Johnson Matthey teams with Intrexon to make peptide API production more efficient

Johnson Matthey and Intrexon Corporation have teamed up to develop peptide active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) production methods.

The deal – financial terms of which were not disclosed – will see Intrexon generate strains of micro-organisms for production, fermentation and purification processes. Johnson Matthey will take charge of scale-up and commercialisation.

Johnson Matthey CEO Robert MacLeod said: "Peptides are an important class of therapeutic agents and JM is pleased to be collaborating with the Intrexon team in using their innovative biologically-based technologies to access these technically challenging APIs.

"Through their strain engineering capabilities, we believe there is significant potential for more efficient production of these important compounds."