By Nick Gilbert
Metabolix, a provider of sustainable solutions to energy, chemicals and plastics industries, has entered into an agreement with Antibióticos, a producer of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), for manufacture of Mirel biopolymer resin. Under the terms of the agreement, Metabolix will produce its Mirel biopolymers at Antibióticos’ manufacturing plant in Leon, Spain.
Metabolix and Antibióticos will perform a sequence of validation production runs to show fermentation and recovery of Mirel materials on Antibióticos’ full production-scale equipment. Metabolix will possess the Mirel resins that are manufactured in the validation production runs. The company has planned to sign a definitive manufacturing agreement with Antibióticos based on the validation production runs and after the completion of engineering and economic feasibility studies.
Biopolymers from Metabolix are based on polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) that occur naturally in plants and micro-organisms. Mirel biopolymer resins are biobased, biodegradable and ideal for a broad range of applications. The company is now delivering the resin to clients from existing inventory of about 5 million pounds.
Richard P. Eno, President and CEO of Metabolix, stated that the partnership with Antibióticos signifies a considerable progress in setting up a new supply chain for Mirel biopolymer resin to better serve their customers globally and to continue product development. Additionally, Antibióticos is located in the EU near many of Metabolix’s targeted customers and they believe that Antibioticos’ technical expertise, facilities and equipment are ideal for manufacturing Mirel biopolymers at commercial scale, concluded Eno.
Source: http://www.metabolix.com/