New era for New Zealand organic chemistry synthesis capability
November 2002

New Zealand's ability to take newly discovered pharmaceutical candidates all the way from the laboratory to human clinical trials will receive a boost with the opening in March 2003 of a new $6 million glycotherapeutics synthesis development and production facility.

The new facility represents a new era for New Zealand organic chemistry synthesis capability, said IRL GlycoSyn's R&D manager, Richard Furneaux..  "For the first time we will be able to manufacture materials by organic synthesis for use in human clinical trials."

The 420m² facility, which includes a flameproof manufacturing area, will produce high value glyco-chemicals for pharmaceutical research and development and GMP materials for clinical studies.

The facility will feature separate functional areas for chemical manufacturing operations as well as containment sites for hazardous chemicals and storage areas for dry chemicals.

"Carbohydrates produced within the facility will either be biologically active or precursors to biologically active compounds, produced in quantities between one and 30 kilograms," said Richard Furneaux. Production will be via multi-step chemical synthesis from 10-100 kilogram quantities of starting materials.

Investment in the facility is a milestone in meeting Industrial Research's commitment to shareholders to create a high-value pharmaceutical industry within New Zealand's Advanced Technology sector.

Julian Davies, business development manager for IRL GlycoSyn, said the focus will be to target companies possessing 'early in the pharmaceutical pipeline' glyco-products that require process development and scale-up, and then look after their growing clinical needs.

"Currently there are 60 or so international pharmaceutical and biotech companies including New Zealand clients pursuing glycotherapeutics, pharmaceuticals based upon complex carbohydrate structures. With our past experience in this area, we are ideally set to capture a high penetration in this growing contract manufacturing market."

For further information, contact:

Brian Langham
Communications Manager
021 784 626

Go to the Industrial Research web site .