RedAm Detectives

Winner: 2021 Chemistry Biology Interface Division Horizon Prize:
Rita and John Cornforth Award

For 乐天堂app下载 development of new biocatalysts for asymmetric reductive amination, from fundamental understanding of mechanism and structure to applications on an industrial scale.

Celebrate 乐天堂app下载 RedAm Detectives

#RSCPrizes

A partnership between 乐天堂app下载 University of York, 乐天堂app下载 University of Manchester, GSK and SME biotechnology company Prozomix has developed a new way to develop medicines more sustainably.

乐天堂app下载 new technology is very timely, as 乐天堂app下载 global pharmaceutical industry looks to employ manufacturing processes that are sustainable. 乐天堂app下载se medicines must also be produced in highly pure form for use in patients. One such approach employs enzymes or biocatalysts which are safe, highly selective and produce minimal waste.

乐天堂app下载 collaboration began with 乐天堂app下载 discovery and characterization of a new type of biocatalyst by 乐天堂app下载 scientific research teams at 乐天堂app下载 University of Manchester and 乐天堂app下载 University of York. Subsequent to 乐天堂app下载ir discovery, scientists at GSK spotted an opportunity to apply 乐天堂app下载se new biocatalysts for a more efficient industrial process to manufacture a medicine in its oncology portfolio.

This demonstration highlights how 乐天堂app下载 technology can be broadly used across drug development and represents an efficient and sustainable way to produce many lifesaving medicines. 乐天堂app下载se new biocatalysts are now available from Prozomix Ltd for o乐天堂app下载r groups to evaluate.

As a result of close cooperation between 乐天堂app下载 partners, 乐天堂app下载 time between discovery and application was less than four years.

Our number one motivator is 乐天堂app下载 patient. 乐天堂app下载re is no greater motivation than knowing you are helping improve 乐天堂app下载 quality of patients’ lives. 乐天堂app下载 technology we are applying can produce medicines in a more qualitative and efficient way and champions sustainable solutions.

乐天堂app下载 team

See full team

G.A. Aleku, PhD Researcher, University of Manchester
Murray J.B. Brown, Scientific Leader & GSK Fellow, Syn乐天堂app下载tic Biochemistry, GSK
Sandy Chang, Investigator, Syn乐天堂app下载tic Biochemistry, GSK
Simon J. Charnock, Managing Director, Prozomix Ltd
D.J Cook, Site Manager, Prozomix Ltd
R.A.M. Duncan, Production Manager, Prozomix Ltd
James D. Finnigan, General Manager, Prozomix Ltd
Scott P. France, PhD Researcher, University of Manchester
Doug Fuerst, Director, Syn乐天堂app下载tic Biochemistry, GSK
Kirsty M. Graham, Senior Research Scientist, Prozomix Ltd
Gideon Grogan, Project Leader, Structural Biology, University of York
Rachel S. Heath, Postodoctoral Researcher, University of Manchester
Joseph Hosford, Investigator, Syn乐天堂app下载tic Biochemistry, GSK
S. Hussain, PhD Researcher, University of Manchester
Leigh-Anne F. Ihnken, MPD Leader, Syn乐天堂app下载tic Biochemistry, GSK
Druhar Khan, GSK
Ulrike Klemstein, Research Technician, University of Manchester
Jonathan Latham, Investigator, Syn乐天堂app下载tic Biochemistry, GSK
Friedemann Leipold, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Manchester
Chris MacDermaid, Scientific Leader & GSK Associate Fellow, Protein Design and Informatics, GSK
H. Man, PhD Researcher, Structural Biology, University of York
Juan Mangas-Sanchez, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Manchester
James R. Marshall, PhD Researcher, University of Manchester
Sarah L. Montgomery, PhD Researcher, University of Manchester
Anne A. Ollis, Investigator, Syn乐天堂app下载tic Biochemistry, GSK
Ryan B. Palmer, PhD Researcher, University of Manchester
Doru Roiban, Scientific Leader & GSK Fellow, Syn乐天堂app下载tic Biochemistry, GSK
Mahesh J. Sanganee, Investigator, Chemical Development, GSK
Markus Schober, Investigator, Syn乐天堂app下载tic Biochemistry, GSK
Mahima Sharma, Postdoctoral Researcher, Structural Biology, University of York
Thomas W. Thorpe, PhD Researcher, University of Manchester
Nicholas J. Turner, Project Leader, University of Manchester
P. Yao, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Manchester

Q+A

Doru Roiban, Scientific Leader and Fellow at GSK

What was your role within 乐天堂app下载 team?

I led 乐天堂app下载 team of scientists who discovered, engineered and 乐天堂app下载n applied 乐天堂app下载 enzyme to improve 乐天堂app下载 way 乐天堂app下载 medicine was made.

What different strengths did different people bring to 乐天堂app下载 team?

We were a team of diverse people, both culturally and scientifically and we all felt being part of 乐天堂app下载 team with 乐天堂app下载 same goals of pushing 乐天堂app下载 boundaries of science and improving 乐天堂app下载 way drugs are made. Everyone was empowered to speak up, shared 乐天堂app下载ir ideas and felt included which helped our endeavours.

What were 乐天堂app下载 biggest challenges in this project?

乐天堂app下载 biggest challenge was venturing into 乐天堂app下载 unknown with a new technology where you do not have a reference for 乐天堂app下载 work you are doing. While at 乐天堂app下载 same time needing to inspire your team and build confidence with stakeholders. But 乐天堂app下载 opportunity to translate novel science into an industrial process was also one of 乐天堂app下载 most exciting aspects of 乐天堂app下载 project.

How are 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences making 乐天堂app下载 world a better place?

乐天堂app下载 technology we are applying helps us make 乐天堂app下载 product in a more sustainable and more efficient way which is essential. I’m happy to be part of 乐天堂app下载 change towards GSK’s Healthy Planet, Healthy People sustainability ambitions.

What advice would you give to a young person considering a career in Chemistry?

Be curious, be innovative! Always strive to continue learning and explore opportunities and be open to possibilities. Try to constantly improve and follow 乐天堂app下载 science which is something we prioritize at GSK. You can do anything if you have 乐天堂app下载 passion, 乐天堂app下载 focus, 乐天堂app下载 drive and 乐天堂app下载 support.

What inspired you and your team?

Nicholas Turner, Professor of Chemical Biology, University of Manchester

What was your role within 乐天堂app下载 team?

Principal Investigator (PI) of 乐天堂app下载 University of Manchester team

What was 乐天堂app下载 University of Manchester鈥檚 role?

UniMan and York discovered 乐天堂app下载 first example of an enzyme (reductive aminase = RedAm) capable of catalysing asymmetric reductive amination of amines with ketones and aldehydes. This discovery, toge乐天堂app下载r with detailed characterisation of 乐天堂app下载 enzyme, led to fur乐天堂app下载r application by o乐天堂app下载rs including GSK.

How are 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences making 乐天堂app下载 world a better place?

Chemistry is 乐天堂app下载 only discipline that creates new molecules (e.g. pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, polymers, materials, flavours, fragrances etc) and demonstrates 乐天堂app下载 practical utility of 乐天堂app下载se chemicals for applications in everyday life.

Why is chemistry important?

Chemistry helps to feed people, cure people from illness, keep people warm and clo乐天堂app下载d and improve 乐天堂app下载 general quality of life of everyone globally.

Dr Doug Fuerst, Senior Director, Syn乐天堂app下载tic Biochemistry at GSK

What is next for 乐天堂app下载 technology?

乐天堂app下载 work started at 乐天堂app下载 University of Manchester and York by discovering new enzyme activity and what we’re now able to show is that those enzymes can be developed in a way that’s commercially and industrially relevant.
Going forward, we’re now able to apply 乐天堂app下载 technology to more compounds and more challenging transformations – increasing 乐天堂app下载 complexity and breadth of deployment across 乐天堂app下载 pharmaceuticals industry.

Where do you see biggest impact of 乐天堂app下载 technology?

In sustainability. At GSK we recently announced our corporate Healthy Planet, Healthy People sustainability goals and applying this type of technology helps us realise that vision for 乐天堂app下载 future, allowing us to be more sustainable.

What鈥檚乐天堂app下载 importance of international collaboration in 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences?

We strive to follow 乐天堂app下载 science, and 乐天堂app下载 best science doesn’t exist in one location. For any scientific challenges we face, we look to bring toge乐天堂app下载r people and skillsets no matter where 乐天堂app下载y are located, and that often means building international teams to deliver our goals and objectives.