Divergence is a research and development company dedicated to the discovery of effective and ecologically sound strategies for the control of parasites and other pests. The Company's initial focus is on parasitic nematodes, one of the world's major pest groups. Nematodes are roundworms that cause billions of dollars in damage annually to numerous crops, including soybeans, corn, cotton, strawberries, and bananas. Nematodes causing important human diseases include hookworm, whipworm, roundworm (Ascaris), and the filarial worms responsible for lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis.

Since initiating operations in October of 1999, Divergence has successfully:

• developed cutting-edge discovery platforms in RNAi-based functional genomics, agrochemical discovery (Harvest™), and transgenic plants (STEM™)
• demonstrated efficacy of its novel nematicidal chemistry against plant parasites in multiple field trials
• validated approaches to plants with built-in nematode resistance which are being developed for soybeans and other crops
• raised more than $20 million from investors and received more than $6 million in grant funding for research and development
• created a significant intellectual property portfolio, including multiple pending and 19 issued patents as well as trade-secrets, around our discovery platform, molecular targets, chemistries, and transgenic methods for parasite control
• established multiple important research and commercial relationships, including a collaboration with Monsanto Company to develop nematode-resistant soybeans and a relationship with a leader in animal health

Divergence was created with a focus on the use of comparative and functional genomics to identify compounds, proteins, and genes to control parasitic nematode infections in plants, veterinary animals, and people. Divergence was founded by James McCarter at Washington University's Genome Sequencing Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Divergence has benefited from its St. Louis base by recruiting an outstanding team of 23 full-time employees. These employees include scientists trained at Washington University School of Medicine in computational biology, molecular biology, genomics, and biochemistry. Former Monsanto Company employees joining Divergence have brought complementary skills in business and product development for agrochemicals and agricultural biotechnology. Other scientists have been recruited from institutions including the University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, the University of Georgia, the University of California San Diego and Incyte Genomics.

In 2009, Divergence became a major tenant in a new building in the Bio-Research & Development Growth (BRDG) Park. Designed to help plant and life sciences companies "bridge" research, resources and relationships to achieve commercial success, the BRDG-Park development ultimately will encompass 400,000 square feet of space on the Danforth Center campus in suburban St. Louis County. Divergence's greenhouse facilities are leased from the neighboring Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, a leading independent research center for plant biology where Divergence also utilizes core labs in advanced proteomics/mass spec and microscopy.

Divergence has garnered substantial recognition for its progress.

• Co-recipient of the first Missouri Biotechnology Industry Association Excellence in Life Sciences Entrepreneurship Award (2002)
• St. Louis Technology Award (2002)
• Academy of Science of St. Louis Innovation Award to Founder, President, and Chief Scientific Officer James McCarter (2003)
• Donald Danforth Plant Science Center Distinguished Service Award (2004)
• National Business Incubator Association Outstanding Client Award (2005)
• Center for Emerging Technology Medical and Technology Gold Star Award (2008)
• Named to the St. Louis Region Top 50 Companies List three times.