From structure to drug substance

Chiracon GmbH develops new manufacturing processes for (chiral) intermediates, active pharmaceutical ingredients and many other customised product inquieries. These are high-quality raw materials that are used in the manufacture of medicines. With this offer, the company meets the needs of its customers. The aim of Chiracon GmbH and its highly motivated team of chemists and laboratory technicians is to produce a wide range of molecules in the kilogramme range and beyond.

2023: Großer Preis des Mittelstandes of the Osker-Patzelt-Stiftung (Finalist)
2023: Ground-breaking ceremony for a new production facility
2023: Inspection by the FDA

Eine erste Patentanmeldung für den Wirkstoff / Produkt XYZ im Jahre 2003. etc…. mit Fakten

Evtl. Verlinkung zur Wirkstoffseite/Liste

 

2022: Zukunftspreis Brandenburg

Erste klinische Prüfmuster in der Produktion. Mehr Fakten einbringen…etc..

2015: Expansion of the production area to 750 m²

Das erste Generikum “XYZ” wird in der Produktion mit einer Kapazität von 500kg hergestellt.

2012: First API in the portfolio

Erster Wirkstoff “XYZ” im hauseigenen Portfolio zu verzeichnen. Weitere Fakts notwenfig, wie z.B. bis heute stellen wir weitere 10 Wirkstoffe inhouse her.

2010: First generic drug in production

Auszeichnung mit dem Zukunftspreis des Lande Brandenburg. Verlinkung Seite und Video….

2009: First clinical trial sample in production
2008: Repayment of the investment to the start-up fund
2008: First GMP certification

Es entsteht eine neue Produktionsstätte in Luckenwalde für eine vervielfachung unserer Kapazitäten.

2006: 1. Price by Teltow-Fläming Innovativ
2003: First patent application
2003: Venture capital funding
2002: Gründerchampion of the federal state Brandenburg
2000: First ISO 9001 certification
1998: Founding of Chiracon GmbH

Chiracon in facts and figures…

>
0
Completed
development projects
>
0
APIs
on offer
>
0
Intermediates
on offer
>
0
Stability testings
>
0
Patents
>
0
Years of experience

We are building the European future of API production in Brandenburg

The ground-breaking ceremony for a new production facility took place on 3 August 2023. A new production area is being built next to the Luckenwalde Biotechnology Park at a cost of 8.5 million euros. This will enable us to better meet the constantly increasing demand for our products by doubling our capacities.

The realisation of this project is the result of exemplary cooperation between many partners and supporters. Particularly noteworthy are the Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg (ILB), the Bürgschaftsbank Brandenburg and the Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Energy, the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Climate Protection of the federal state of Brandenburg, the District Administrator of the Teltow-Fläming district and the Mayor of Luckenwalde.

Management

Dr. Ralf Zuhse
CEO, shareholder

CV
1980 – 1987 Chemistry studies at the Freie Universität Berlin
1988 – 1991 Doctorate at the Freie Universität Berlin
1992 – 1994 Postdoc at Florida State University, USA
1994 – 1995 Postdoc at the University of Queensland, Australia
1996 – 1998 Project management at a medium-sized company for speciality chemicals

Since 1998 Founder and CEO of Chiracon GmbH

Dr. Thomas von Schrader
Head of production, authorised signatory

CV
1990 – 1996 Chemistry studies at the TU Berlin
1996 – 2000 Doctorate at the TU Berlin
2001 – 2002 Postdoc at the University of Nottingham, England

Since 2002 with Chiracon GmbH

Dr. Ahmad Tahrani
Head of quality control

CV
1997 – 2003 Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Chemistry studies at the University of Damascus
2006 – 2011 Doctorate at the University of Heidelberg

Since 2012 with Chiracon GmbH

 

Advisory board

Dipl. Kaufmann Martin Dolling
Member of the advisory board

Mr Dolling has several years of industry experience in the marketing and strategy department of a telecommunications manufacturer as well as many years of experience as a business management consultant for medium-sized companies (SMEs).

Dr. rer. nat. Matthias Gottwald
Member of the Advisory Board

Microbiologist with many years of experience in pharmaceutical research and development at Schering AG and Bayer AG. As Head of Public Private Partnerships, he was most recently actively involved in the implementation and realisation of the Innovative Medicines Initiative IMI. As an independent consultant, he supports Chiracon in the strategic development of the product portfolio and process optimisation.

(Source: Fotomanufaktur Schnittfincke, Berlin)

PD Dr. med. Peter-Andreas Löschmann
Member of the advisory board

Mr Löschmann is a doctor of pharmacology and toxicology and has extensive experience in the field of preclinical and clinical drug development and authorisation. He was Medical Director at Pfizer Pharma GmbH for many years. As an independent consultant, he supports Chiracon in the strategic orientation and creation of development concepts.

Networks and partners

Cooperation projects

  1. Climbing Crohn (promoted by BMBF)
    Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that leads to considerable suffering and restrictions in patients’ daily lives. A highly sensitive imaging procedure is required to monitor the patient’s status. The aim of Climbing Crohn is the world’s first clinical translation of integrin-targeted molecular ultrasound in Crohn’s disease. Chiracon is responsible for optimising the synthesis, scaling, establishing GMP-compliant manufacturing, production and stability testing of the ultrasound contrast agent.


     

  2. GLIOTAR (promoted by BMBF)
    The treatment of the aggressive brain tumour glioblastoma has not made any significant progress in recent decades. A personalised nuclear medicine approach that combines diagnostics with therapy (theranostics) could significantly improve treatment for glioblastoma patients. In this project, Chiracon produces various prodrugs that are initially pharmacologically inactive. The prodrug is only converted into its actual active form through a conversion step in the body. For this purpose, a therapeutic radioisotope is bound to a target structure-recognising molecule. Once the glioblastoma has been recognised, the prodrug is activated in a cell-specific manner and absorbed into the cell, where the radioisotope can develop its radiation effect.


  3. CEFOX & CEFOX 2 (promoted by BMBF)
    In CEFOX, a unique synthesis platform for the cell-free expression of customised oxyfunctionalising peroxygenases based on fungal lysates was developed, patented and tested for the production of epoxidised lipids, oxyfunctionalised terpenoids and alkaloids. The main objective of CEFOX-II is to transfer these results into enzyme-based processes for the provision of bioactive lipid molecules and customised building blocks for industry. Chiracon is responsible for scaling up and optimising the synthesis in order to be able to produce the bioactive lipid molecules in a GMP-compliant synthesis.


  4. DECADES (promoted by the EU)
    The DECADES doctoral network will conduct innovative research while training 10 PhD students with interdisciplinary skills, cross-industry experience and entrepreneurial mindset to implement sustainability concepts in the European biotechnology sector and thus make a significant contribution to achieving the European Union’s GREEN DEAL goals. DECADES will focus on solvents as a central component of the sustainability of biotechnological processes. Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) are bio-based and biodegradable solvents that have the potential to revolutionise chemistry in the 21st century. The aim is to use these “safe and sustainable” solvents to increase the efficiency and sustainability of industrial biocatalysis.

Patents

  1. R. Zuhse, T. Grimm, Patent PCT/EP2008/064759.
    „Pflanzliche Biokatalysatoren zur Herstellung optisch aktiver Hydroxyverbindungen“.


  2. R. Zuhse, T. Grimm, Patent DE 10 2007 052 112.
    „Verfahren zur Herstellung optisch aktiver Hydroxyverbindungen unter Verwendung pflanzlicher Biokatalysatoren mit Adsorbentien”.


  3. R. Zuhse, S. Quint, T. von Schrader, Patent 10 2011 088 854.3.
    Verfahren zur Herstellung von Sphingosin-1-phosphat“.


  4. R. Zuhse, R. Kourist, S. Gaßmeye, J. Wetzig, Patent DE 10 2014 006 224.
    Verfahren zur Herstellung von 2-Aryl-2-Allyl-Malonsäuren“.


  5. H. Wieland, M. A. Kessemeier, R. Zuhse, Patent EP3057667B1.
    Steroid carboxylic acid esters, compositions containing steroid carboxylic acid esters, and use of said compositions in local topical applications for cosmetic or dermatological purposes”.


  6. K.-H. Nocker, R. Zuhse, D. Ostrovskyi, Patent EP16206723.
    Improved synthesis of acetylsalicylic acid lysinate”.


  7. K.-H. Nocker, R. Zuhse, D. Ostrovskyi, Patent WO 2018/115434.
    Improved synthesis of acetylsalicylic acid lysinate- glycine particels”.


  8. S. Quint, R. Zuhse, Patent DE 10 2019 104 563.0.
    Verfahren zur Synthese eines DOPA-Derivats“.


  9. K.-H. Nocker, R. Zuhse, D. Ostrovskyi, Patent US 2019/0322610 A1
    Improved Synthesis of Lysine Acetylsalicylate Glycine Particles”.


  10. D. Ostrovski, R. Zuhse, Patent WO PCT/DE2020/000015.
    Verfahren zur Herstellung von Cannabidiolen“.


  11. S. Quint, R. Zuhse, Patent DE 10 2022 101 254 A1.
    Oxyfunktionalisierung von Omega-3- und Omega-6-Fettsäuren“


  12. M.-B. Stutz, R. Zuhse, Patent DE 10 2023 123 718 der Chiracon Pharma.
    „Verfahren zur Herstellung von Nukleosiden“

Publications

    1. A. Schwanke, C. Murruzzu, B. Zdrazil, R. Zuhse, M. Natek, M. Höltje, H.C. Korting, H.U. Reissig, H.D. Höltje, M. Schäfer-Korting, Int J Pharm 2010, 397, (1-2), 9 – 18.
      “Antitumor effects of guanosine-analog phosphonates identified by molecular modelling”


    2. P. Könst, H. Merkens, S. Kara, S. Kochius, A. Vogel, R. Zuhse, D. Holtmann, I. W.C.E. Arends, F. Hollmann, Angew. Chem. 2012, 51, 9914 – 9917.
      “Expanding the scope of alcohol dehydrogenase catalysis: enantioselective oxidation of aldehydes”.


    3. R. Zuhse, C. Leggewie, F. Hollmann, S. Kara, Org. Process Res. Dev. 2015, 19, (2), 369 – 372.
      Scaling-Up of ‘Smart Cosubstrate’ 1,4-Butanediol Promoted Asymmetric Reduction of Ethyl-4,4,4-trifluoroacetoacetate in Organic Media”.


    4. S.K. Gaßmeyer, J. Wetzig, C. Mügge, M. Assmann, J. Enoki, L. Hilterhaus, R. Zuhse, K. Miyamoto, A. Liese, R. Kourist, ChemCatChem 2016, 8, 916 – 921.
      Arylmalonate decarboxylase-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of both enantiomers of optically pure flurbiprofen”.

    5. A. Kroidl, F. Ello, J. Mgaya, T. Lennemann, R. Moh, L. Maganga, S. Eholie, A. Pruost, E. Saathoff, P.-M. Girard, R. Zuhse, F. von Massow, X. Anglaret, M. Hoelscher, C. Danel for the FATI-1 study team, AIDS 2017, 31, (4), 501 – 509.
      “Virological efficacy of 24-weeks fozivudine based regimen in ART-naive patients from Tanzania and Cote d’Ivoire”.


    6. T.A. Ewing, J. Kühn, S. Segarra, M. Tortajada, R. Zuhse, W. J. H. van Berkel, Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis, 2018, 360, (12), 2370 – 2376.
      Multigram Scale Enzymatic Synthesis of (R)-1-(4ʹ-Hydroxyphenyl)ethanol Using Vanillyl Alcohol Oxidase.


    7. A.T. Martínez, F. J. Ruiz-Dueñas, S. Camarero, H. Lund, J. Vind, M. Hofrichter, R. Ullrich, A. Piscitelli, C. Pezzella, M. Sener, Biology Engineering, 2017.
      Optimized oxidoreductases for medium and large scale industrial biotransformations”.


    8. A.T. Martínez, F. J. Ruiz-Dueñas, S. Camarero, A. Serrano, D. Linde, H. Lund, J. Vind, M. Tovborg, O. M. Herold-Majumdar, M. Hofrichter, C. Liers, R. Ullrich, K. Scheibner, G. Sannia, A. Piscitelli, C. Pezzella, M. E. Sener, S. Kılıç, W. J.H. van Berkel, V. Guallar, M. F. Lucas, R. Zuhse, R. Ludwig, F. Hollmann, E. Fernández-Fueyo, E. Record, C. B. Faulds, M. Tortajada, I. Winckelmann, J.-A. Rasmussen, M. Gelo-Pujic, A. Gutiérrez, J. C. del Río, J. Rencoret, M. Alcalde, Biotechnol. Adv. 2017, 35, (6), 815 – 831.
      Oxidoreductases on their way to industrial biotransformations”.


    9. A. Petrenz-Beck, J. Kühn, R. Zuhse, M. B. Ansorge-Schumacher, ChemistrySelect 2019, 4, (21), 6469 – 6742.
      Chemo-enzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution of symmetric and non-symmetric α-hydroxy ketones for industrial application”.


    10. J. Kiebist, M. Hofrichter, R. Zuhse, K. Scheibner, Book chapter in Pharmaceutical biocatalysis : chemoenzymatic synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients (ISBN: 978-981-4800-80-8). 2019, 1. Auflage, 643 – 673.
      Oxyfunctionalization of pharmaceuticals by fungal peroxygenases”.


    11. D.S. Wunschik, K. N. Ingenbosch, P. Süss, U. Liebelt, S. Quint, M. Dyllick-Brenzinger, R. Zuhse, U. Menyes, K. Hoffmann-Jacobsen, K. Opwis, J. S.Gutmann, Enzyme Microb. Technol. 2020, 136, 109512.
      “Enzymatic epoxidation of cyclohexene by peroxidase immobilization on a textile and an adapted reactor design”.


    12. K.N. Ingenbosch, S. Quint, M. Dyllick-Brenzinger, D.S. Wunschik, J. Kiebist, P. Süss, U. Liebelt, R. Zuhse, U. Menyes, K. Scheibner, C. Mayer, K. Opwis, J. S. Gutmann, K. Hoffmann-Jacobsen, ChemBioChem 2020, 21, 1 – 11.
      Singlet oxygen generation by peroxygenases and peroxidases for chemo-enzymatic synthesis”.


    13. J. Kiebist, K.-U. Schmidtke, M. Schramm, R. König, J. Kohlmann, R. Zuhse, R. Ullrich, M. Hofrichter, K. Scheibner, J.Fungi 2021, 7, (9), 752.
      Biocatalytic syntheses of anticoagulant metabolites of the thienopyridines clopidogrel and prasugrel using fungal peroxygenases”.
To the top