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The Biotech Capital of the World

The Beginning – Genentech

Thirty years ago, Herb Boyer and Bob Swanson had the incredible insight, bold genius, and unwavering commitment to start a different kind of company based on the belief that DNA technology would produce commercially viable, breakthrough medicines. On April 7th, 1976, the two founded Genentech in a semi vacant warehouse in South San Francisco, and in doing so, launched the biotech industry. Today, Genentech is among the world’s leading biotech companies, marketing and manufacturing nine protein-based products for serious life-threatening medical conditions, Genentech is using human genetic information to discover, develop, manufacture, and market pharmaceuticals that address significant unmet medical needs. Today, Genentech markets and manufactures 12 plus products in the United States. During the last two decades, these medicines have been used to successfully treat more than one million oncology, cardiovascular, respiratory, and growth hormone patients worldwide. Currently, Genentech has 30 projects under way in its development pipeline including treatments for asthma and allergic rhinitis, non Hodgkin’s lymphoma, acute heart failure and psoriasis. Genentech employs 8,600 people; 6,000 in South San Francisco and continues to expand its employees base and campus. Its 450 scientists are among the top in their field, publishing 250 to
275 papers annually.

Expansion

Since the beginning of Genentech, biotech has grown steadily in South San Francisco with over 72 biotech firms in a 2-square-mile industrial zone. The city’s biopharmaceutical community has also diversified to encompass a wide spectrum of bioscience related activities. This process of expansion has been aided and encouraged by the presence of companies like Elan Pharmaceuticals, Amgen, Cell Genesys, Theravance, Cytokinetics, Rigel, and many more.

Business Advantages for Biotech Companies

South San Francisco offers a unique combination of advantages available for both businesses and the workforce. One of these advantages is the well- defined zone of exclusively industrial and commercial activity located east of Highway 101, which has offered room for bioscience and related businesses to build and expand facilities without encroaching on residential areas. Another key advantage of doing business in South San Francisco is the support from local and state agencies that value scientific research. Credit is also due to the City zoning and business policies in cementing South San Francisco’s position as the Biotech Center. Biotech firms also provide a range of jobs, from scientists and engineers to receptionists and technicians.

From a city built on an entrepreneurial spirit filled with stockyards, steel mills, and meat slaughtering houses, South San Francisco has emerged as the world capital of Biotechnology. There is no question that South San Francisco has retained this entrepreneurial atmosphere as it lures more biotech companies to its ideal location.