In the summer of 2006, Amyris was working on a drug platform for fighting malaria. Although malaria can be treated with artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), cultivating artemisinin from the Chinese sweet wormwood plant takes more than 14 months. Amyris, however, had conceived a platform that could cultivate artemisinin in as little as 14 days, by reprogramming microorganisms to biologically generate artemisinic acid, which is then converted to pure artemisinin. The company planned on developing the technology into a commercial business in fragrances and nutraceuticals.

We met with Amyris at our offices on Sand Hill Road to discuss the technology. As we talked, we realized that the company's platform could also be used to cultivate other biological compounds, including biofuels, from renewable feedstocks. We worked with Amyris to set up a new strategy focused on biofuels, and we introduced a number of strategic partners. We also helped recruit John Melo, president of U.S. fuels operations for British Petroleum, to run the company. It wasn't long before John had moved from running a $33B business at BP to leading 15 PhDs at Amyris in growing the company.

Today, Amyris produces high-quality biochemical out of renewable feedstocks around the world. With a far-reaching team, technologies, and operations, the company's production is ramping up. Meanwhile, Amyris has expanded its commitment to fighting malaria through a nonprofit endeavor, Zagaya, with the goal to provide 300 million cures at 50 cents a treatment.