Codex panels seek out enzymes
panels, which promise to increase R&D and manufacturing
productivity while reducing cost.
US-based Codexis has offered sets of diagnostic enzyme panels, in 96-well format, to screen for reactivity in process reactions. These enzymes have been optimized using gene shuffling - an evolutionary process to yield new and specific variants - to fit the synthesis of a pharmaceutical intermediate.
The activity of these enzymes on the selected compounds can be determined within two weeks. This means that the company will receive a quick answer if this enzyme route is viable, which is then followed by selectivity to establish that the enzyme only has the sought after function.
Moreover, the biocatalyst panels are cheaper in terms of quantity of raw materials use and it also produces less waste than other methods, according to Codexis.
"The cost is different for every single project. We believe one can save half of raw material with our method. That is what people are looking for, cost savings to save raw materials and that they do not have to pay to treat waste," Peter Seufer-Wasserthal, vice president and head of pharmaceutical services, told In-PharmaTechnologist.com.
Codexis developed the first prototype during October 2006 and ran the first batch around two weeks ago. The panels contain a selection of 96 target enzymes - biocatalysts - or receptors and are supplied as a set of three giving 288 variants. This is equal to testing tens of thousands of enzymes, according to Codexis.
Codexis has the capability of scaling up production of up to ten tonnes of specific enzymes. At the moment, it takes them nine months to develop a commercial biocatalyst, another two months for the technology transfer and then the first batches emerge from the plant.
"The market is more than we can fulfill at the moment and it is enough to make good business out of it," concludes Seufer-Wasserthal.
