Monday, 22 September 2008

LibraGen — Company Profile

LibraGen
Bâtiment Canal Biotech 1
3, rue des Satellites
31400 Toulouse
France

Tel.: +33 (0)5 62 19 32 90
Fax: +33 (0)5 61 73 27 56
E-mail: contact@libragen.com
Website: http://www.libragen.com/

Building on bacterial diversity, we discover, develop and improve innovative bioprocesses for the industrial production of healthcare molecules.

Corporate Overview

Summary
LibraGen uses innovative and proprietary functional genomic technologies in combination with industrial expertises to develop new bioprocesses for the discovery of novel bioactives and the improvement of production processes of added value molecules.
Libragen's competitive edge is embodied by its ability to turn the huge genetic and chemical diversity of the 99% of bacteria that can not be cultured under conventional conditions into an accessible reservoir of biomolecules. These biomolecules are an unlimited bioresource for the development of active pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and food ingredients as well as intermediates and bulk chemicals. Mastering the whole process from the discovery to the industrialisation, LibraGen reinforces its client's competitiveness and market share.

Mission
LibraGen aims at becoming a leader in the discovery and development of bacterial diversity-deriver processes for the industrial production of molecules that concerns the red (healthcare) as well as the white (industry) sectors of modern biotechnology. LibraGen masters the whole process, from lab-based discovery to industrialization. To maximise the industrial application of the research and development activity, LibraGen includes the industrial constraints of the used of bioprocesses for large scale production at early stage in the definition of the research strategy. The company intends to rapidly meet the needs of businesses due to increasing pressure on production costs and therefore the needs for innovation. LibraGen considers that this is a major business opportunity one which is likely to generate significant added value.

LibraGen main features
LibraGen's resources cover all aspects of biocatalysis, namely new biocatalyst discovery by taking advantage of its metagenomic technology as well as selection of accessible enzymes and cultivable microbes, molecular evolution, substrate choice and supply or substrate synthesis using classical chemistry, target or bioassay oriented screening of biomolecules, biotransformation medium engineering, product recovery, purification, characterisation and identification.
LibraGen starts with functionnal genomics (genes and biosynthetic pathways) by taking advantage of its metagenomic platform to end at the establishment of the optimised production protocols with the production of sample amounts. LibraGen combines in-house projects and fully integrated projects within the framework of contract research and development agreements (full services and out-sourcing), R&D partnership and alliances. In house projects, in collaboration with wellknown european academic partners, allow all the company to build up continuously its resources and to keep abreast of the latest technological advances in molecular biology, chemistry as well as in the biocatalysis and fermentation fields. With a strong know-how in molecular biology, fermentation, biotransformation reactions, extraction and purification of biomolecules, its commitment to custom-made, cost-effective and confidential collaborations, LibraGen carries out tailor-made multitechnology R&D projects in a reliable manner as far as the technical and management aspects are concerned.
  • Incorporated in February 2001 and located in Toulouse (France).
  • Highly skilled scientific and managerial employers.
  • 500 sq. m of equiped lab with the state-of-the art techniques in Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Chemistry.
  • Strategic combination of expertises optimized with an important European academic network.
  • Bioprocessing pilot plant available in an integrated capabilities, From discovery to Kilolab technology platform.
  • Exclusive technologies.
Facilities
New Active Molecules and Biocatalysts discovery from untapped bacterial diversity.
  • Molecular High Through-put Screening.
  • Primary screening for the discovery of anti-infectious and anti-tumoral compounds.
  • Molecular Evolution.
Chemistry unit for natural product purification and characterisation and organic synthesis
  • Up/Down stream processes improvement (optimization in fermentation and biocatalysis)
  • Scale-up transfer to the industrial partner.

Source: LibraGen