Enhanced Biocatalysis Capabilities Propel Biomanufacturing Innovation
As pharmaceutical molecules continue to increase in structural complexity, conventional synthetic approaches do not always provide the most efficient pathway toward scalable manufacturing. Challenges related to reaction selectivity, route efficiency, process sustainability, and development speed increasingly require alternative technologies capable of expanding the available chemistry toolbox during process development.
To address these evolving industry needs, Asymchem’s Sandwich site has expanded its process development capabilities by incorporating biocatalysis into its existing technical workflow. This capability expansion enables local development teams to evaluate enzyme-enabled synthetic strategies alongside traditional chemistry approaches, providing greater flexibility when designing and optimizing manufacturing routes for complex molecules.
The implementation of this capability at the Sandwich site has been supported by Asymchem’s Center of Synthetic Biology Technology (CSBT), which provides foundational expertise in enzyme engineering, biocatalyst development, and synthetic biology technologies while enabling technical collaboration across Asymchem’s global development network.
Integrating Biocatalysis into Process Development Workflows
Biocatalysis has become an increasingly valuable tool in modern pharmaceutical process development, particularly when conventional synthetic approaches face limitations in chemoselectivity, stereoselectivity, or overall route efficiency.
Within Asymchem’s Sandwich site process development workflow, biocatalysis now serves as an additional technical capability that complements existing route scouting and process chemistry activities rather than operating as an isolated platform. This integrated approach allows development teams to evaluate multiple synthetic strategies simultaneously while identifying the most efficient pathway toward scalable manufacturing.
This integrated capability supports the evaluation of:
• Enzyme-mediated transformations for highly complex synthetic challenges.
• Alternative synthetic pathways when traditional chemistry approaches present limitations.
• Process development strategies under milder and more sustainable reaction conditions.
• Early-stage feasibility assessments to accelerate route selection and process optimization.
Demonstrated Application in Client Development Programs
The newly established biocatalysis workflow at the site has already demonstrated value across multiple client programs, serving as an effective tool for accelerating technical decision-making during route evaluation.
During a client development program conducted in April 2026, high-throughput biocatalysis screening was incorporated into a complex route scouting study. Approximately 150 enzymes spanning two enzyme families were evaluated through rapid screening workflows, enabling efficient assessment of potential biotransformations while generating proof-of-concept data to support early route selection decisions.
In parallel, biocatalysis-driven approaches have also been incorporated into ongoing process chemistry development programs, where enzyme-enabled transformations are being assessed alongside conventional synthetic routes as part of broader route optimization strategies.
These project applications demonstrate how integrated enzyme screening capabilities can accelerate technical evaluation while expanding the range of synthetic options available during process development.
Expanding Biocatalysis Capabilities for Future Manufacturing Challenges
Asymchem’s Sandwich site continues expanding its biocatalysis capabilities by validating additional enzyme families and developing new screening kits designed to support rapid proof-of-concept studies for future development programs.
As biocatalysis continues to play an increasingly important role in pharmaceutical manufacturing, access to integrated enzyme-enabled chemistry provides development teams with greater flexibility when addressing complex synthetic challenges and identifying more efficient, scalable pathways toward commercial manufacturing.
By integrating advanced biocatalysis capabilities with established process chemistry expertise, Asymchem’s Sandwich site is broadening the range of technical solutions available to support complex molecule development from early route design through commercial-scale manufacturing.
