David Goeddel
Encyclopedia
David Goeddel is a pioneer of the biotechnology
industry who, employed at the time by Genentech
, successfully used genetic engineering
to coax bacteria into creating synthetic human insulin
, human growth hormone
, and human TPA
for use in therapeutic medicine. By contrast, the pharmaceutical industries had been researching synthetically created versions of those proteins.
Recruited by Bob Swanson
in 1978, he was the first non-university scientist to be hired at Genentech
, and the company's third employee. Goeddel became legendary in the biotechnology and molecular biology
fields by cloning virtually all of Genentech's early products and/or processes, including synthetic insulin
, growth hormone
, and TPA
, often beating out bigger and more established laboratories in the process. Besides being perhaps the single most important contributor to Genentech's rise to one of the nation's premier biotech companies, his extraordinary drive and competitive work ethic embodied Genentech's early "Clone or Die" culture
Together with Steve McKnight and Robert Tjian
, he founded Tularik in 1991, and was their president and CEO until Tularik was acquired by Amgen
for 1.3 billion dollars in 2004
Goeddel earned his bachelor's degree
in chemistry from the University of California, San Diego
, and his PhD from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences
, and is a recipient of the Eli Lilly
Award in Biological Chemistry
and the Scheele Medal from the Swedish Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...
industry who, employed at the time by Genentech
Genentech
Genentech Inc., or Genetic Engineering Technology, Inc., is a biotechnology corporation, founded in 1976 by venture capitalist Robert A. Swanson and biochemist Dr. Herbert Boyer. Trailing the founding of Cetus by five years, it was an important step in the evolution of the biotechnology industry...
, successfully used genetic engineering
Genetic engineering
Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is the direct human manipulation of an organism's genome using modern DNA technology. It involves the introduction of foreign DNA or synthetic genes into the organism of interest...
to coax bacteria into creating synthetic human insulin
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen in the liver and muscle....
, human growth hormone
Growth hormone
Growth hormone is a peptide hormone that stimulates growth, cell reproduction and regeneration in humans and other animals. Growth hormone is a 191-amino acid, single-chain polypeptide that is synthesized, stored, and secreted by the somatotroph cells within the lateral wings of the anterior...
, and human TPA
TPA
TPA may refer to:* Third-Party Audit, an Audit performed by a specialized & independent Organization* TaxPayers' Alliance, a British free-market lobby group* Tempe Preparatory Academy, a preparatory secondary school in Arizona, USA...
for use in therapeutic medicine. By contrast, the pharmaceutical industries had been researching synthetically created versions of those proteins.
Recruited by Bob Swanson
Robert A. Swanson
Robert A. Swanson was a venture capitalist who cofounded the biotechnology giant Genentech in 1976 with Herbert Boyer. Genentech is a pioneer in the field, and it remains one of the leading biotech companies in the world....
in 1978, he was the first non-university scientist to be hired at Genentech
Genentech
Genentech Inc., or Genetic Engineering Technology, Inc., is a biotechnology corporation, founded in 1976 by venture capitalist Robert A. Swanson and biochemist Dr. Herbert Boyer. Trailing the founding of Cetus by five years, it was an important step in the evolution of the biotechnology industry...
, and the company's third employee. Goeddel became legendary in the biotechnology and molecular biology
Molecular biology
Molecular biology is the branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of biological activity. This field overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and biochemistry...
fields by cloning virtually all of Genentech's early products and/or processes, including synthetic insulin
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen in the liver and muscle....
, growth hormone
Growth hormone
Growth hormone is a peptide hormone that stimulates growth, cell reproduction and regeneration in humans and other animals. Growth hormone is a 191-amino acid, single-chain polypeptide that is synthesized, stored, and secreted by the somatotroph cells within the lateral wings of the anterior...
, and TPA
TPA
TPA may refer to:* Third-Party Audit, an Audit performed by a specialized & independent Organization* TaxPayers' Alliance, a British free-market lobby group* Tempe Preparatory Academy, a preparatory secondary school in Arizona, USA...
, often beating out bigger and more established laboratories in the process. Besides being perhaps the single most important contributor to Genentech's rise to one of the nation's premier biotech companies, his extraordinary drive and competitive work ethic embodied Genentech's early "Clone or Die" culture
Together with Steve McKnight and Robert Tjian
Robert Tjian
Robert Tjian is a U.S. biochemist best known for his work on eukaryotic transcription. He is currently Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of California, Berkeley and an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute...
, he founded Tularik in 1991, and was their president and CEO until Tularik was acquired by Amgen
Amgen
Amgen Inc. is an international biotechnology company headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California. Located in the Conejo Valley, Amgen is the world's largest independent biotech firm. The company employs approximately 17,000 staff members. Its products include Epogen, Aranesp, Enbrel, Kineret,...
for 1.3 billion dollars in 2004
Goeddel earned his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in chemistry from the University of California, San Diego
University of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States...
, and his PhD from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
, and is a recipient of the Eli Lilly
Eli Lilly and Company
Eli Lilly and Company is a global pharmaceutical company. Eli Lilly's global headquarters is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, in the United States...
Award in Biological Chemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
and the Scheele Medal from the Swedish Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences.