Traditional synthetic routes to generate active pharmaceutical intermediates (APIs) often employ multiple chemical steps, using toxic solvents, high pressure, and/or elevated temperatures. These synthetic steps also frequently generate extraneous compounds or impurities, requiring extensive and cumbersome purification, resulting in overall decreased yield. Over the years, biocatalysis has been increasingly utilized to support different stages of pharmaceutical development, from safety and toxicological studies to development of commercial products. Directed evolution has played a major role in imparting improved and novel properties on biocatalysts, rendering them equivalent, or even superior, to their chemical counterparts. Using the CodeEvolver® protein engineering technology, Codexis has successfully engineered biocatalysts for a variety of purposes. Manufacturing processes incorporating these eco-friendly biocatalysts have replaced multiple steps in traditional chemical routes, resulting in reduced waste, reduced environmental impact, and reduced manufacturing costs.<br/>Following a description of Codexis’ core technology, examples of engineered enzymes, their deployment in the pharmaceutical space, as well as the resulting positive economic and environmental consequences, will be presented.

Engineering enzymes for more efficient and greener API syntheses

256th National Meeting (2018)

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