SelectAZyme grows into metabolite synthesis
Almac doubles the size of its biocatalyst group
The biocatalyst group at Almac has doubled in size in the last year and is providing business growth in chiral building block supply, evolution and commercial manufacture projects as well as metabolite synthesis.
‘Biocatalysis is now Almac’s first choice for any scale-up chemistry involving chirality resulting in cheaper, cleaner and robust processes,’ says Dr Tom Moody, Almac’s head of Biocatalysis.
Metabolite synthesis is another tool within the selectAZyme service offering, providing access to both oxidative and glycosylated products.
Recombinant and microbial P450 and glycosylating technology have been developed for accessing metabolites at mg to 100g scale. These enzymes mimic human systems and are a powerful tool for accessing metabolites rapidly and efficiently, typically in one step from the parent API.
The selectAZyme logo represents Almac’s biocatalyst technology platform, emphasising the ‘green’ credentials the technology offers, from medicinal chemistry scaffold and metabolite synthesis through to commercial manufacture.
Almac says the application of biocatalysis results in reduced energy costs, a lowered impact on the environment and efficient multi-tonne processing in timelines comparable to traditional chemistry.
Future plans involve discovery and development of novel P450 and transaminase enzymes using metagenomic techniques, which will significantly enhance and differentiate the portfolio of enzymes currently available to Almac.
Almac is exhibiting at this week’s Informex (14–17 February) in New Orleans, US.
