Biocatalysis and biosynthesis

Present situation worldwide and in Switzerland

In future, public pressure on the chemical sector will increase greatly: long-term corporate planning should take into account not only economic objectives but also social and environmental demands. In the past decade, scientific and technological advances have established biocatalysis and biosynthesis (the use of enzymes and microorganisms in synthetic chemistry) as serviceable and environmentally sound complements to traditional organic chemistry. Enzymes are used for example to produce chiral molecules (i.e. molecules that are non-superposable on their mirror image) and, wherever possible, to avoid resorting to protecting groups. The use of biocatalysts thus makes it possible to shorten processes and thereby lower costs. Using inexpensive resources or (agricultural) waste products in biosynthetic processes is another way to create value. Biocatalytic process steps are used in the production of pharmaceutical blockbuster molecules. Biosynthetic approaches are used to derive fine chemicals such aromas, fragrances and nutraceuticals as well as commodity chemicals from sustainable resources.

Future areas of application include the development of new chemicals. Improving the technological maturity of a greater number of enzyme families will allow the chemical industry to carry out reactions that are complementary to organic chemistry and to extend the range of molecules that can be produced. Next to the industrial establishment of little researched enzyme families, it is possible to use enzymes produced via computer-aided design or enzymes whose reaction spectrum has been expanded by the integration of artificial cofactors.

In future, as we strive for independence from fossil energies, biocatalysis is likely to play a significant role. Concerns over climate change and the volatility of fossil energy costs have become global drivers to use biomass as a production resource. However, the efficient development of a biobased economy depends largely on establishing a comprehensive biocatalytic and biosynthetic toolbox allowing us to transform available biomass into a wide array of products.

Implications for Switzerland

In Switzerland, large pharmaceutical companies, fine chemical firms as well as the fragrance and flavour industry are devoting significant parts of their enzyme-based research to process development. Contract manufacturers such as CordenPharma Switzerland, RohnerChem and Siegfried are increasingly interested in complementing their chemical synthesis expertise with biocatalytic competences, as know-how development in the field of biocatalysis is viewed as a crucial factor for future customer acquisition. However, large companies are the main active beneficiaries of the opportunities created by biocatalysis. SMEs are not yet fully harnessing the potential of this promising approach. This is due mainly to soft factors such as the limited availability of trained personnel and the more restricted R&D capacities of smaller-size companies. In order to strengthen Switzerland’s position in this high-tech sector, it is therefore crucial to promote a dialogue between the research and business communities. The networking programme Innovation in Biocatalysis, funded by the Swiss Confederation, promotes this exchange and contributes to establishing a dynamic biocatalysis community in Switzerland. More such programmes are needed for biocatalysis and biosynthesis to deploy their full industrial potential.