Cambrex, a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), announced that Snapdragon Chemistry, a Cambrex company, has successfully developed a new liquid-phase peptide synthesis (LPPS) technology that utilizes traditional active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) batch reactors and continuous flow, obviating the dependency on specialized, solid-phase reactors. This new LPPS technology materially reduces solvent demand and the need for excess reagents compared to standard solid-state peptide synthesis processes.

"Over the past several years, we have made significant investments in the research and development of complex synthetics, specifically to reduce the economic and environmental impacts of manufacturing peptides and oligonucleotides," said Dr. Matt Bio, Chief Scientific Officer, Cambrex. "Our new LPPS technology provides a significantly more cost-efficient and environmentally sustainable solution when compared to traditional solid-phase peptide synthesis, substantially reducing solvent usage and allowing the substitution of sustainable solvents."

The LPPS technology supports peptides up to 12 residues long, while larger peptides are then assembled in liquid phase, using a convergent fragment coupling approach. Processes developed with Cambrex's LPPS technology can be scaled in the same way as traditional small molecules.

In addition to the LPPS, Cambrex also developed unique capabilities in peptide and protein crystallization, including a crystallization screening platform specifically for the discovery of crystalline forms of peptides and proteins. Crystallization can deliver improved product quality and stability and reduce the need for time-consuming preparative chromatography and lyophilization.

"With the clinical and commercial successes of peptide-based therapies, it's imperative that we provide industry-leading solutions to develop and scale peptide candidates," said Thomas Loewald, CEO at Cambrex.

Cambrex will continue to invest in R&D across complex synthetic modalities, including further technology development for peptides, as well as new research on the application of artificial intelligence for the optimization of oligonucleotide processes.