Athenix to Relocate Its Corporate Headquarters.New Space in RTP (1) (Rapid Transport Protocol) The protocol used in IBM's High Performance Routing (HPR) system. (2) (Realtime Transport Protocol) An IP protocol that supports real time transmission of voice and video. Will Accommodate Expected Growth in '07 and Beyond RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK Research Triangle Park, research, business, medical, and educational complex situated in central North Carolina. It has an area of 6,900 acres (2,795 hectares) and is 8 × 2 mi (13 × 3 km) in size. Named for the triangle formed by Duke Univ. , N.C. -- Following a year of significant growth, Athenix Corp. is moving its operations from Durham to Research Triangle Park today. The move is the latest indicator of success at Athenix, a leading biotechnology company that develops novel products and technologies for agricultural and sustainable industrial applications. The company anticipates continued growth in years to come. "Past growth, coupled with a very rich R&D pipeline, has Athenix very excited about its future," said Mike Koziel, president and chief executive officer for Athenix. "This company is in a very good place, and poised for impressive growth." Markus Andres, chief operating officer Chief Operating Officer (COO) The officer of a firm responsible for day-to-day management, usually the president or an executive vice-president. for Athenix, said the company grew by approximately 20 percent in 2006 and added 12 new positions, bringing its current employee count to 50. Andres expects Athenix to add at least 10 more positions in 2007. The Athenix office space and laboratories have been in Durham since the company's founding in 2001, with greenhouse space nearby at Duke University. At 30,000 square feet, the new facility offers nearly three times the capacity of the current location, and includes office space, laboratories and a greenhouse. "While our new facilities will include greenhouse space," Koziel explained, "we'll continue operations at Duke and build on the relationship between Athenix and the university. However, it's important to have greenhouse capabilities on site. The added space is necessary to accommodate the projected growth of Athenix." On the heels of exceptional results from its 2006 field trials, Athenix announced in November that it is advancing its lead products into registration and commercial development. The field trials evaluated proprietary genes for resistance to key corn insect pests as well as tolerance to the world's leading herbicide herbicide (hr`bəsīd'), chemical compound that kills plants or inhibits their normal growth. A herbicide in a particular formulation and application can be described as selective or nonselective. , glyphosate glyphosate herbicide and desiccant for grains. Heavy doses to birds cause soft shells on their eggs. . In its 2006 herbicide tolerance trials, the company's proprietary class of glyphosate-tolerant genes produced outstanding levels of tolerance to this important herbicide. In the insect resistance trials, plants demonstrated commercial levels of resistance to key pests, including European corn borer European corn borer: see corn borer. , corn rootworm root·worm n. Any of several beetles of the genus Diabrotica, the larvae of which feed on the roots of various crop plants, especially corn. , and corn earworm corn earworm or cotton bollworm, destructive larva of a moth, Heliothis zea. Also known as tomato fruitworm, the larva attacks a variety of crops, boring into and feeding on the developing fruits—tomatoes, corn kernels, or cotton . Athenix has entered an intense commercial product development phase that includes additional field trials and the development of regulatory packages. This will allow Athenix to sell transgenic trans·ge·nic adj. 1. Of, relating to, or being an organism whose genome has been altered by the transfer of a gene or genes from another species or breed: transgenic mice. 2. corn products that offer resistance to insects and tolerance to glyphosate. The new Athenix headquarters is located at 108 T. W. Alexander Drive, PO Box 110347, Research Triangle Park, N.C. 27709. The main phone number is (919) 328-4100, and the fax number is (919) 328-4101. About Athenix Corp. Athenix is a leading biotechnology company that develops novel products and technologies for agricultural and sustainable industrial applications. Athenix is focused on developing enhanced plants, microbes, enzymes, and processes with emphasis on two major market opportunities: 1) the discovery of genes and proteins for novel input traits such as insect resistance, nematode nematode or roundworm Any of more than 15,000 named and many more unnamed species of worms in the class Nematoda (phylum Aschelminthes). Nematodes include plant and animal parasites and free-living forms found in soil, freshwater, saltwater, and even vinegar resistance, and herbicide tolerance, and their use to develop transgenic plants for the crop production industry; and 2) the discovery of genes and proteins for use in the sustainable chemical industry. For more information about Athenix, visit www.athenixcorp.com |
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