Dimitrios Chondros

Genentech, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products for life-threatening medical conditions. It studies various areas including oncology, immunology, neuroscience, ophthalmic diseases, microbial pathogenesis, metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and opportunistic areas. The company was founded by Herb W. Boyer and Robert A. Swanson in 1976 and is headquartered in South San Francisco, CA.

Cell Genesys is a development-stage biotechnology firm focuses on gene-modification technologies to treat cancer. The company's lead product technology is its GVAX vaccine platform. Cell Genesys is working on GVAX vaccines for lung, prostate, and pancreatic cancer, as well as for leukemia and multiple myeloma, another blood cancer. Its oncolytic viral therapy platform uses specially engineered adenoviruses (such as the common cold) to kill cancer cells; the firm's lead candidate from this platform targets prostate cancer.