Michel Feraud, Provence CEO, told in-Pharmatechnologist.com his group acquired Synprosis for this patented long-chain technology.
“For long chains the only way right now is to produce them using biologic agents. But with Synprosis’s patent we will be able to offer an alternative route produced by chemical [agents] to increase their purity and safety.
“This is a way to produce longer and purer peptides with low-cost production.”
Synprosis’s method, called “SEA Ligation” is a native chemical ligation which joins a bis(2-sulfanylethyl)amino (SEA) peptide with a cysteinyl or homocysteinyl peptide, giving access to proteins.
Synprosis’s technology for increased peptide production lowers costs by 30 to 40 per cent, Provence said.
Peptide plans
Developing the newly acquired purer chains will allow Provence to supply peptides to big pharma in a CMO (contract manufacturing organisation) capacity, Feraud told us. The Synprosis subsidiary will also produce good-quality peptides for use within the Provence Group.
Synprosis will be integrated into Provepep, the Provence group’s peptide-producing division. Jean-Pierre Salles, who founded Synprosis, will retain an executive role within Provepep. Provence is also owns Propharm, a pharmaceutical ingredients wing.
For its existing APIs, Provence performs R&D and outsources the production of large volumes to CMOs (contract manufacturing organisations) including Novasep.
Synprosis is based in Aix-en-Provence, France, while Provence is headquartered in the nearby city of Marseille. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.