Maxygen

Maxygen was a biotechnology company focused on directed evolution technologies to improve the properties of proteins, cells, and pathways for a variety of industrial applications. The company was founded in 1997 and headquartered in Redwood City, California.

Maxygen's core technology centered on DNA shuffling, a process of recombining DNA fragments from multiple related genes to create a diverse library of variants. This library was then screened or selected for improved function, and the best variants were iteratively evolved through further rounds of shuffling and selection. This approach allowed for the creation of novel enzymes and other biomolecules with enhanced activity, stability, or other desired characteristics.

Maxygen applied its directed evolution platform to a variety of industries including biofuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture. Specific applications included the development of enzymes for cellulosic ethanol production, biocatalysts for chemical manufacturing, and improved crop traits.

In 2013, Maxygen was acquired by Codexis, another biotechnology company specializing in enzyme engineering. The acquisition integrated Maxygen's DNA shuffling technology and expertise into Codexis' broader protein engineering platform. The Maxygen name is no longer used as a separate entity.