Verenium Corp

(NASDAQ Global Market: VRNM)

Industry: Alternative Fuels
On the web: http://www.verenium.com
Employees: 303

Verenium Corporation produces specialty enzyme products and biofuels. The company operates in two business segments, biofuels and specialty enzymes. Its biofuels business segment operates through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Verenium Biofuels Corporation, and is focused on developing unique technical and operational capabilities designed to enable the production and commercialization of biofuels, in particular ethanol produced from cellulosic biomass. The company's specialty enzymes segment develops high-performance enzymes for use within the alternative fuels, specialty industrial processes, and animal nutrition and health markets. The company's primary R+D focus areas are: integrated solutions for the production of advanced biofuels, such as cellulosic ethanol and specialty enzymes for alternative fuels, specialty industrial processes, and animal nutrition and health. It has current collaborations and agreements with BP Biofuels North America LLC, Bunge Oils, Cargill Health and Food Technologies, and Syngenta AG, each of which complement its internal technology and product development efforts. The company faces intense competition in its specialty enzymes business. There are a number of companies who compete with it in various steps throughout its technology process. For example, Codexis, Maxygen, Inc., Evotec, and Xencor have alternative evolution technologies. Integrated Genomics Inc., Myriad Genetics, Inc., and ArQule, Inc. perform screening, sequencing, and/or bioinformatics services. Novozymes A/S, Genencor International Inc., and Dyadic International are involved in development, overexpression, fermentation, and purification of enzymes.