Monday, July 25, 2011: 2:00 PM
Grand Couteau, 5th fl (Sheraton New Orleans)
Enzymes are amongst the first enantioselective catalysts to be used industrially. However, due to the (perceived) limitations of natural enzymes (e.g. high cost and low stability under process relevant conditions) there are still few applications of biocatalysis in the pharmaceutical industry. Taking a lead from Nature where evolutionary driving forces have produced a diverse array of organisms each thriving in a unique environment, the CodeEvolver™ directed evolution technology platform has produced a diverse array of enzymes that are operationally equivalent and complementary to the “standard” catalysts in the chemists’ tool box.
Examples of the deployment of evolved biocatalyst in the manufacturing of advanced intermediates and active pharmaceutical ingredients will be presented, including instances where there are no chemical equivalents to the enzymatic reaction.