Biocatalysts Ltd expands its Manufacturing Capabilities with Large-Scale Freeze Drying

7 March 2024, Cardiff, Wales (UK) - BRAIN Biotech Group company Biocatalysts Ltd, a leading expert in enzyme discovery, development and fermentation for the Food, Beverage and Life Science industries announced a significant expansion of its manufacturing capabilities with the addition of large-scale freeze-drying equipment at its Cardiff manufacturing site.

Life sciences and biotechnology industries extensively use freeze-drying to preserve and protect products from loss of functional and biological activity. To meet stringent customer requirements and to ensure optimal product quality, the new industrial scale freeze-drying capacity was designed to align with both kosher and halal requirements and compliance with ISO9001:2015 and FSSC22000 quality and safety standards.

The current expansion fits into Biocatalysts’ multi-year manufacturing expansion program to accommodate increased demand for fermentation capacity and enzyme products. Other expansions have included investments in fermentation vessels, downstream processing, and formulation capacity. This latest investment in large-scale freeze-drying onsite, enables greater customisation of solutions, tailoring enzyme formulations specific to customer and industry needs to offer flexibility and precision in enzyme formulation.

Andrew Ellis, VP of Fermentation and Technical at Biocatalysts Ltd comments: “Freeze drying is a very sensitive approach for drying specialist products allowing for preservation of valuable functionality in the dried product. Our new custom-designed freeze drier provides large capacity and extremely efficient drying of our products. The drier is designed for maximum flexibility to meet the needs of a wide range of custom-dried products. This is an extremely valuable addition to our manufacturing capabilities at Biocatalysts Ltd.”

^{About BRAIN}

^{BRAIN Biotech AG is a leading European supplier of bio-based products and solutions such as enzymes and proteins, microbial production strains, natural compounds and biotechnological solutions for more sustainable industrial processes. The company focuses on the fields of nutrition, health and environment.}

^{BRAIN Biotech AG is the parent company of the international BRAIN Biotech Group. The Group's business activities are divided into three segments: The BioProducts segment comprises the product business with specialty enzymes and other proteins, for which the Group operates fermentation facilities in the United Kingdom and production facilities in continental Europe and the United States. The BioScience segment offers research-intensive custom solutions based on enzyme technology, strain development, bioprocess development and natural product screening. The BioIncubator segment conducts its own R&D projects or those initiated with partners with high value-added potential. A particularly promising incubator project is the development of the Company's own CRISPR-based gene editing technology platform, which is currently being established and expanded by Akribion Genomics (in foundation planning).}

^{Through its own R&D activities, BRAIN Biotech Group is continuously expanding its product portfolio in the field of specialty enzymes and small molecules. The latter are the starting point for screenings, e.g. for novel drug candidates for pharmaceutical applications.}

^{BRAIN Biotech AG has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since February 9, 2016 (ticker symbol: BNN; securities identification number: ISIN DE0005203947 / WKN 520394). The company employs approximately 330 people and generated revenues of EUR 55,3 million in the fiscal year 2022/23.}

^{About Biocatalysts}

^{Established in 1983, Biocatalysts Ltd has been a member of the international BRAIN Biotech Group since 2018. BRAIN Biotech, a leading European industrial biotechnology specialist, is the parent company of the Group.}

^{Next to first-class research and development services for industry customers to create bio-based products and processes, the Group develops, manufactures and sells speciality ingredients, like enzymes or bioactive natural products. With fermentation and production facilities in Continental Europe, UK and the US, together with the associated biotechnological solution competency completes the value chain within the group.}

^{All BRAIN Biotech Group companies act as independent entities in the market yet interconnect to synergise in R&D and production. Biocatalysts and BRAIN Biotech work closely together for the joint development of customised enzyme discovery, development and scale-up processes.}

^{Together with our partners in the BRAIN Biotech Group we rely on biotechnology as a tool for a sustainable bioeconomy and work towards the vision of creating a #BiobasedFuture}

^{For more information / Social Media: https://www.biocatalysts.com , LinkedIn und Youtube.}

^Disclaimer

^{This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements reflect the current views, expectations, and assumptions of the management of BRAIN Biotech AG, and are based on information currently available to the management. Forward-looking statements are no guarantees of future performance, and entail both known and unknown risks as well as uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Numerous factors exist that could influence the future performance of and future developments at BRAIN Biotech AG and the BRAIN Biotech Group. Such factors include, but are not limited to, changes in the general economic and competitive environment, risks associated with capital markets, currency exchange rate fluctuations, changes in international and national laws and regulations, in particular with respect to tax laws and regulations, as well as other factors.}

^{BRAIN Biotech AG does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.}

Note: Collective designations such as employees, shareholders, customers or consumers used in this press release are to be regarded as gender-neutral.