Nizo and Enzymit scale cell-free industrial enzymes biomanufacturing platform

Nizo and Enzymit have partnered on the large-scale production of novel enzymes essential to creating high-value biomolecules, such as hyaluronic acid, without using living cells. This technology and manufacturing process present a sustainable alternative to traditional biomanufacturing methods and form the basis of Enzymit’s proprietary cell-free manufacturing platform.

The scale-up of Enzymit’s cell-free enzyme production proves that novel biocatalysts can be reliably produced at scale, paving the way for broader adoption of cell-free platforms in the production of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and other high-value biomolecules.

Ultimately, the partners aim to remove the redundancies and complexities inherent to fermentation. This way, bioproduction becomes faster, simpler, and “dramatically more cost-effective” in an approach that challenges the limits of traditional microbial or mammalian production systems.

“This project is a great example of how Nizo supports innovative biotech companies in scaling breakthrough technologies,” says Nizo’s CEO, Nikolaas Vles. “We’re proud to help bring Enzymit’s cell-free manufacturing platform closer to industrial application.”

Combining enzyme design strengths

The collaboration builds on the strengths of Nizo’s decades of experience in protein expression and fermentation technologies and Enzymit’s enzyme design capabilities and cell-free biomanufacturing platform.

“Partnering with Nizo allowed us to move quickly from lab-scale to industrially relevant enzyme production,” says Dr. Gideon Lapidoth, CEO and co-founder of Enzymit. “This collaboration demonstrates the viability of cell-free bioproduction at scale and is a key enabler of our mission to reshape how biomolecules are made.”

The enzyme scale-up was completed at Nizo’s food-grade pilot facility, in close collaboration with Enzymit.

“By reducing reliance on cellular production systems, this cell-free approach also opens new horizons for industries ranging from pharmaceuticals to food technology, advancing efficiency and environmental responsibility,” highlight the partners.

Enzymatic innovation pipeline

In other recent scientific advances, Allozymes and Bonumose have advanced enzyme engineering for efficient, plant-based production of rare sugars from starch. Bonumose developed high-yield, high-purity sugar conversion enzymes, and Allozymes scaled them for industrial use with a microfluidics platform that screens up to 20 million enzyme variants daily, accelerating development.

Among food science breakthroughs, Japanese researchers from the Tokyo University of Science have identified a new β-galactosidase enzyme in the gut bacterium Bacteroides xylanisolvens. They believe this discovery could pave the way for prebiotic science and food technology advancements. Due to their potential health benefits, many of these glycans are also incorporated into processed foods like juice and powdered milk.

Last April, IFF expanded its pet portfolio with new biotechnology solutions focusing on “enzyme-driven” palatability with sustainable and clean label ingredients for cost-effective production. The company introduced a range of enzyme solutions to its pet portfolio, including Microsource CA and Betafin Pet.