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This technology is based on development of a family of diverse variants ofbacterial cytochrome P450 enzymes by Frances Arnold, Ph.D., Dick and BarbaraDickinson Professor of Chemical Engineering and Biochemistry, Cal Tech.Dr. Arnold will join the Codexis Industrial Advisory Board.
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"This enzyme family can facilitate identification of safer, moreefficacious drugs earlier in the drug development process by expediting theproduction of potential human metabolites of drug candidates," said PeterSeufer-Wasserthal, Ph.D., Vice President and General Manager, Codexis PharmaServices Group. "Additionally, this technology can be used for leaddiversification and complements the human cytochrome biocatalyst products andservices at BioCatalytics, acquired by Codexis in July."
"Current metabolite identification and synthesis methods are based onclassical chemistry methods, which can be slow and cumbersome," he added."Combining Codexis' leading position as a developer of biocatalytic productsand processes for the pharmaceutical industry with the techniques developed byDr. Arnold will enable us to provide a powerful, efficient new tool set forrapid identification and synthesis of drug metabolites. These new tools couldadd considerable value in metabolite profiling as well as lead diversificationin drug discovery."
Drug metabolites are produced by the body during the break-down(metabolism) of drugs. Primary metabolites are largely formed in the liver byhuman P450 enzymes to aid in elimination of a drug from the body. In somecases, metabolites can be toxic, while for other drugs, "active" metaboliteshave shown improved efficacy and lower toxicity than the administered drugsubstance. The US Food and Drug Administration now recommends metaboliccharacterization for all new investigational human therapeutics.
Codexis, Inc. is a leading developer of clean biocatalytic processtechnologies that can substantially reduce the cost of manufacturing across abroad range of industries. Codexis' proprietary directed evolutiontechnologies enable novel solutions for efficient, cost-effective andenvironmentally friendly processes for pharmaceutical, energy and industrialchemical applications. In 2006, the company was recognized by the U.S. EPAwith a Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award. Codexis is a registeredtrademark of Codexis, Inc. For more information please visithttp://www.codexis.com
Contact: Justin Jackson, [email protected] of Burns McClellan,212-213-0006, or Lyn Christenson, Codexis, [email protected],650-298-5368.
SOURCE Codexis, Inc.
