LS9 Launched to Create Renewable Petroleum(TM) Biofuels |
Academic and Industry Leaders Pursue Industrial Applications of Synthetic
Biology
SAN CARLOS, Calif., Feb. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- LS9 Inc., the Renewable
Petroleum Company(TM), announced its launch today. Founded in 2005, the
company is pursuing industrial applications of synthetic biology to produce
proprietary biofuels. LS9's products, currently under development, are
designed to closely resemble petroleum derived fuels, but be renewable,
clean, domestically produced, and cost competitive. In addition to
biofuels, LS9 will also develop industrial biochemicals for specialty
applications.
LS9 Inc. is developing Renewable Petroleum(TM) biofuels through work
pioneered by scientific founders Chris Somerville, Director of the Carnegie
Institution and Professor of Plant Biology at Stanford University, and
George Church, Director of the MIT-Harvard US-Dept. of Energy GTL Center
and Professor of Genetics at Harvard along with venture founders Flagship
Ventures and Khosla Ventures. In addition, the company relies upon a
distinguished scientific advisory board including leaders in the fields of
synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, microbiology, enzymology,
genomics, bioinformatics, and chemical engineering.
"Thanks to rapid advances in industrial biotechnology and synthetic
biology along with the strength and talent of our scientific team, LS9 is
uniquely suited to design, develop, and commercialize the next generation
of biofuels," said Dr. Somerville. "We have looked to nature to identify
the required biological tools, redesigned them to function under industrial
conditions, and are optimizing their performance to meet our economic
objectives," added Dr. Church.
"Novel solutions are required to address the energy crisis. LS9
represents a new frontier in our venture creation activities, combining
breakthrough scientific work with a strong market orientation," said Noubar
Afeyan, Managing Partner and CEO of Flagship Ventures.
Since 2005, the company has quietly but aggressively pursued a highly
focused research and development plan and amassed an extensive technology
and intellectual property portfolio for the production of Renewable
Petroleum(TM) biofuels.
Doug Cameron, former head of biotechnology research at Cargill and
acting Chief Executive Officer of LS9 Inc., said the advances stand to
change the dynamics of the fuel market.
"LS9 is pursuing a disruptive technology in a large established
market," Dr. Cameron said. "Our rate of scientific progress is a testament
to the quality of the team we have assembled at LS9."
About LS9
LS9, Inc., the Renewable Petroleum Company(TM), is a privately-held
biotechnology company. LS9 is pursuing industrial applications of synthetic
biology to produce biofuels that are compatible with existing fuel
distribution and consumer infrastructure. Based on an enabling technology
portfolio, LS9 was founded in 2005 by leading scientists along with venture
capital firms Flagship Ventures and Khosla Ventures. LS9 is headquartered
in San Carlos, California, in the heart of Silicon Valley.
SOURCE LS9, Inc.
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CONTACT:
Jessica Switzer, jessica@bluepractice.com, or
Tim Gnatek, tim@bluepractice.com, both of Blue Practice,
+1-415-381-1100, for LS9, Inc.
