Metabolix sells biopolymer assets to CJ CheilJedang

Metabolix Inc has sold its biopolymer intellectual property and certain laboratory equipment to South Korea’s CJ CheilJedang Corporation for $ 10 million. Completion of the transaction is subject to the negotiation of definitive agreements and other customary conditions.

Under the definitive agreements, Metabolix will transfer to CJ a portfolio of intellectual property (IP) including the platform microbial strains used to produce the company's fermentation based products, as well as patent rights covering the production and use of PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate) biopolymers. CJ will also acquire certain laboratory equipment associated with the biopolymers business. The arrangement is also expected to include a sublease to CJ of a portion of Metabolix’s Woburn (Massachusetts) facility.

"We believe this transaction will help put the Company on a more stable footing and enable us to move forward with our plan to make Yield10 Bioscience our core business. We are excited about our new direction and look forward to focusing our efforts on developing disruptive technologies for step-change improvements in crop yield," said Joseph Shaulson, president and CEO of Metabolix.

Metabolix announced its new strategic direction in July and anticipates a staff of approximately 20 people with an annual net cash burn rate in the range of $5 million once it has completed its transition and related restructuring. Consistent with this new strategy, the company plans to rebrand itself as Yield10 Bioscience in the coming months.