How BRAIN Biotech Group develops and manufactures specialty enzymes for niche markets

Expertise from R&D campus in Zwingenberg contributes to development of novel enzymes

With its One-BioProducts strategy, first announced at the beginning of 2023, BRAIN Biotech Group has developed into an international multi-niche enzyme champion. What does this mean for the R&D campus in Zwingenberg and for the Group´s enzyme production site at Biocatalysts Ltd in Cardiff?

Specialty Enzymes: designed to meet specific requirements

Specialty enzymes are designed to perform highly specific biochemical functions under controlled conditions. These enzymes are primarily aimed at niche markets, where their customized properties bring significant value. BRAIN Biotech is at the forefront of developing specialty enzymes for niche markets in food, chemicals, and life sciences.

With a strong focus on integrating research, development, and production, the BRAIN Biotech Group aims to become a global leader in the production of specialty enzymes. The „One-Bioproducts“ strategy is centered on producing tailored enzyme solutions for specific industrial needs.

R&D Campus BRAIN Biotech Zwingenberg: Driving Innovation

BRAIN Biotech's R&D Campus in Zwingenberg, Germany, is the Group´s engine for enzyme discovery and development. It serves as a powerhouse of innovation, focusing on advanced methods to provide enzymes that work in application. Key activities include:

Lab technician pipetting in a BRAIN Biotech laboratory.

1. Enzyme discovery and engineering

MetXtra^TM: The technology platform enhances enzyme provision by leveraging advanced computational methods and AI based on a proprietary digital metagenomic database to identify enzymes with desired functionality for specific applications.
Enzyme Engineering: If enzymes need to be improved to function in the application, BRAIN Biotech utilizes bioinformatics guided rational approach to design and optimize enzymes.

Since both methods, MetXtra^TM and Enzyme engineering, are based on bioinformatic methods, they can be applied individually, simultaneously, or sequentially to provide an enzymes that will work in application.

2. Testing for producibility

Ensuring that enzymes can be produced at scale is crucial. The team at Zwingenberg created “Plug & Produce” systems to rapidly test the producibility of enzymes using their broad platform of industrial enzyme production strains. This is done at early stages to reduce risks, ensuring that the development can principally lead to industrial enzyme production.

3. Production strain development

Once the enzyme is refined and the initial production yield is promising, the next step is production strain and bioprocess development to maximize production yield. Then, the team scales up production to a pre-industrial level, ensuring that the enzyme can be effectively mass-produced.

Biocatalysts Ltd., Cardiff: the enzyme manufacturer

Manufacturing plant at Biocatalysts Ltd with big fermenters

Once the Zwingenberg team develops a pre-industrial enzyme, the bioprocess is transferred to Biocatalysts Ltd. in Cardiff, Wales, for further scaling and manufacturing. Biocatalysts Ltd. focuses on efficient fermentation processes for specialty enzyme production. Key Contributions of Biocatalysts Ltd. are:

Bioprocess establishment: Specializes in scaling up enzymes from lab prototypes to commercial quantities, ensuring economic viability.
Flexible fermentation capabilities: Capable of scaling production from small to large volumes (250 ml to 35,000 L) to meet diverse needs.
Market-ready solutions: Focused on providing customers with enzymes that are operationally sustainable, regulatory-compliant, and cost-effective.

Synergy Between Zwingenberg and Cardiff sites

Through the seamless interaction between both locations, Zwingenberg and Cardiff, customers of the BRAIN Biotech Group can benefit from end-to-end service offerings. This teamwork enables faster commercialization of specialty enzymes while maintaining high standards of quality and efficiency.

BRAIN Biotech’s focus on specialty enzyme development, from discovery at Zwingenberg to manufacturing at Biocatalysts Ltd., highlights its leadership in the biotechnology space. Through cutting-edge R&D, flexible production processes, and a customer-centric approach, BRAIN Biotech is a multi-niche enzyme champion on the global stage.

Any questions regarding our enzyme and protein end-to-end-services?