Antimicrobial peptides
Advances have been made in Novozymes’ research into antimicrobial peptides, including the project to develop the peptide plectasin, a potential new antibiotic. We have managed to improve the molecule so that it combats not only Streptococci but also Staphylococci, including the resistant Staphylococcus MRSA. MRSA is present in hospitals worldwide and is a big problem because it is resistant to all known antibiotics bar one. Antimicrobial peptides appear to have a major advantage over conventional antibiotics because it is harder for bacteria to develop resistance to these peptides.
Novozymes has identified a lead candidate which is now in the preclinical testing phase. We expect to complete these tests in 2007, and our plan is to find a partner for the later phases of clinical testing. We also have projects looking at a number of other antimicrobial peptides, but these are still at a very early stage.
Enzymes for biopharmaceutical therapy
Novozymes is working with Solvay Pharmaceuticals to develop and produce enzymes for a new type of medicine for patients with cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis and cancer of the pancreas. These patients are unable to digest their food and must therefore take several large capsules of medicine with every meal. The aim of the project is to develop enzymes from microorganisms as an alternative to the current solution of enzymes recovered from animal pancreases.
If the project is a success, patients will only need to take one pill per meal. Patients will also be spared any worries about the risk of disease being transferred from the animals from which the existing medicines are extracted. In 2006 Solvay Pharmaceuticals began phase I clinical trials of the first product to result from the partnership.
Bioethanol
We are conducting intensive research into new enzyme products for the production of bioethanol from both starch, such as maize (corn), and biomass, such as straw, stalks (stover) and other waste from agricultural production. Read more in the separate article "New technology to enable use of plant waste".
