceptin, a therapy for certain types of breast cancer.

Scientific Achievements

Science at Genentech focuses primarily on three areas: cardiovascular medicine, cancer biology and endocrinology. The company also pursues projects outside these medical areas where it has significant opportunities to fill a therapeutic void in important areas of medicine.

In 1998 Genentech unveiled an innovative approach to research that overturned the traditional method in which scientists labored alone or in tiny teams. The new approach resembles an assembly line of scientists using computers to comb through massive databases of genetic information.

Dr. Levinson admits it's a risk: "There is no guarantee we'll find the Next Great Molecule -- but if we had waited two more years, someone would have eaten our lunch."

That risk has great potential, for Genentech was the first biotechnology company to successfully scale-up protein manufacturing from small quantities used for research to the much larger quantities needed for clinical trials and marketing. Its scientists are the most prolific in the industry, publishing at a rate of about 250 papers per year. The company holds 3,200 patents worldwide and 2,000 others pending.

Uninsured Patients Program

Genentech's commitment to improving medical care goes beyond selling a product. Although their medicines are covered by most government and private insurance, Genentech has established uninsured patients programs for each of its marketed products to make them available free to qualified patients in the United States. More than $200 million worth of drugs have been provided to patients in need since the programs were initiated in 1986.

Commitment to Employees

Recognizing and retaining the people who create such front running science is part of Genentech's Long Range Plan. Fortune magazine has ranked Genentech as one of the top 100 Best Companies to Work for in America. Benefits include health care benefits that are among the best in the industry, an employee stock purchase plan, a paid sabbatical program and one of the largest corporate-sponsored day-care centers in the country. There are over 3,300 employees at the site in South San Francisco and manufacturing facility in Vacaville, California.

The rapidly-evolving biotechnology industry is risky, exciting, and studded with complex ethical issues. But with the potential for so many more people's lives being positively affected by their work, Genentech's employees have a special drive to succeed. Says CEO Levinson: "Through the next century, we remain in business for hope, in business for results, and in business for life."