Ingredients produced with the help of gene technology are gaining ground in the biopharmaceutical industry. Novozymes came a big step closer to its goal of being a leading supplier of recombinant ingredients for cell cultures in 2006 and is now close to being able to supply the three most important such ingredients. Our strategy in this area includes both internal projects and acquisitions.
The biopharmaceutical industry produces a variety of medicines based on proteins which can in many cases only be obtained from the organs or blood of animals or humans. There is therefore a risk of transferring disease from animals to humans or between humans, and so the authorities are keen for these ingredients to be replaced with other, risk-free solutions. This may mean ingredients produced with the help of gene technology, also known as ‘recombinant’ ingredients.
Recombinant ingredients do not transfer disease and also have a number of other advantages over ingredients from animals and humans. The recombinant production method results in more uniform quality and ensures that customers can be supplied with sufficient quantities of ingredients, precisely because production is not dependent on material from animals or humans.
Novozymes in a strong position
Novozymes’ activities in the biopharmaceutical field include:
Several of these areas are still under development.
The biopharmaceutical industry uses cell culture media to ensure the right growth conditions for the cell cultures used in the manufacture of medicines. Three ingredients are particularly important in cell culture media: albumin, transferrin and insulin analogues, which transport nutrients to the cells so that they can grow.
Thanks to the know-how, technology and expertise at Novozymes Delta and Novozymes GroPep, Novozymes expects to command a strong position when competing in this market. Novozymes could become the only producer capable of delivering a recombinant version of all three of the most important ingredients, so eliminating the risk of transferring disease.
Novozymes is working with leading distributors like Millipore/Celliance and SAFC Biosciences that specialise in supplying solutions to the biopharmaceutical industry. This will help to ensure that the products have the best possible access to the pharmaceutical market.
Novozymes Delta Ltd
In July 2006 Novozymes acquired UK company Delta Biotechnology Ltd (now Novozymes Delta Ltd) from the sanofi-aventis group. The Nottingham-based company generated sales of around DKK 100 million in 2006 and has around 100 employees. The acquisition has brought additional know-how and technology in the market for recombinant human serum albumin (rHSA).
Novozymes Delta’s most important product is Recombumin®, an FDA-approved rHSA product. Its uses include extending the shelf-life of vaccines.
As well as several other rHSA projects, Novozymes Delta has a development project in recombinant transferrin, a protein which is particularly good at transporting iron. The acquisition has also given Novozymes a technology called albufuse™, which can extend a medicine’s action by fusing it with albumin, and significant expertise in the production of proteins in yeast cells.
Novozymes GroPep Ltd
In December 2006 Novozymes acquired Australian listed company GroPep Ltd (now Novozymes GroPep Ltd). The Adelaide-based company generated sales of around DKK 70 million in the 2005/06 financial year and has around 80 employees.
Its most important product is an insulin-like growth factor (IGF) analogue. Novozymes GroPep Ltd also markets a number of other recombinant cell culture ingredients for the biopharmaceutical industry and has a specialist sales organisation which works with the big distributors on marketing these ingredients to the biopharmaceutical industry. The company has various pharmaceutical projects under development.
