Organon announces cell research collaboration

Organon, the pharmaceutical company in the Akzo Nobel group, has revealed a new research collaboration to improve the firm’s understanding of the cell culture process.

The company will engage in research with the Irish National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT). In particular, they will research enzymes active in cell cultures necessary for glycosylation, starting by using computer simulations.

After this, wetlabs and then full-scale cell culture bioreactors will be used for insights into the glycosylation process, which affects proteins during cell culture processes like cell adhesion.

David Nicholson, executive vice-president of research and development at Organon, stated: “This collaboration reinforces the strong commitment at Organon to research and development and alliances to expand and improve our biopharmaceutical franchise.”

“NIBRT’s unique focus on bioprocessing and its links to world-class researchers in Irish Universities complements our own biotechnology research and development capabilities and should provide both parties with new insights into the biosynthetic mechanisms in cell cultures and ways to control them,” he added.

Dr Kurt Naujoks, director NIBRT, said that Organon was willing to commit “significant” resources to the project.

Last month, Akzo Nobel, Organon’s parent company, said could divest Organon into a separate, publicly-owned company at a sooner point than expected.

Keith Nichols, Akzo’s senior vice-president of finance, is quoted by Reuters as saying: “We remain committed to the separation of these businesses.”

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