PR99595

TOKYO, Feb. 22, 2023 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services ("Aji Bio-Pharma"), a leading provider of

biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing services, is pleased

to announce the development of a new enzyme for double strand oligonucleotide

formation with high productivity.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/751177/Aji_BioPharma_Logo.jpg

In collaboration with researchers from the University of Shizuoka, Aji

Bio-Pharma succeeded in developing a highly functional artificial RNA ligase

using the ancestral design method. It was found that this artificial RNA ligase

has higher thermostability than natural RNA ligase as well as superior ligation

activity for RNA fragments containing xenonucleic acid.

When using the natural RNA ligase for RNA fragments (including xenonucleic

acid) as reaction substrates to synthesize a marketed siRNA drug substance, the

yield was only 20% after 24 hours of reaction. In contrast, when using the

highly functional artificial RNA ligase, the reaction yield improved to 80%

under the same conditions, confirming that it has properties suitable for

enzymatic synthesis of nucleic acid medicines. This approach attains more

productive and environmentally safe oligonucleotide synthesis when compared to

the conventional method.

"We are excited to provide new research to our partners and support them in

their efforts to supply lifesaving therapeutics," said Yusuke Hagiwara, Senior

Researcher, Ajinomoto Bioscience & Fine Chemicals Research Laboratories. "This

discovery for siRNA is a great example of Aji Bio-Pharma continuing to provide

reliable and innovative solutions to our clients."

The RNA fragments used as reaction substrates can be produced by not only

conventional solid phase synthesis, but also by Ajinomoto Co.'s AJIPHASE(R)

technology, especially in large quantities and with high purity. This

achievement is expected to be applied as one of the technologies that enables

the mass production of nucleic acid drugs with high efficiency and high purity.

This result was presented in the journal "Applied and Environmental

Microbiology" published by the American Society for Microbiology.

About Ajinomoto Co. and Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services

Based on the corporate message "Eat Well, Live Well.", Ajinomoto Co., Inc. has

been scientifically pursuing the possibilities of amino acids to aim for future

growth by creating new value through sustainable and innovative solutions for

communities and society. For additional information about Ajinomoto Co. (TYO:

2802), please visit www.ajinomoto.com .

As its pharmaceutical arm, Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services is a fully integrated

contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) with sites in

Belgium, United States, Japan, and India, providing comprehensive development,

cGMP manufacturing, and aseptic fill finish services for small through large

molecule APIs and intermediates. For more information about Ajinomoto

Bio-Pharma Services, please visit www.AjiBio-Pharma.com .

In addition, Ajinomoto Co. and Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services offer a broad

range of innovative platform technologies and capabilities for pre-clinical and

pilot programs to commercial quantities, including AJIPHASE(R) oligonucleotide

manufacturing technology, CORYNEX(R) and TALAMAX(R) protein expression systems,

AJICAP(R) site-specific conjugation and linker technologies for ADCs, and

continuous flow manufacturing. For additional information on the platform

technologies, please visit https://ajibio-pharma.ajinomoto.com/.

SOURCE  Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services

CONTACT: info@us.ajibio-pharma.com