Evonik launches new peptide to boost productivity of cell-culture-based biopharmaceuticals

Essen, Germany. Evonik now offers a highly pure cystine peptide to address challenges in the formulation of cell culture media and processes used in the development and production of biopharmaceuticals. Available globally, cQrex® AC is a chemically defined and highly soluble source of L-cystine that enables sufficient supply of this key amino acid to cells. It is the latest addition to the cQrex® portfolio of cell culture ingredients which increase efficiency and productivity in bioprocesses for producing monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, viral vectors, and therapeutic cells.

Evonik’s market-leading cQrex® portfolio of peptides, in conjunction with the company’s application services, provides customers with a system solution designed to overcome limitations in bioprocess performance. High-quality cell culture solutions are a key driver for Evonik’s innovation growth field healthcare solutions within the life science division Nutrition & Care. The division aims to increase the share of system solutions from 20 percent today to more than 50 percent by 2030.

“cQrex® AC is a superior solution to the well-known challenges of supplying cystine to cell culture. We are delighted to provide media manufacturers and biopharma companies around the globe with this unique booster for intensified, next-generation bioprocessing,” said Martin Schilling, director of Cell Culture Ingredients at Evonik’s Health Care business.

L-cystine is an essential amino acid in cell culture, and sufficient supply is critical to support the production of biotherapeutics. However, L-cystine is poorly soluble at neutral pH and difficult to supply to cells in sufficient amounts. The peptide cQrex® AC (N,N’-di-L-Alanyl-L-Cystine) is a non-animal-derived, chemically defined and highly soluble form of L-cystine with a solubility more than twenty times higher at neutral pH. It is efficiently metabolized by cells and used to formulate concentrated feed and perfusion media. cQrex® AC thus addresses unmet needs in process intensification and simplification, which are major trends in biopharmaceutical cell culture.

Evonik’s Health Care business line is a global innovation hub for the world’s leading pharma and biotech companies. By leveraging six decades of industry leadership, Evonik Health Care provides the biopharma market with high-quality cell culture solutions including amino acids, peptides, plant-based lipids, and other non-animal-derived performance boosters.