Scale-up of Zymes’ PTS by Albemarle responds to the demand in food, beverage and nutritional markets
BATON ROUGE, La., Jan. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Leading specialty chemical company, Albemarle Corporation, and innovative bioscience company, Zymes LLC, have joined forces to scale-up production of Zymes’ proprietary “Ubisol-Aqua(TM)” solubilization technology, PTS. The next generation technology promotes the clear dissolution of non-water-soluble vitamins and natural functional ingredients in water, a long sought after capability that allows food, beverage and nutritional supplement manufacturers to effectively add water-insoluble nutrients to liquid products without the typical cloudy effects. This development is expected to significantly increase the commercialization opportunities for these products.
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Under the terms of the manufacturing agreement between the two companies, Albemarle manufactures PTS, the lead compound for the Zymes technology. The company leverages its significant GMP manufacturing capabilities to generate PTS in quantities that accelerate its delivery for use in the production of large-scale consumer food and beverage products and nutritional supplements.
Zymes has attained GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status for PTS following submission to the FDA. In addition to expanding opportunities for the aforementioned markets, Zymes’ PTS also shows promise as a nanoparticle delivery system for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).
Albemarle is producing Zymes’ PTS at the company’s South Haven, MI, multi-purpose GMP manufacturing facility, where Albemarle produces more than 20 active pharmaceutical ingredients and other custom ingredients and intermediates.
“We are delighted to have Albemarle as a manufacturing partner,” said Dr. Volker Berl, Chief Technology Officer at Zymes. “Albemarle’s worldwide presence and numerous geographical manufacturing locations, along with the company’s flexibility and reliability to scale the PTS manufacturing process in response to increasing market demand, affords Zymes significant economic and strategic advantages in meeting the needs of our diverse client base.”
“Albemarle’s commitment to overall product quality allows us to service both diverse and highly regulated markets. This will make our superior solubilization technology available globally for a broad range of consumer products such as foods and particularly for clear beverages,” Berl continued.
“We continue to receive positive response for our ability to support the vision of developing pharmaceutical and bioscience companies like Zymes,” said Matt Juneau, Vice President of Albemarle’s Fine Chemistry Services division. “The opportunity to assist promising companies in realizing their vision is extremely gratifying for us. It’s a business strategy that maximizes our demonstrated chemistry and scale-up services and has the added appeal of furthering our mission to create powerful solutions that meet societal needs.”
Zymes has entered into several licensing arrangements related to food and beverage product launches. The company has also developed a clear omega3 enhanced water beverage slated for launch in 2009, and has expanded the scope of applicability of the PTS technology to water soluble dry powder formulations.
About Zymes
Zymes is a bio-science company that combines science, technology, and nature to create products that improve your quality of life. Zymes’ mission is to provide innovative solutions to our partners and consumers through our proprietary science and technology, enabling new products to enhance the well-being of people and our environment. Based in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, Zymes holds substantial intellectual property ranging from production of coenzyme Q10 to pharmaceutical drug delivery systems. For more information, email info@zymesllc.com, or see: www.zymes.com.
About Albemarle
Albemarle Corporation, headquartered in Baton Rouge, La., is a leading global developer, manufacturer and marketer of highly engineered specialty chemicals for consumer electronics; petroleum and petrochemical processing; transportation and industrial products; pharmaceuticals; agricultural products; and construction and packaging materials. The Company operates in three business segments--Polymer Additives, Catalysts and Fine Chemicals, and serves customers in approximately 100 countries. Learn more about Albemarle at www.albemarle.com.
“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding Albemarle Corporation’s business which are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.
CONTACT: Media, Stephanie Dixon, +1-225-388-7904,
Stephanie_Dixon@albemarle.com, or Investor Relations, Sandra Rodriguez,
+1-225-388-7654, Sandra_Rodriguez@albemarle.com
Web site: http://www.albemarle.com/
http://www.zymes.com/