{{Short description|Former biotechnology company}} {{Infobox company | name = ZymoGenetics | logo = ZymoGenetics logo.png | image = | image_size = 225px | image_alt = | image_caption = Zymogenetics headquarters, as viewed from Lake Union in Seattle, Washington | native_name = | native_name_lang = <!-- Use ISO 639-1 code, e.g. "fr" for French. For multiple names in different languages, use {{lang|[code]|[name]}}. --> | former_name = | type = Public | industry = Biotechnology/Pharmaceuticals | founded = {{start date and age|1981}} in Seattle, Washington | founders = Earl W. Davie, Michael Smith and Benjamin D. Hall | hq_location = Lake Union Steam Plant Building | hq_location_city = 1201 Eastlake Avenue East, Seattle | hq_location_country = Washington, USA | area_served = <!-- or: | areas_served = --> | key_people = Stephanie Feldt | products = Pharmaceuticals | brands = | services = | owner = Bristol-Myers Squibb | homepage = [https://web.archive.org/web/20170322220917/https://www.bms.com/about-us/our-company.html Archived website] }}
'''ZymoGenetics, Inc''' was one of the oldest biotechnology/pharmaceutical companies in the USA,<ref name="New York Times-ZymoGenetics Will Become Independent of Novo Nordisk" /> based in Seattle, Washington. The company was involved in the development of therapeutic proteins. Located on Lake Union, the address of the ZymoGenetics headquarters was 1201 Eastlake Avenue East.<ref name="Homepage-ZymoGenetics, a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company">{{cite web|title=ZymoGenetics, a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company|url=https://www.bms.com/about-us/our-company.html|publisher=Bristol-Myers Squibb|access-date=21 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322220917/https://www.bms.com/about-us/our-company.html|archive-date=March 22, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was closed in 2019 after its acquisition by Bristol Myers Squibb.<ref name="closure1">{{cite web|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2018/bristol-myers-squibb-will-close-seattle-zymogenetics-operations-next-year/|publisher=GeekWire|first=Clare|last=McGrane|date=November 1, 2018|title=Bristol-Myers Squibb will close its Seattle Zymogenetics operations next year|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518050934/https://www.geekwire.com/2018/bristol-myers-squibb-will-close-seattle-zymogenetics-operations-next-year/|archive-date=May 18, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="closure2">{{cite news|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/seattle-biotech-stalwart-zymogenetics-prepares-for-year-end-closure/|title=Seattle biotech stalwart ZymoGenetics prepares for year-end closure|date=November 1, 2018|first=Benjamin|last=Romano|newspaper=The Seattle Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518054835/https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/seattle-biotech-stalwart-zymogenetics-prepares-for-year-end-closure/|archive-date=May 18, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
The company was founded in 1981<ref name="Xconomy- Bristol-Myers Squibb to Stay in Seattle, Keep ZymoGenetics Workers">{{cite web|last1=Timmerman|first1=Luke|title=Bristol-Myers Squibb to Stay in Seattle, Keep ZymoGenetics Workers|url=https://www.xconomy.com/seattle/2011/01/25/bristol-myers-squibb-to-stay-in-seattle-keep-zymogenetics-workers/|publisher=Xconomy|access-date=21 May 2015|date=25 January 2011|quote=ZymoGenetics, the venerable biotech founded in 1981.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518052109/https://xconomy.com/seattle/2011/01/25/bristol-myers-squibb-to-stay-in-seattle-keep-zymogenetics-workers/|archive-date=May 18, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> by Professors Earl W. Davie and Benjamin D. Hall of the University of Washington and 1993 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry Michael Smith of the University of British Columbia.<ref name="Homepage-ZymoGenetics, a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company" /> Initially named '''Zymos''',<ref>{{Cite web |title=In Remembrance: Dr. Benjamin D. Hall (1932-2019) |url=https://www.wrfseattle.org/story/dr-benjamin-d-hall-1932-2019-university-of-washington/ |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=Washington Research Foundation |language=en-US}}</ref> the company was forced to change its name to ZymoGenetics under threat of trademark infringement from the similarly named semiconductor company ZyMOS.<ref>{{Citation |title=Dr. Ben Hall - November 1, 2011 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-f6wIHVuzM |access-date=2023-09-13 |language=en}}</ref> Soon after its founding, ZymoGenetics began working on recombinant proteins with Danish company Novo Nordisk, and was acquired by that company in 1988.<ref name="Novo Nordisk completes divestment of ZymoGenetics, Inc.">{{cite web|title=Novo Nordisk completes divestment of ZymoGenetics, Inc.|url=https://www.bionity.com/en/news/124260/novo-nordisk-completes-divestment-of-zymogenetics-inc.html|website=Bionity.com|access-date=21 May 2015|date=13 October 2010|quote=Novo Nordisk has been a shareholder of ZymoGenetics since 1988 and at the time of the transaction, Novo Nordisk owned 22,143,320 shares, equalling close to 26% of the share capital.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518052445/https://www.bionity.com/en/news/124260/novo-nordisk-completes-divestment-of-zymogenetics-inc.html|archive-date=May 18, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> It was spun off as a public company in 2000.<ref name="New York Times-ZymoGenetics Will Become Independent of Novo Nordisk">{{cite web|last1=Pollack|first1=Andrew|title=ZymoGenetics Will Become Independent of Novo Nordisk|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/23/business/zymogenetics-will-become-independent-of-novo-nordisk.html?ref=topics|work=The New York Times|access-date=21 May 2015|date=23 October 2000|quote=ZymoGenetics Inc. said it had arranged for $150 million in private financing that would allow it to become independent of its parent company, Novo Nordisk A.S. of Denmark.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518051205/https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/23/business/zymogenetics-will-become-independent-of-novo-nordisk.html?ref=topics|archive-date=May 18, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Bristol-Myers Squibb acquired the company in 2010 for $885 million.<ref name="BMS forges $885M deal to buy ZymoGenetics">{{cite web|last1=Carroll|first1=John|title=BMS forges $885M deal to buy ZymoGenetics|url=https://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/bms-forges-885m-deal-buy-zymogenetics/2010-09-08|access-date=21 May 2015|date=8 September 2010|work=FierceBiotech| quote=Bristol-Myers Squibb has struck a deal to buy Seattle-based ZymoGenetics for $885 million.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518052614/https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/bms-forges-885m-deal-to-buy-zymogenetics|archive-date=May 18, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/bristol-myers-squibb-buying-zymogenetics/|title=Bristol-Myers Squibb buying ZymoGenetics|date=September 7, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518053434/https://www.seattletimes.com/business/bristol-myers-squibb-buying-zymogenetics/|archive-date=May 18, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
ZymoGenetics' headquarters occupied the landmark Lake Union Steam Plant building beginning in the mid-1990s.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1993-07-04 |title=Focus: Seattle; Transforming a Rundown Lake Shoreline (Published 1993) |language=en |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/07/04/realestate/focus-seattle-transforming-a-rundown-lake-shoreline.html |access-date=2023-08-13}}</ref> This structure was built from 1914 to 1921 by Seattle City Light, the municipal electric utility.<ref name="Xconomy- What Will Happen to ZymoGenetics' Landmark Headquarters when Bristol Calls the Shots?">{{cite web|last1=Timmerman|first1=Luke|title=What Will Happen to ZymoGenetics' Landmark Headquarters when Bristol Calls the Shots?|url=https://www.xconomy.com/seattle/2010/09/13/what-will-happen-to-zymogenetics-landmark-headquarters-when-bristol-calls-the-shots/|publisher=Xconomy|access-date=21 May 2015|date=13 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518052741/https://xconomy.com/seattle/2010/09/13/what-will-happen-to-zymogenetics-landmark-headquarters-when-bristol-calls-the-shots/|archive-date=May 18, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> At the time, the building was in poor condition with many broken windows; Bruce Carter, the chief executive at the time, described it as "the mother of all fixer-uppers".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/real-estate/the-hutchs-30-year-journey-to-the-lake-union-steam-plant/|newspaper=The Seattle Times|title=The Hutch's 30-year journey to the Lake Union steam plant|date=June 15, 2018|first=Benjamin |last=Romano|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518040327/https://www.seattletimes.com/business/real-estate/the-hutchs-30-year-journey-to-the-lake-union-steam-plant/|archive-date=May 18, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2016, ZymoGenetics announced that they would not renew the lease to the Steam Plant building, due to expire in 2019;<ref name="NotRenewingLease">{{cite news|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/zymogenetics-leaving-steam-plant-building/|newspaper=The Seattle Times|title=ZymoGenetics won't renew South Lake Union lease|date=December 14, 2016|first=Rachel|last=Lerman|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518053818/https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/zymogenetics-leaving-steam-plant-building/|archive-date=May 18, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center later moved into it.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/hutch-cancer-center-will-put-labs-in-seattles-historic-lake-union-steam-plant/|date=June 11, 2018|title=Hutch cancer center will put labs in Seattle's historic Lake Union steam plant|first=Benjamin |last=Romano|newspaper=The Seattle Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518042224/https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/hutch-cancer-center-will-put-labs-in-seattles-historic-lake-union-steam-plant/|archive-date=May 18, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> At the time, ZymoGenetics did not plan on closing its Bothell manufacturing site;<ref name="NotRenewingLease" /> however, it was sold to Seattle Genetics in August 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/seattle-genetics-buys-biotech-factory-in-bothell/|newspaper=The Seattle Times|title=Seattle Genetics buys biotech factory in Bothell|date=August 1, 2017|first=George|last=Erb|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518053745/https://www.seattletimes.com/business/seattle-genetics-buys-biotech-factory-in-bothell/|archive-date=May 18, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> ZymoGenetics closed completely in 2019.<ref name="closure1" /><ref name="closure2" />
==Corporate governance== In late 2013, the company's president, Stephen W. Zaruby, left and took up the president and chief executive officer roles at Aurinia Pharmaceuticals.<ref name="slatko2013">{{cite magazine | url=http://pharmalive.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/223839-MedAdNews-Dece.pdf#n=29 | date=December 2013 | title=BMS changes senior management team | last=Slatko | first=Joshua | magazine=Med Ad News | page=27 | department=People on the Move: Biopharma | issn=1067-733X | volume=32 | issue=12 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518060233/http://pharmalive.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/223839-MedAdNews-Dece.pdf | archive-date=May 18, 2020 | url-status=live}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Portal|Companies}} * {{Official website|http://www.zymogenetics.com/}} * [http://v3.espacenet.com/results?IA=ZymoGenetics&sf=q&FIRST=1&CY=gb&LG=en&DB=EPODOC&st=IA&kw=ZymoGenetics&Submit=SEARCH&=&=&=&=&= Worldwide Patent Search in European Patent Office Database for ZymoGenetics]{{Dead link|date=October 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }} * [http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=0&f=S&l=50&TERM1=ZymoGenetics&FIELD1=&co1=AND&TERM2=&FIELD2=&d=PG01 List of Patents from United States Patent and Trademark Office for ZymoGenetics]{{Dead link|date=October 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Zymogenetics}} Category:1981 establishments in Washington (state) Category:American companies established in 1981 Category:Biotechnology companies of the United States Category:Bristol Myers Squibb Category:Defunct companies based in Seattle Category:Pharmaceutical companies established in 1981 Category:Health care companies based in Washington (state) Category:Pharmaceutical companies disestablished in 2010 Category:2010 mergers and acquisitions