October 1, 2014 (Vol. 34, No. 17)

Pioneering Partner for Peptides

The demand for peptides as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) is continuously increasing because they are highly active, highly specific, and metabolically favorable substances. Peptides perform diverse physiological functions, and thus are suitable for a wide range of very different therapeutic indications with cancer and diabetes being the major areas of application. Other examples for peptides as useful therapeutic options are neurodegenerative disorders, such as multiple sclerosis and autoimmune disorders (e.g., Crohn’s disease) or cardiovascular diseases, renal failure, and palliative care. Numerous peptides are in clinical development as vaccines or antibiotics and for the treatment of orphan diseases.

Nature has an unbelievable reservoir of biologically active  peptides in store. Many of the peptide-based drugs we know of today were originally discovered in animal organisms, and thousands await discovery and characterization. Targeted alterations of natural structures and subsequent structure activity relationship studies give rise to new peptide-based drugs. Advances in proteomics research promote the development of new peptides as potential drugs on the basis of insights into the function of proteins in healthy and diseased organisms.

At Bachem, we support our partners in early research and development stages with catalog products and custom peptides with targeted modifications. Through the entire clinical development process and for commercial manufacturing of cGMP peptide APIs, you can rely on our supply with high-quality peptides.

About the Company

Bachem is a listed technology-based company focused on peptide chemistry. The company provides a full range of services to the pharma and biotech industries. It specializes in the development of innovative, efficient manufacturing processes and the reliable production of peptide-based active pharmaceutical ingredients. A comprehensive catalog of biochemicals and exclusive custom syntheses for research labs complete the service portfolio. Headquartered in Switzerland with subsidiaries in Europe and the U.S., the group has a global reach with more experience and know-how than any other company in the industry. Toward its customers, Bachem shows total commitment to quality, innovation, and partnership.

Markets Served

Bachem’s 360 Degree Business Model provides products and services for all stages of drug development.

Research. Bachem offers the world’s largest collection of amino acid derivatives, bioactive peptides, enzyme substrates, inhibitors, resins, as well as some organic molecules as catalog products.

New products are continually added. Strong emphasis is placed on quality. Our customers for this segment are research scientists from universities, research centers, and industry.

Preclinical Development. Peptides are generated as custom synthesized molecules for customers around the world, which require large panels of peptides for lead finding and lead optimization. Regular consultation with Bachem experts allows further refining of target compounds. As such, a clear partnering aspect is required to come up with pioneering concepts and molecules to bring into clinical development. Additional services are offered to meet the growing quality requirements of the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and diagnostic industries.

Clinical Development. By collaborating closely with our customers we get an in-depth understanding of their peptide API and can give optimum support during the clinical development stages. Each production step is scrutinized to guarantee manufacturing reproducibility. Scale up and full control of the process is targeted. Validation and control of the process is the end result of an intense partnership.

Peptide Drugs. The responsibility to manufacture sufficient amount of drug substance rests on the shoulders of the contract manufacturing organization and is being achieved by reliable and close cooperation between the partners. Forecasting is extremely challenging, especially for new drugs. Hence, responsiveness to customer needs becomes paramount.

Capabilities

Bachem develops and produces cGMP peptides as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) by solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) and solution-phase chemistry with annual capacities of up to hundreds of kilograms. We offer custom synthesis of research-grade peptides from milligrams to grams and building blocks from gram to kilogram scale. Our catalog products include 4,400 peptides and biochemicals, including more than 1,200 inhibitors and substrates, resins, linkers, reagents, and organic compounds, and we offer the world’s largest collection of amino acid derivatives.

Last year, Bachem succeeded once again in pushing well beyond the generally accepted limit of about 100 amino acids for a synthetically manufactured peptide. In collaboration with Japanese researchers, an industrial process was developed for the first time that enables the synthetic production of interferon beta-1a, a selectively glycosylated protein 166 amino acids residues. Until now, production of such proteins was the exclusive preserve of recombinant technology. Bachem is proud to be the industry leader, and will continue to redefine the limits of peptide manufacturing.

Bachem

Hauptstrasse 144
4416 Bubendorf
Switzerland

Phone: +41 61 935 2333 and +41 61 935 2324 fax

Website: www.bachem.com

e-mail: [email protected]

Date Founded: 1971

Number of Employees: 649

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