Human Genome Sciences (HGS) was a biopharmaceutical corporation founded in 1992 by Craig Venter, Alan Walton and Wally Steinberg.

It had drugs under development to treat such diseases as hepatitis C, systemic lupus erythmatosis, anthrax, and cancer.

In 1992,[3] Wally Steinberg hired William A. Haseltine as the first CEO of Human Genome Sciences, where he served as the founding chairman and chief executive officer for the first twelve years of the company.

These included a new skin growth factor, Keratinocyte growth factor 2, for the treatment of diabetic ulcers and cancer therapy-induced mucositis, a vascular endothelial growth factor for the treatment of peripheral limb ischemia, radio-iodinated B Lymphocyte Stimulator (BLyS) for the treatment of multiple myeloma, a monoclonal antibody to treat cancer that recognizes the Trail receptor, and a monoclonal antibody that antagonizes BLyS (belimumab, trade name Benlysta).

Belimumab was being developed with GlaxoSmithKline,[4] Abthrax (raxibacumab) for anthrax was the subject of a contract with the US Government under Project BioShield.

[6][7][8] Its facilities in Rockville, Maryland earned its architect—Davis Carter Scott, Ltd.—an award from the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties.

[citation needed] On April 19, 2012, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) made a takeover bid for HGS, offering $13.00 per share for a total valuation of $2.59 billion.