Innovative Approach Accelerates Development of Renewable Chemicals to
Meet Expanding Market Demand for Biobased Chemicals
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Metabolix,
Inc. (NASDAQ: MBLX), an innovation-driven bioscience company focused
on delivering sustainable solutions for plastics, chemicals and energy,
today announced that the company has been awarded two new patents from
the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) related to the novel and
efficient production of biobased polymers and industrial chemicals.
U.S. Patent 8,093,022 titled "Polyhydroxalkanoate Biopolymer
Compositions" enables production of a series of new PHA biopolymer
compositions using genetically engineered microbial strains.
U.S. Patent 8,114,643 titled "Polyhydroxalkanoate Production from
Polyols" enables creation of genetic constructs to make the biobased
chemical 3-hydroxypropionic acid in microbial and crop plant systems. It
also describes the use of polyols, including glycerol and sugars, as
alternate, renewable feedstocks. 3-Hydroxypropionic acid is useful for
the production of PHA polymers and C3 chemicals including biobased
acrylic acid, malonic acid, esters and amines.
"We firmly believe that the pace of adoption of chemicals made from
renewable resources will rapidly accelerate throughout this decade,"
said Richard P. Eno, president and CEO of Metabolix. "The growing
commitment from brand owners and consumers to produce and use ‘green'
products, combined with the rapid advances in biotechnology, means that
our technology for producing biobased chemicals will be very well
positioned to benefit from this trend."
"These recently issued patents highlight the breadth and depth of
Metabolix's PHA technology platform. The recently issued patents
describe a process that enables us to engineer microbes and plants to
accumulate unique biobased monomers and PHA polymers inside their cells.
The unique PHA polymers can then be extracted and used as bioplastics or
converted directly from dried biomass using our FAST technology to
chemical intermediates. In the case of the 3-hydoxypropionic acid
polymer, using our FAST recovery technology results in the direct
production of acrylic acid. We believe this approach will provide a
significant advantage for creating cost-effective downstream recovery
systems at commercial scale," commented Oliver Peoples, an inventor on
the patents and chief scientific officer of Metabolix.
With more than 700 issued and pending patents, Metabolix has led the
industry in the development of a family of biopolymers found in nature
called PHAs (polyhydroxyalkanoates), including members of the PHA
family. Metabolix is developing biobased industrial chemicals as
"drop-in" replacements for petroleum-based products. In recent months,
Metabolix has produced biobased gamma-Butyrolactone ("GBL," a C4
chemical) at semi-works scale (60,000L) and has produced biobased
acrylic acid (a C3 chemical) at lab scale. In the second quarter,
Metabolix expects to begin sampling to prospective strategic partners
dried biomass for conversion to biobased acrylic acid.
According to industry sources, the combined global market for
conventional four-carbon ("C4") and three-carbon ("C3") industrial
chemicals is estimated at more than $10 billion annually. C4 chemicals
are used in applications ranging from high-performance engineering
plastics to spandex. C3 chemicals have applications in paints, coatings,
diapers and adhesives.
About Metabolix
Metabolix, Inc. is an innovation-driven bioscience company delivering
sustainable solutions to the plastics, chemicals and energy industries.
Metabolix is developing and commercializing MirelTM and MveraTM,a family of high-performance bioplastics which are biobased and
biodegradable alternatives to many petroleum-based plastics. Metabolix's
biobased chemicals platform utilizes its novel "FAST" recovery process
to enable the production of cost-effective, "drop-in" replacements for
petroleum-based industrial chemicals. Metabolix is also developing a
platform for co-producing plastics, chemicals and energy from crops.
Metabolix has established an industry-leading intellectual property
portfolio that, together with its knowledge of advanced industrial
practice, provides a foundation for industry collaborations.
For more information, please visit www.metabolix.com.
(MBLX-G)
Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements which are made
pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended. The forward-looking statements in this release do
not constitute guarantees of future performance. Investors are cautioned
that statements in this press release which are not strictly historical
statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the
ability to develop, commercialize and market biobased industrial
chemicals, constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking
statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated and are
detailed in Metabolix's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including its 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011,
which was filed on March 12, 2012. Metabolix assumes no obligation to
update any forward-looking information contained in this press release
or with respect to the announcements described herein.
Media:
Metabolix
Lynne Brum, 617-682-4693
LBrum@metabolix.com
or
Schwartz
MSL Boston
Keith Giannini or Kirsten Swenson, 781-684-0770
metabolix@schwartzmsl.com
or
Investors:
ICR
James
Palczynski, 203-682-8229
james.palczynski@icrinc.com
Source: Metabolix, Inc.
News Provided by Acquire Media
