Chiral products
receive new impetus
Diversa grants license for enzyme to BASF

Optically active intermediates play an important role in the life science industry. Regulatory requirements, the potential for lower toxicity, improved efficiency and lower production costs are the driving forces behind the increased demand for chiral compounds. But where will they come from?


Chiral products are now much in demand in the fine chemicals market. However, to make these products really attractive, they have to be modified to meet the customer’s specific needs. It is not unusual for several companies to work together to obtain the broadest possible coverage.
BASF markets a large and expanding portfolio of chiral products under the ChiPros brand name. The range includes optically active amines, alcohols, epoxy resins, acids and their derivatives. Diversa Corporation has granted a license to BASF for an enzyme used in the biocatalytic synthesis of a pharmaceutical intermediary product. BASF will make the biocatalyst for use in one of its biolcatalytic processes to produce an optically active intermediate.
This is the first license that Diversa has granted to BASF as part of a large-scale program of collaboration to develop biocatalysts and biological processes. The source of the new enzymes is the Diversa DiscoveryPoint platform. The company has its own technologies for screening and optimizing new products that are based on enzymes and metabolic processes. These enzyme platforms were specially developed to meet the needs of producers of chiral pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. The company provides new tools which reduce production costs and can be used to develop new intermediary products.

Advantage
for both sides
Both partners benefit from the collaborative effort. “Diversa and BASF have been working together since the beginning of 2002 on the development of high performance biocatalysts”, explained Jay M. Short, President and Chairman of the
Board at Diversa. Udo Rheude, Director of Global New Business Development Chemical Intermediates at BASF, told us that “this enzyme strengthens our in-house biocatalytic process technology”.
“We are expanding our ChiPros portfolio, and we are able to meet specific customer preferences. Our service includes supplying the product that the customer wants in the shortest possible time. We offer laboratory scale quantities right up to tons of material. We also assist our customers during the approval process, and we help them address logistical issues. Cooperation with Diversa enables us to add new enzymes to our solid base of biotechnology processes.”