| Parsippany, USA; Vienna, AUS; Toulouse, FR 16 September 2008 — DSM and LibraGen, a bacterial diversity-based process and discovery specialist, announced today that they have signed an agreement to co-develop new omega-transaminases for production of chiral amines. Under the terms of the partnership, LibraGen will use its proprietary enzyme discovery and development to identify new enzymes for efficient conversion of a large spectrum of ketons into optically pure R- and S-amines, a compound class highly relevant for fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals industries. |   |
DSM will produce the enzymes at industrial scale using DSM’s fermentation capabilities and proprietary expression platform, PluGbugTM. LibraGen will sell the enzymes in kit form and both parties will use them for screening activities and the development of biocatalytic processes for third parties.
"This collaboration with LibraGen grows the number of available large-scale biocatalysts and will contribute to increasing competitiveness of the transaminase technology for production of chiral amines" said Oliver May, Competence Manager Biocatalysis at DSM Pharmaceutical Products. "In addition, by combining LibraGen’s enzyme discovery and DSM’s manufacturing capabilities the development timelines from enzyme discovery and screening to final product delivery to our customers will be significantly reduced" said Ronald Gebhard, R&D Director at DSM Pharmaceutical Products.
"We are delighted that we have signed this partnership with DSM," said Renaud Nalin, CEO of LibraGen. "It marks another step forward in the development of LibraGen’s industrial biocatalysis capabilities. Customers of DSM and LibraGen will be able to use these new enzymes on a laboratory or industrial production scale to produce intermediates and APIs, thus making our response to market demands even more effective."
LibraGen expects this alliance to bring the company additional openings to provide its services to the fine chemicals, pharmaceutical and cosmetics customers, and to develop and optimize enzymatic synthesis processes for complex molecules.
Financial details of the collaboration were not disclosed.
About LibraGen
LibraGen, Toulouse, France, specializes in the development of innovative bioprocesses for molecule synthesis using biocatalysis for fine chemicals, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. One of LibraGen’s key assets is its ability to look for high performance enzymes in bacteria populations that have not previously been explored and convert them into production tools. By combining the skills needed to go from R&D to pilot production, LibraGen is fulfilling a market need by giving its customers high performance and competitive synthesis solutions. Since the company was set up in 2001, LibraGen’s reactivity and innovation has resulted in its becoming the exclusive producer of active enzymes for a number of third parties. More information: www.libragen.com.
About DSM Pharmaceutical Products
DSM Pharmaceutical Products is a global provider of high quality custom contract manufacturing and development services to the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries. DSM contract manufacturing services include: chemical development, registered intermediates, registered starting materials, active pharmaceutical ingredients (API's), fermentation, mammalian cell production of monoclonal antibodies and proteins, formulation development, clinical trial manufacturing and finished dose form manufacturing of solids, semi-solids, and scheduled drugs, aseptic liquid and lyophilized products. More information: www.dsmpharmaceuticals.com.
DSM — the Life Sciences and Materials Sciences Company
Royal DSM N.V. creates innovative products and services in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences that contribute to the quality of life. DSM’s products and services are used globally in a wide range of markets and applications, supporting a healthier, more sustainable and more enjoyable way of life. End markets include human and animal nutrition and health, personal care, pharmaceuticals, automotive, coatings and paint, electrics and electronics, life protection and housing. DSM has annual sales of almost EUR 8.8 billion and employs some 23,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in the Netherlands, with locations on five continents. DSM is listed on Euronext Amsterdam. More information: www.dsm.com.
Forward-looking statements
Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release that involve inherent risks and uncertainties are based on current expectations, estimates and projections of the management of DSM and information currently available. The statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and therefore DSM does not guarantee that its expectations will be realized. Furthermore, DSM has no obligation to update any statements contained in this press release.
Source: LibraGen
