Biotage enters peptide synthesis business

Sweden's Biotage AB says that it will enter the peptide synthesis business, through two new agreements with German company MultiSynTech  GmbH. The agreements concern both the distribution rights for the  latter's systems and the establishment of a joint development project.

The deal with MultiSynTech will grant Biotage distribution rights for  all current MultiSynTech peptide synthesis systems. The two firms have  also agreed on a joint development project to design and market a new  microwave-aided peptide synthesis system, which will increase yield and  speed in peptide synthesis.

The peptide synthesizer market is estimated at 150.0 million Swedish  kronor ($17.6 million) and is growing at a double digit rate. In the  research phase, biochemists  need increasingly longer, more complex  peptides to study protein interactions, produce peptide antibodies, and  understand complex disease states.