Biochemize purchases new laboratory to concentrate activities

Biotechnology firm Biochemize, which designs and develops synthesis processes to manufacture molecules and pharmaceutical ingredients with natural catalysts, has purchased a new laboratory in Barcelona's Poble Nou district to bring all of its R&D activities together in one facility and improve its biocatalysis platform.

Since it was founded in 2011, Biochemize has developed its technology through collaboration with four research centers: Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Institut Químic de Sarrià (IQS), Center for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG-CSIC) and Centro de Biologia Molecular Severo Ochoa (CBMSO-CSIC). Although they will continue to work directly with members of the team, company founder and CEO Jaume Mir explains that purchasing a laboratory will allow them to cut operating costs, continue growing and be more competitive in developing biotechnology processes on an industrial scale, which is their main activity.

Biochemize works with natural catalysts, like enzymes and natural or recombinant microorganisms, to carry out chemical transformations that substitute the normal manufacturing and chemical synthesis processes to make high value-added molecules. To do so, the company has developed a technology platform based on biocatalysis that can replace chemical reactions with enzymatic ones.

This technology reduces the environmental risk of common chemical processes and improves their cost/yield ratio, in addition to being more specific and selective. The company currently has approximately 30 clients and expanded its business unit by acquiring Enalsa in February of this year, in order to conduct chemical and microbiological analyses for industrial companies looking to externalize those services.

Biochemize has received grants through various Spanish and European projects, for a total of €790,000. This includes funds from the European Union Horizon 2020 program.