Human Genome Sciences (HGS) was a

biopharmaceutical A biopharmaceutical, also known as a biological medical product, or biologic, is any pharmaceutical drug product manufactured in, extracted from, or semisynthesized from biological sources. Different from totally synthesized pharmaceuticals, t ...

corporation A corporation is an organization—usually a group of people or a company—authorized by the state to act as a single entity (a legal entity recognized by private and public law "born out of statute"; a legal person in legal context) and r ...

founded in 1992 by

Craig Venter John Craig Venter (born October 14, 1946) is an American biotechnologist and businessman. He is known for leading one of the first draft sequences of the human genome and assembled the first team to transfect a cell with a synthetic chromosome. ...

, Alan Walton and Wally Steinberg. It uses the human DNA sequence to develop protein and antibody drugs. It had drugs under development to treat such diseases as

hepatitis C Hepatitis C is an infectious disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) that primarily affects the liver; it is a type of viral hepatitis. During the initial infection people often have mild or no symptoms. Occasionally a fever, dark urine, a ...

, systemic lupus erythmatosis,

anthrax Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium ''Bacillus anthracis''. It can occur in four forms: skin, lungs, intestinal, and injection. Symptom onset occurs between one day and more than two months after the infection is contracted. The sk ...

, and cancer. It collaborated with other biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies for development partnerships and licensing. On July 16, 2012, HGS agreed to be purchased by

GlaxoSmithKline GSK plc, formerly GlaxoSmithKline plc, is a British multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company with global headquarters in London, England. Established in 2000 by a merger of Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham. GSK is the ten ...

for $3.6 billion.Overly, Steven. "GlaxoSmithKline buys Human Genome Sciences for $3.6B." ''Washington Post.'' July 16, 2012.
Accessed 2012-07-16.

Corporate history

The company was founded by Alan Walton, Wally Steinberg and

who at the time founded the non-profit

TIGR TIGR, an abbreviation for ''Trst'', ''Istra'', ''Gorica'', and ''Reka'', full name Revolutionary Organization of the Julian March T.I.G.R. ( sl, Revolucionarna organizacija Julijske krajine T.I.G.R.), was a militant anti-fascist and insurgent or ...

to begin sequencing and submitting patents on hundreds of thousands of protein-encoding DNA fragments. In 1993 Wally Steinberg hired Bill Haseltine as the first CEO of HGS. In 2000, Haseltine said that the company 's work "speeds up biological discovery a hundredfold, easily." He talked of finding in genes "the fountain of youth" in the form of "cellular replacement" therapies. More than $2 billion in investments was raised by the company by 1999-2000. Two initial drugs failed in clinical trials, and the stock share price declined from its highs. For example, in September 2000, the company reported that it had found a way to treat large, painful sores that often plague elderly patients, using a protein spray called repifermin, made by a human gene called keratinocyte growth factor-2. In February 2004, the company said that it was ending the development of repifermin because it showed no more benefit than a placebo in clinical trials. In late 2004, HGS announced Haseltine's retirement and named H. Thomas Watkins the new President and CEO. Benlysta (

belimumab Belimumab, sold under the brand name Benlysta, is a human monoclonal antibody that inhibits B-cell activating factor (BAFF), also known as B-lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS). It is approved in the United States, Canada, and the European Union to treat ...

) received U.S. Food and Regulatory Administration approval for use in lupus in March 2011. Belimumab was being developed with

, Abthrax (

raxibacumab Raxibacumab is a human monoclonal antibody intended for the prophylaxis and treatment of inhaled anthrax. Its efficacy has been proven in rabbits and monkeys. In December 2012 raxibacumab was approved in the United States for the treatment of in ...

) for anthrax was the subject of a contract with the US Government under Project BioShield. Development of Albuferon ( albinterferon) for Hepatitis C was discontinued after fatalities during early testing. Belimumab and raxibacumab were created as a result of a technology licensing deal signed with

Cambridge Antibody Technology Cambridge Antibody Technology (officially Cambridge Antibody Technology Group Plc, informally CAT) was a biotechnology company headquartered in Cambridge, England, United Kingdom. Its core focus was on antibody therapeutics, primarily using Ph ...

signed in 1999. Its facilities in

Rockville, Maryland Rockville is a city that serves as the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland, and is part of the Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area. The 2020 census tabulated Rockville's population at 67,117, making it the fifth-largest community in ...

earned its architect—Davis Carter Scott, Ltd.—an award from the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties. The association cited the glass walls,

atrium Atrium may refer to: Anatomy * Atrium (heart), an anatomical structure of the heart * Atrium, the genital structure next to the genital aperture in the reproductive system of gastropods * Atrium of the ventricular system of the brain * Pulmona ...

, and uniform design of all the buildings as reasons for the award. On April 19, 2012, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) made a takeover bid for HGS, offering $13.00 per share for a total valuation of $2.59 billion. The HGS board "...in consultation with independent financial and legal advisors, has carefully reviewed and considered the GSK offer and has determined that the offer does not reflect the value inherent in HGS." Glaxo then tried to buy HGS shares on the open market, but the HGS board of directors adopted a "poison pill"

shareholder rights plan A shareholder rights plan, colloquially known as a "poison pill", is a type of defensive tactic used by a corporation's board of directors against a takeover. In the field of mergers and acquisitions, shareholder rights plans were devised in the ...

that led Glaxo to back off. Shareholders sued the HGS board for adopting the plan. On July 16, 2012, HGS agreed to be purchased by GSK for $3.6 billion.

Collaboration with Cambridge Antibody Technology

In 1999, HGS signed a deal with the UK biopharmaceutical company

to discover and develop antibody therapeutics. This deal generated

, mapatumumab and lexatumumab. In April 2012, the first three of these products formed part of the six named by HGS in its public pipeline.

Pipeline

As of April 2012, HGS's pipeline consisted of six products: # Benlysta #

Raxibacumab Raxibacumab is a human monoclonal antibody intended for the prophylaxis and treatment of inhaled anthrax. Its efficacy has been proven in rabbits and monkeys. In December 2012 raxibacumab was approved in the United States for the treatment of in ...

# Darapladib #

Albiglutide Albiglutide (trade names Eperzan in Europe and Tanzeum in the US) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist (GLP-1 agonist) drug marketed by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) for treatment of type 2 diabetes. As of 2017 it is unclear if it affects a person's risk ...

# Mapatumumab # HGS1036

Bibliography

''The Disappointment Gene: Why genetics is so far a boondoggle''
Slate Magazine, October 18, 2005

Wired News, September 13, 2000
''Human Genome's drug falls short, shares take a dip ''
September 26, 2003

Washington Business Journal, February 2, 2004

HGS Press Release, January 7, 2008

HGS Press Release about GSK deal

HGS Press Release about Novartis

HGS Press release about Government Contract

References

External links

Human Genome Sciences Official Web Site
{{Authority control Companies based in Rockville, Maryland American companies established in 1992 Pharmaceutical companies established in 1992 Biotechnology companies of the United States GSK plc Pharmaceutical companies disestablished in 2012