Ambrx Pharmaceuticals, a leader in the field of protein optimization, is a biopharmaceutical company developing “best in class” protein and antibody drugs based on a breakthrough involving the site-specific incorporation of novel amino acids into proteins. This approach expands the chemical diversity beyond the twenty existing amino acids and this technology enables protein medicinal chemistry™, generation of variants of wild-type proteins, which allows Ambrx to generate molecules optimized for drug-like properties (potency and time of action). Through the application of protein medicinal chemistry™, Ambrx has created a robust pipeline of biopharmaceutical drug candidates.

Founded by leading scientists who pioneered the fields of biosynthetic incorporation of novel amino acids and recombinant protein-based drugs, Ambrx is continuing to evolve this technology to allow the creation of protein-based drugs that have the potential for improved efficacy and safety with a once-weekly dosing frequency. Ambrx owns or controls over 500 patents and patent applications, including issued “pioneering” patents relating to the incorporation of novel amino acids into proteins.

Ambrx is leading the field of protein medicinal chemistry and its application to create next-generation rationally engineered protein-based drugs. The company is leveraging this technology in its internal projects as well as those of our strategic partners to create a wide array of differentiated product candidates. While Ambrx’s technology is broadly applicable, we are currently focusing on the areas of metabolic diseases, endocrinology, and disorders of the central nervous system. Additional projects in oncology are anticipated to be initiated in early 2009. Our leadership position is anchored in fundamental patents and know-how and our pipeline of eight active projects. We currently employ over 80 employees at our headquarters in San Diego, California.