Kyowa Hakko Develops Novel Process for Manufacturing Amino-Acid Dimers

Strategic Insights -

Kyowa Hakko, a leading Japanese pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, has announced the development of a novel, efficient, and versatile process for manufacturing amino-acid dimers, also known as di-peptides. The company plans to commercialize Alanyl-glutamine, a di-peptide composed of L-Alanine and L-Glutamine, by 2006. This innovation addresses the nutritional inadequacies of L-glutamine, which has poor stability and solubility in aqueous solutions. The new process enables the widespread use of Alanyl-glutamine, a stable and highly soluble di-peptide that functions as a source of L-glutamine in the body.

Key Takeaways:

  • Kyowa Hakko has developed a novel process for manufacturing amino-acid dimers (di-peptides), which addresses the limitations of traditional methods.
  • The new process can efficiently produce Alanyl-glutamine, a di-peptide composed of L-Alanine and L-Glutamine, which is stable against heat and acid and highly soluble in aqueous solutions.
  • The company anticipates the Alanyl-glutamine market to be between 100 and 200 tons within a few years and several hundred tons in the near future.
  • The newly developed enzyme discovered by Kyowa Hakko can directly connect amino acids, enabling the production of various di-peptides without chemical modification.
  • The availability of di-peptides can broaden the use of many amino acids by overcoming physicochemical limitations and adding new functions specific to di-peptides.
  • Kyowa Hakko is eager to collaborate with researchers and companies domestically and abroad to explore, expand, and apply the advantages of di-peptides, particularly in medical and healthcare applications.

Statistics:

  • The Alanyl-glutamine market is expected to reach between 100 and 200 tons within a few years and several hundred tons in the near future.
  • The newly developed process can efficiently produce Alanyl-glutamine, which is stable against heat and acid and highly soluble in aqueous solutions.
  • The novel enzyme discovered by Kyowa Hakko can directly connect amino acids, enabling the production of various di-peptides.

Sources:

  • Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd.
  • Ichi Matsuura, Manager, Corporate Communications Department
  • Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd., 1-6-1 Ohtemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8185, Japan
  • Tel: +81-3-3282-1903, Fax: +81-3-3282-0990, E-mail: [pr@kyowa.co.jp](mailto:pr@kyowa.co.jp), URL: http://www.kyowa.co.jp