Advanced microbiological chemistry services | Drug metabolite and protein production

Harnessing microbial power

With over 60 years of experience, our Microbiological Chemistry unit leverages nature's capabilities to advance pharmaceutical and agricultural research. Our microbiological chemistry team specialises in drug metabolite production, preparative biotransformations and protein/plasmid upscaling, utilising state-of-the-art platforms for selective processes that classical methods cannot achieve. Our expertise in redox biocatalysis and fermentation enables us to provide precise solutions tailored to your R&D needs.

Charging a bioreactor for a fermenation reaction

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What quantity of material is required for a screening campaign or scale-up and what are the expected timelines?

Typically, 10 mg of the compound is needed for feasibility assessment & strain selection. We aim for 4 weeks from compound arrival at our labs.

For scale-up we need typically 250 mg, depending on conversion, to deliver more than 10 mg of isolated product for structure elucidation and in vitro testing. We aim for a turnaround time of 6 weeks after compound receipt (timing may vary depending on screening outcome and the requirements for metabolite isolation and purification).
What additional information is helpful to start a screening campaign?
Providing metabolite identification (Met-ID) data for the substrate is highly beneficial to assess the likelihood of success, if the target metabolite has already been observed in microsomes or hepatocytes. Where available, supplying a reference (Met‑ID) probe and enabling a direct comparison to the screening sample can help confirm whether the desired metabolite is formed. In addition, early information on stability, solubility, and available analytical methods can streamline the setup and help to avoid delays.
Which biocatalytic transformations can be done in addition to biooxidations and glucuronidations?
In addition to biooxidations and glucuronidations, we can perform reductions and hydrolyses in-house using our strain libraries. We can also run a broad range of chemoenzymatic transformations based on enzymes described in the literature, and we are able to produce the required enzymes/GMOs in-house.
Can screening in Microbiological Chemistry and chemical final stage derivatization be done in parallel?
Yes. We can run chemical oxidations and glucuronidations in parallel to the biocatalytic screening and evaluate both approaches side-by-side to determine whether chemical or biocatalytic metabolite production is the more efficient route to obtain the desired metabolite.
Do you offer an end-to-end metabolite workflow—from MetID through structural confirmation (e.g., NMR) to metabolite production/purification for use as a reference standard, including CoA documentation and isotopically labeled standards?
Yes, we support an end-to-end metabolite workflow. Our cross-functional experts in DMPK, medicinal chemistry, and biology tailor the approach and technologies to your project needs, and our unique combination of chemical synthesis and biooxidation routes enables even the preparation of challenging metabolites allowing their structure elucidation as well as providing a certificate of analysis.

Microbiological chemistry

Harnessing microbial power

Microbiological solutions

Metabolite discovery

Drug metabolite screening and synthesis

Large-scale protein and plasmid production

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

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Microbiological chemistry

Harnessing microbial power

Microbiological solutions

Metabolite discovery

Drug metabolite screening and synthesis

Large-scale protein and plasmid production

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)