Bacteria also produce substances called antibiotics that kill other microorganisms.
Genes that specify such products can sometimes be identified based on their similarity to genes that specify other known antibiotics. HGS has identified several Staphylococcus aureus genes that may produce novel antibiotics. At present, Human Genome Sciences does not intend to develop or market antimicrobials or antibiotics. The Company intends to work with pharmaceutical companies, including Roche, for the development and marketing of these compounds and to benefit from such collaborations in the form of license fees, milestone payments, royalties and other product rights. The Department of Cell Biology tests purified therapeutic protein candidates for activity in cell and organ culture systems that are designed to predict the medical utility of each protein.