VersaMatrix A/S launches Versaffin™ for affinity resin-mediated bioseparation

VersaMatrix A/S today announced the global launch of Versaffin™, the Company’s proprietary bead-encoding technology to produce Customized Affinity Ligands – small molecules that can selectively bind and release desired proteins and other biomolecules.

Ligands derived using Versaffin™ provide superior performance in affinity chromatography for the purification of biopharmaceutical drugs.

The production of biopharmaceutical products can be a costly process, with 50-80% of the cost being accrued in down stream purification processes. And with tight time constraints, a rapid means of developing purification processes is essential. Affinity chromatography has been known for some time to be one of the most effective methods of protein purification but has historically been problematic because of insufficient access to selective, robust, high affinity ligands. VersaMatrix has developed Versaffin™ to solve this problem by ensuring the fast, and thereby cost-effective, development of Customized Affinity Ligands. The technology provides information on relative binding and elution of target proteins to all members of large libraries of ligands. Using this approach, companies can save between 15 and 20% on production costs.

Ib Johannsen, VersaMatrix’ CEO commented:

“Versaffin™ ensures that affinity ligands can be developed in a matter of weeks instead of months. This time reduction translates into cost savings for cash strapped biopharmaceutical companies moving into protein production. We are confident that our technology will help the industry boost its profits from biopharmaceuticals!”

The scientific basis of Versaffin™ was originally developed at the Carlsberg Research Centre in Copenhagen. VersaMatrix was founded in September 2002 to commercialise the research and the result is the Versaffin™ bead-encoding technology. VersaMatrix is wholly owned by Carlsberg A/S.