Strategic partnership expands access to previously untapped enzymes for industrial applications

A strategic partnership between BRAIN Biotech Zwingenberg and the Norwegian company Biodiscovery is intended to provide wider access to the natural diversity of enzymes.

BRAIN Biotech Zwingenberg and Biodiscovery AS, a Norwegian marine bioprospecting company, have entered into a strategic partnership for the collection and digitization of biological data for enzyme development. The partnership will contribute to the expansion of BRAIN Biotech's existing MetXtra™ database. This will allow broader access to previously unexplored biodiversity and the discovery of new functionalities through rational bioprospecting of deep-sea metagenomes. The partnership will also contribute to the development of further industrial enzymes with unique properties.

Expanding the metagenome database to include deep-sea metagenomes

Biodiscovery AS will study deep-sea metagenomes from different locations and water depths in the North Sea and the Norwegian Sea. BRAIN Biotech will use these metagenomes to expand the existing sequence library of its MetXtra™ technology platform and to further improve its performance.

BRAIN Biotech recently presented its MetXtra™ technology platform to the public: The platform enables the company to optimize biocatalytic processes for its customers, develop new enzyme solutions and support intellectual property rights. The proprietary, Nagoya-compliant metagenome database contains 99.8 % novel sequences that are not publicly available, providing access to unique genetic diversity for pharmaceutical, food, feed, beverage and other industrial applications.

BRAIN Biotech and Biodiscovery AS will leverage their combined expertise to make new enzymes industrially accessible and viable, unlocking innovative opportunities for BRAIN Biotech’s customers. This will deliver significant value to those seeking novel, superior enzyme solutions.

Dr. Alexander Pelzer - Head R&D BRAIN Biotech Zwingenberg

This strategic collaboration aims to provide customers with access to novel enzymes while supporting the creation of FTO and IP. Enzymes sourced from deep-sea metagenomes are expected to offer unique functionalities and valuable properties for various industrial applications.

Fredrik Søreide - CEO Biodiscovery

Enzyme Development in the BRAIN Biotech Group

The MetXtra™ technology platform is fully integrated into the enzyme development pipeline of the BRAIN Biotech Group. The Group has outstanding expertise in enzyme technology, industrial enzyme production strains and scale-up technologies. The enzyme production of the subsidiary Biocatalysts Ltd. completes the end-to-end offering from enzyme discovery to commercial production.