Codexis, Inc, a leading developer of biocatalysts for the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries, announced the signing of a platform technology licence agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

Under the terms of the agreement, Codexis granted GSK a license to use Codexis' proprietary CodeEvolver protein engineering platform technology in the field of human healthcare. The licence allows GSK to use Codexis' platform technology to develop novel enzymes for use in the manufacture of GSK's pharmaceutical and health care products. GSK may also use the licenced technology to develop new therapeutic, diagnostic and prophylactic products in the human health field. Upon completion of technology transfer, GSK will have Codexis' state-of-the-art CodeEvolver protein engineering platform installed at its Upper Merion, Pennsylvania research and development site.  

Codexis is eligible to receive up to $25 million over approximately the next two years, $6 million of which will be paid upfront shortly after signing and an additional $19 million subject to satisfactory completion of technology transfer milestones. Codexis also has the potential to receive numerous additional milestone payments that range from $5.75 million to $38.5 million per project based on GSK's successful application of the licensed technology. In addition, Codexis will be eligible to receive royalties based on net sales, if any, of a limited set of products developed by GSK using Codexis' CodeEvolver protein engineering platform technology.

The agreement marks the first time that Codexis has licensed its protein engineering platform technology to any party in the healthcare field, and reinforces both companies' belief that biocatalysts, engineered by Codexis' CodeEvolver technology, may increasingly be deployed to reduce the cost and increase the efficiency of pharmaceutical manufacturing. The use of biocatalysts to manufacture pharmaceuticals has the potential to reduce the number of manufacturing steps, reduce the use of hazardous chemicals and the production of toxic waste, and reduce the energy intensity of the process.

John Nicols, president and chief executive officer, of Codexis, stated that, "We are very pleased that GSK has selected our CodeEvolver platform technology to support innovation and reduce costs in its manufacturing and product development organisations.  We look forward to replicating this new technology licensing model with other potential partners and expanding the network of innovative companies that may select our CodeEvolver technology to accelerate their in-house protein engineering capabilities."

"We look forward to our collaboration with Codexis and deploying their protein engineering technology at GSK," said John Baldoni, Senior Vice President, Platform Technology and Science of GSK. "Our goal is to manufacture small molecules more efficiently and sustainably and this platform will assist us to do that."