Verenium Corporation
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Industrial biotechnology |
| Predecessor | Diversa, Celunol |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Fate | Acquired by BASF |
| Successor | BASF |
| Headquarters | San Diego , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Enzymes for industrial uses including biofuel manufacturing and hydraulic fracturing |
| Owner | BASF (majority shareholder since 2013) |
| Parent | BASF |
Verenium Corporation was an industrial biotechnology firm headquartered in San Diego, California, established in 2007 through the combination of Diversa (San Diego) and Celunol (Cambridge, MA). The enterprise specialized in creating advanced enzymes designed for industrial uses, including biofuel manufacturing and hydraulic fracturing. Verenium's customized enzymes provided sustainable and economically efficient solutions for sectors such as the international food and fuel industries.
By employing proprietary genomic methods, Verenium isolated microbial DNA directly from environmental samples, eliminating the necessity to culture microorganisms in laboratory settings. The company applied high-throughput screening techniques to discover distinctive enzymes among billions of microbial genes. These enzymes were then refined for commercial deployment using patented DirectEvolution processes. Verenium brought to market a range of unique enzyme products serving fields like grain processing, biofuels, and animal health and nutrition. These enzyme offerings are currently marketed by BASF.
On September 20, 2013, Verenium entered into an agreement to be acquired by BASF, which finalized a 71% purchase of the company, incorporating Verenium’s enzyme technology into BASF’s portfolio for industrial biotechnology.