NOTTINGHAM, UK – November 15, 2011 – Novozymes Biopharma, part of Novozymes A/S world leader in bioinnovation, has announced that its recombinant human albumin, Albucult, has been selected by R-Tech Ueno for use in a unique treatment for dry eye syndrome. R-Tech Ueno is a global pharmaceutical company specializing in the fields of ophthalmology and dermatology. The Japan-based company will utilize Albucult as a key component in its new therapy which will be the first of its kind developed for the treatment of severe and moderate dry eye conditions. Albucult is manufactured by Novozymes’ long-term technology partner Kaketsuken based in Kumamoto, Japan and marketed by Novozymes world-wide.
Dr Yukihiko Mashima, President of R-Tech Ueno, comments: “Novozymes’ and Kaketsuken’s commitment to supplying products that enhance the safety profile and quality of their partners’ medicines makes them the ideal collaborators for us to work with. Novozymes has a wealth of experience of biomaterials and sets the benchmark for recombinant human albumin.”
Prevalence of dry eye syndrome continues to increase, with the condition having the highest rate of diagnosis of all ophthalmic disorders. As an active ingredient, Albucult confers a range of unique advantages to the development of R-Tech Ueno’s new therapy including an exceptional purity profile and excellent batch-to-batch consistency, which is not possible with animal-derived ingredients.
Dermot Pearson, Marketing Director at Novozymes Biopharma, comments:
“Novozymes is delighted that R-Tech Ueno has selected Albucult for use in the development of this innovative new treatment. The partnership demonstrates our commitment to supplying customers with quality biomaterials that reduce operational and regulatory complexity and minimize manufacturing risk.”
The use of Albucult in R-Tech Ueno’s therapy and other drugs can help to optimize pathways through regulatory approval procedures and improve time–to-market. Albucult also delivers unprecedented performance benefits to protein therapeutics and medical devices while ensuring security of supply and consistent quality. This can drive product development efficiency for customers looking for a compliant albumin alternative.
For further information on Novozymes Biopharma’s Albucult, please visit www.biopharma.novozymes.com
About Novozymes
Novozymes is the world leader in bioinnovation. Together with customers across a broad array of industries, we create tomorrow’s industrial biosolutions, improving our customers’ business and the use of our planet’s resources.
With over 700 products used in 130 countries, Novozymes’ bioinnovations improve industrial performance and safeguard the world’s resources by offering superior and sustainable solutions for tomorrow’s ever-changing marketplace. Read more at www.novozymes.com.
Contact:
Novozymes Biopharma:
Sally Vernon, Customer Communications Manager SYKE@novozymes.com Tel. +44 115 955 3355
MEDIA CONTACTS
Europe
Annegrethe Møller Jakobsen
Office: +45 4446 3050
Mobile: +45 3077 3050
agmj@novozymes.com
China
Zhu Xiaoqing
Office: +86 106 298 7888+362
Mobile: +86 138 012 40590
xqzh@novozymes.com
US
Paige Donnelly
Office: +1 919 494 3209
Mobile: +1 919 218 4501
pagd@novozymes.com
Brazil
Saionara Ribeiro de Paula
Office: +55 41 3641 1112
Mobile: +55 41 9971 7225
saio@novozymes.com
INVESTOR CONTACTS
Europe
Tobias Bjorklund
Office: +45 4446 8682
Mobile: +45 3077 8682
tobb@novozymes.com
US
Thomas Steenbech Bomhoff
Mobile: +1 919 649 2565
tsbm@novozymes.com
