Biotech Values

[mcbio]

ZIOP - Intrexon partnership (1/6/11 CC notes)

I'm not sure what to make of this partnership initially as it caught me off guard. I thought ZIOP had a nice pipeline as is and thought ZIOP was trying to partner its existing drugs and didn't think they had any interest in going out and trying to acquire new technology/drugs and diluting shareholder interests in the process. But, evidently ZIOP thinks Intrexon has a "game-changing technology platform" (per the CC). I know nothing at all about Intrexon as they are private and there's not much at all on their Web site (http://www.dna.com/ ). They are apparently presenting at JPM next Monday though, so it's important to listen to that presentation. A few notes from the call above and beyond what's in the PR:

1. Intrexon will be responsible for discovery efforts and ZIOP will handle pre-clinical/clinical work.

2. If a partner wants access to Intrexon's technology/drugs, they have to come through ZIOP to get it. ZIOP doesn't have intentions to partner the technology/drugs at this stage as they want to apparently show PoC to create more value.

3. According to Intrexon, they have "more rationally-produced transgenes than any firm in the world."