DSM, IEP To Develop Biocatalysts

DSM Pharma Chemicals (DPC) has entered into an R&D agreement with the German company IEP to discover and develop biocatalytic solutions designed to simplify and lower the cost of a variety of chemical transformations. Under the terms of the agreement, DSM will identify the targeted chemical conversions and IEP will screen for the appropriate biocatalyst. DSM will then scale-up these processes to manufacture pharmaceutical intermediates and active ingredients. IEP will receive research and development payments and be entitled to milestones and royalties on products commercialized by DSM.

“The technology of IEP complements our own capabilities in the synthetic use of biocatalysts—with current leadership positions in enzymes belonging to the hydrolase and lyase classes—by significantly strengthening our position in oxidoreductases” says Marcel Wubbolts, competence manager Biocatalysis and Biotransformations at DSM. “In our collaboration, we will be able to profit from the enzyme technology of IEP GmbH and the process scale experience in biocatalyst fermentation and application present at DSM. As a result of our collaboration we expect to vastly expand the range of (chiral) alcohols that we can manufacture at commercial scale.”