[1] Created in Denmark in 1999 by Christian Karsten Hansen and Jan Møller Mikkelsen, formerly of Novo Nordisk, the company was funded by venture capital and a loan from Vækstfonden.
After rapidly growing to employ 50 scientists, and filing large numbers of patent applications, the company was acquired by Maxygen in 2000, for $60 million in stock.
Its initial directors were Dr. Claus Bræstrup, Prof. Thue Schwartz and Knud Aunstrup.
[3] Profound Pharma developed improved versions of interferon beta, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, TNF inhibitors, factor VII and other commercially important protein pharmaceuticals.
[citation needed] Profound Pharma used a variety of protein engineering and protein modification technologies including site-directed mutagenesis, rational design, PEGylation, glycosylation, and de-immunization.