Summary:
Synbuild provides custom synthesis of natural and artificial genes and genetic elements using a unique patent-pending technology developed at the Arizona State University and exclusively licensed to Synbuild.

History:
Synbuild is the first company spun from the Biodesign Institute of the Arizona State University based on the technologies developed at the Institute. The company founded in February 2009 and originally supported by the small business catalytic grant from the Science Foundation of Arizona. In December 2009 Synbuild completed separation from the Biodesign Institute and moved into its own fully equipped production facility. Currently Synbuild operated as an independent entity and accepts orders for commercial gene production.

Technology:
The gene assembling technology used by Synbuild has been developed at the Center for Innovations in Medicine of the Biodesign Institute by the founders of the company. The technology is based on three inventions. The first invention is related to the conversion of complex pools of synthetic oligonucleotides into sets of partially overlapping fragments suitable for PCR based gene assembly. The second is related to the process of automatic elimination of faulty assembled fragments from the generated sets, and the third, to the process of seamless assembly of the flawlessly assembled fragments into genes of any size and complexity. Together they constitute a completely new high throughput technology suitable for assembling of synthetic genes of any size and complexity. The technology is protected by the pending U.S. utility patent and exclusively licensed to Synbuild.

Management:
Dr. Alex Borovkov is the founder and CEO of the company. He is the key inventor of the Synbuild’s gene assembly technology and experienced molecular biologist and program manager. His prior experience includes positions of Director of the Plant Biotechnology Center of the All Union Oil Crops Institute, Krasnodar, Russia; Director of the Biotechnology Division of the Centre for Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; Monsanto Fellow, Monsanto Co., Saint Louis, Missouri; Associate Director of Research, Macrogenics Inc., Rockville, Maryland.

Business Advisory Board:
Jon W. McGarity, Chairman. Mr. McGarity is Executive Vice President of Campbell Alliance, one of the most prominent names in Arizona’s bioscience community.   Mr. McGarity has launched over 40 products as well as completed numerous business development deals involving product acquisitions, licensing, co-marketing and promotional arrangements.  Currently, among numerous other roles, Mr. McGarity is a Board Director at Cypress Biosciences Inc. (CYPB), a public biotech company based in San Diego, and is involved with GenBioPro, Inc. (Board Chairman), C-Virion (Virionics), MedApps, Inc., and Restorative Biosciences, Inc. all private biotechnology companies based in the Phoenix area.
Kevin Weber is co-founder and managing partner of BioMark Partners, LLC which provides commercial consulting services to pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device companies. Previously, Mr. Weber was Sr. Vice President of Global Operations and Strategy at Hyperion Therapeutics, a South San Francisco, CA start-up venture focused on orphan drugs.  As Vice President, General Manager of Ucyclyd Pharma (a subsidiary of Medicis Pharmaceuticals Corporation) Mr. Weber was responsible for day-to-day operations of the $30 million global business.  Mr. Weber’s prior experience includes executive roles with Medicis Pharmaceuticals, Voluntary Hospitals of America (VHA) and Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Pharmaceuticals.
Dr. Kenneth Noonan is Advisory Director to Aquilo Partners, L.P., Senior Advisor to L.E.K. Consulting LLP’s life sciences practice, and Venture Partner of Advanced Technology Ventures. Dr. Noonan also serves on the board of directors of Orchid Biosciences Inc., Intercept Pharmaceuticals Inc., TyraTech PLC (AIM), Helixis Inc., and Premier Research Group. His prior experience includes positions of Sr. Partner and Head of European Life Sciences Practice of L.E.K. Consulting LLP, Sr. Vice President of Corporate Development of Applera Corp., Partner and Head of the European Life Sciences Practice of Booz-Allen & Hamilton Inc., Partner and Managing Director of The Wilkerson Group Ltd., and others.


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