Almac’s biocatalysis business has expanded from its 2009 launch with the sale of six enzyme screening kits, to the current supply of 100s of kgs of chiral intermediates for drug substance manufacture, regular enzyme supply to specialty chemical companies and continued growth of its screening kits offering.
Biocatalysis is increasingly recognised as an alternative solution for solving complex chemistry problems due to its rapid implementation, economic benefits and ‘green‘, reputation. Almac’s growth in this area was further enhanced last year through a $4 million R&D investment. The natural next step for the business is the launch of the selectAZymeTM brand to enhance its recognition.
“The selectAZymeTM brand conveys Almac’s strong biocatalysis offering. Almac is providing a diverse, A-Z range of enzymes including reductases, transaminases, hydrolases, nitrilases and many others. In collaboration with our customers, Almac selects the optimum enzyme to provide an efficient and cost effective process. Almac enzymes are used in the A-Z of applications from medicinal chemistry to full production and in the manufacture of specialty chemicals. The key strength of enzymes is the high selectivity of the chemical reactions they catalyze”, comments Dr. Tom Moody, Head of Biocatalysis.