Profound Pharma

Profound Pharma A/S was a Danish company that develops 2nd generation biopharmaceuticals.^[1]

History[]

Created in Denmark in 1999 by Christian Karsten Hansen and Jan Møller Mikkelsen, formerly of Novo Nordisk, the company was funded by venture capital and a loan from Vækstfonden. After rapidly growing to employ 50 scientists, and filing large numbers of patent applications, the company was acquired by Maxygen in 2000 for $60 million in stock. From its acquisition by Maxygen until 2008, the company continued as a subsidiary of Maxygen forming the cornerstone of its biopharmaceutical business, and contributing to Maxygen´s molecular breeding technology. With NeuroSearch, Genmab and , Profound Pharma was among the early members of the Medicon Valley biotech cluster. Its initial directors were Dr. Claus Bræstrup, Prof. Thue Schwartz and Knud Aunstrup.^[2]

Projects[]

Profound Pharma developed improved versions of interferon beta, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, TNF inhibitors, factor VII and other commercially important protein pharmaceuticals.

Technologies[]

Profound Pharma used a variety of protein engineering and protein modification technologies including site-directed mutagenesis, rational design, PEGylation, glycosylation, and de-immunization. These technologies complemented the molecular breeding technology of Maxygen.

References[]