Arzeda & BP Sign Collaborative Joint Development Agreement


Arzeda, The Protein Design Company, and BP recently announced a collaboration to develop a process for producing a renewable chemical with broad applications.

This collaboration will leverage each company’s unique capabilities, with work occurring at Arzeda’s laboratories, as well as at BP’s Biosciences Center.

Arzeda will utilize Archytas, its industrial protein design software, coupled with its high-throughput protein construction and testing capabilities, to design and develop novel enzymes that enable propriety pathways under development by BP for a variety of applications.

“By focusing on protein design and pathway discovery, Arzeda is able to improve the efficiency, robustness and diversity of biological processes which unlock new opportunities for innovative, high-performing and sustainable products for our partners,” said Alexandre Zanghellini, Arzeda’s CEO. “BP’s investment in renewable chemicals and fuels is well known, and we are excited to be working with their team. They bring world-class expertise and access to capital required to bring this sustainable high-performance chemical to market, which will be key to create economical value to both parties.”

“BP is always looking to work with innovative companies, and we’re extremely pleased to be partnering with Arzeda on this scientifically challenging research, with the potential it brings,” said Angelo Amorelli, Technology Vice President of BP’s Group Research.

Since 2008, Arzeda has harnessed the power of computational protein design to build novel enzymes and discover new pathways that enable cost-effective, sustainable production of value-added specialty chemicals and ingredients. In partnership with Fortune 500 companies and industrial leaders, the company has developed a portfolio of enzymes that increase the efficiency, robustness, and diversity of biological processes. Our proprietary pathway design software unlocks new opportunities for specialty chemicals, advanced materials and health and nutrition products that would otherwise be impossible to exploit.  For more information, visit www.arzeda.com.

BP is committed to a lower-carbon future, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in its operations, improve its products and services to help customers lower their emissions, and create new low-carbon businesses. Technology is ever-present in all that we do – from safely discovering and recovering oil and gas, to renewable energy, digital and lower-carbon fuels and products. We seek innovations that help to make our operations and products more efficient and sustainable. We have scientists and technologists at eight major technology centers in the US, UK, Asia, and Germany. We complement our comprehensive research capability with external collaborations that provide a cross-cutting range of specialities, supported by innovative academic programs. For more information, visit www.bp.com/technology.