PolyPeptide Group was founded over 70 years ago in Sweden, and since then have expanded via several acquisitions. Now, they span three major regions: The US, Europe, and Asia. Most recently, the company established their central headquarters in Baar, Switzerland to complement their GMP sites in Torrance and San Diego, US; Malmo, Sweden; Braine-l’Alleud and Strasbourg, France; and their generics facility in Ambernath, India.
All in all, PolyPeptide employs over 1200 people worldwide tackling over 200 projects per year. Focusing on their three core values: innovation, excellence, and trust, the company is a CMO for peptides that works from small to large scales, from non-GMP to GMP. PolyPeptide supports their clients through every stage of the drug development process, providing production, analytics, and regulatory assistance.
Rousset talked about the importance of green chemistry, aiming to reduce, replace, and recycle harmful chemicals in their processes. He highlighted the development of alternatives to TFA, a per/polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) and harmful forever-chemical. The advent of new regulations prompted PolyPeptide to develop their PFAS-free method using iron chloride and other acids instead to enhance safety and compliance.
Then Rousset outlined PolyPeptide’s ‘Kraken concept’. This concept involves a multi-point attachment of linkers in solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) to increase the density of the growing peptide on the resin surface. This innovative approach enhances production efficiency and minimises waste by optimizing the process without reinventing the basic resins.
Finally, PolyPeptide's advanced control software optimises washing processes in solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) by implementing percolation protocols assisted by FT-NIR. This software allows for real-time monitoring and calibration, significantly reducing solvent consumption and enhancing process efficiency. By automating the washing sequence, it can save up to 30-60% of washing solvents, contributing to a greener and more efficient production.
