Making pharmaceuticals involves a chemical step called aromatic nitration that is so hazardous—using concentrated acids and risking explosions—that roughly 20% of all synthetic drug intermediates require it, yet many manufacturers either outsource the work or take longer, costlier routes to avoid it. ErebaGen has developed a way to replace this dangerous chemistry with bacterial enzymes. The company uses a patented activator to switch on specialised metabolism in microbes, unlocking a large pool of enzymes that can perform nitration safely at room temperature, without corrosive acids or runaway reactions. The two-year project, run with partners including CPI and the National Physical Laboratory, will test whether this enzymatic process can match or beat conventional nitration on cost and efficiency. If the approach works, it could transform how pharmaceutical intermediates are made in the UK, cutting reliance on overseas production and reducing the risk of chemical spills or disposal problems. The same enzyme platform could later be adapted for agrochemicals, flavours, fragrances, and dyes—any industry that currently depends on hazardous nitration chemistry.
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ErebaGen harnesses chemistry from Nature and its project aims to transform hazardous chemical manufacture through the use of sustainable biological processes. The innovation focus and need is aromatic nitration, a critical chemical step in production of numerous pharmaceutical intermediates. This reaction proceeds rapidly, generates heat, can get out of control risking explosion and formation of unwanted by-products. The process uses hazardous chemicals such as concentrated acid, with associated risks of disposal or leaching. Despite this ~20% of all synthetic pharmaceutical intermediate processes involve nitration. Consequently many are produced abroad, or by multi-step synthetic routes to avoid nitration, increasing cost and time. ErebaGen is responding to the need using our innovative technology platform that harnesses bacterial enzymes evolved by nature over millions of years. Distinctively ErebaGen uses a patented activator to switch on specialised metabolism, that is the synthetic processes not required for survival of the microbes.. This gives ErebaGen a competitive advantage: access to a large, chemically diverse, promiscuous pool of enzymes with flexible substrate tolerance. It is combined with bioinformatics, genomic and chemical analysis and automation. The intellectual property comprises the patented activator and substantial confidential know-how including proprietary software Customers are pharma/biotech companies but our innovations have broad application in agrochemicals, flavours and fragrances, dyes and fine chemicals; the project could open up these markets. ErebaGen's approach can be expanded to a range of other hazardous/inefficient chemical processes. The project brings together a diverse, experienced team from Erebagen, partner CPI and subcontractors National Physical Laboratory, Peritus Regulatory and Sterling Pharma, plus individual experts. We have a two year project plan to demonstrate that enzymatic aromatic nitration is a cost-effective, sustainable alternative to chemical nitration. Performance measurements and comparative assessment will assess this potentially transformational alternative to traditional synthesis. The project deliverables will help ErebaGen secure higher value partnerships, which will take its innovation through to market.
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