DSM Pharma Chemicals, a business unit of DSM Pharmaceutical Products, announced today that they have entered into an enzyme supply agreement with the German company IEP to enable fast and secure scale-up of chiral alcohol manufacturing based on IEP enzymes. Under the terms of the agreement, DSM Pharma Chemicals has secured access to IEP alcohol dehydrogenases, which are screened at IEP, as well as supply of IEP enzymes at commercial scale. DSM can either source the enzyme from IEP or produce the enzymes in its own enzyme manufacturing facilities located in Delft (NL), Capua (IT), and Seclin (FR). According to Oliver May, Competence Manager Biocatalysis, DSM Pharma Chemicals, a flexible enzyme supply chain is key to timely deliver of products to DSM’s customers.
The successful partnership between DSM Pharma Chemicals and IEP started in 2006 with a focus on alcohol dehydrogenase screens and process development. It has so far resulted in more than 20 development projects, confirming the versatility, robustness and cost advantages of this technology.

“We have jointly developed an impressive number of different processes during the last two years. Based on our new agreement we now also address DSM’s customer needs to secure long term supply of our enzymes,” says Antje Gupta, General Manager of IEP.

“Biocatalysis is one of our core competences in chiral technologies and I am very happy to see a further strengthening in this area, complementing our toolbox of various catalytic and fermentation technologies. Our customers benefit from this technological versatility as they have access to the best solution for their challenging manufacturing needs,” says Ronald Gebhard, R&D Director DSM Pharma Chemicals.

During the last years, biocatalysis developed into a first choice approach at DSM for many compound classes such as enantiomerically pure cyanohydrins, amino acids, amines, amides, hydroxy acids, esters, peptides and now also chiral alcohols.

About IEP
With more than 10 large scale commercialized bioreduction processes, IEP is a world-leader in bioreduction technology. The technology platform enables the synthesis of a very broad range of chiral alcohols and derivatives such as chiral epoxides. Users of IEP-processes benefit from the high purity of the end-product, easy-to-scale and robust processes, as well as the high productivity of the biocatalytic systems. The technology is covered by an array of patents and patent applications. For more information, please visit www.biocatalysis.com.

About DSM Pharma Chemicals
DSM Pharma Chemicals is a global provider of custom manufacturing services to the pharmaceutical industry.  Including advanced intermediates, registered materials and active pharmaceutical ingredients. Our technologies include biocatalysis, homogeneous catalysis, fermentation and chiral technologies. DSM delivers comprehensive custom manufacturing services to the spectrum of pharmaceutical companies including emerging pharmaceutical companies and large pharmaceutical companies from clinical to commercial manufacturing.

About DSM Pharmaceutical Products
DSM Pharmaceutical Products is a global provider of high quality custom contract manufacturing services to the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries. DSM Pharmaceutical Products provides contract manufacturing services including: advanced intermediates, active ingredients (API's), amino acids and derivatives, mammalian cell culture production (fed-batch and perfusion) of monoclonal antibodies, proteins, vaccines, finished dose manufacturing of solid dose, scheduled drugs, liquids, aseptic liquid and lyophilized products.
From clinical to commercial services, DSM focuses the right resources on providing the highest level of service and quality while applying innovative solutions to satisfy customers’ unique manufacturing needs.