technology
Directed evolution
Iterative random mutagenesis and high-throughput screening to evolve enzymes beyond natural sequence space.
Where it's used
Chemoenzymatic API synthesis (biocatalytic small-molecule manufacturing)
Engineered-enzyme steps (transaminases, ketoreductases, lipases) substituted into small-molecule API routes to replace metal-catalysed or multi-step chemical sequences — anchored by Codexis's CodeEvolver platform (the Merck sitagliptin transaminase case) in the US, Almac's biocatalysis CDMO in the UK, Lonza's HPAPI/biocatalysis toolkit in Switzerland, and Asymchem and WuXi AppTec's biocatalysis-enabled CDMO platforms in China.
Industrial Enzymes & Biocatalysis
Industrial enzymes and biocatalysis replace chemical processes with protein-catalyzed reactions — cutting energy by 40–70%, reagent costs, and waste streams across food, feed, pharma, textiles, and biofuels. The global market exceeds $7B with >6% CAGR through 2030.