Xgene Corporation and Genencor International entered into a two-year agreement in September, 2000, to continue working together on in vivo and in vitro assays  to test compounds for activity against  the human papilloma virus (HPV).  The two companies will also develop tests to determine the efficacy of proteins and other compounds used to treat human skin inflammation and other disorders.  

Dr. Michael V. Arbige, Senior Vice President of Technology for Genencor, announced that "Our relationship with Xgene has been very fruitful to date" and "combining Xgene's expertise in the development of artificial skin and assays with our ability to develop products for the treatment of HPV and other human skin disorders will help to efficiently deliver these novel products to the health care and personal care markets."

Genencor International is a global leader in the development of genetically based biotechnology products for the health care, agriculture and industrial chemical markets.  It was established in 1982 as a joint venture between Genentech, Inc. and Corning Incorporated, and its revenues were over $300 million in 1999.  Xgene was founded in 1998 by Warren Hoeffler, who was an Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Stanford University and now serves as President and C.E.O. of Xgene.  He invented the CeSSE skin equivalent that will be used for the tests on HPV and other skin disorders.