Reduced cost of goods
Shorter manufacturing routes can be achieved by a biotransformation approach, either by offering alternative route selection for synthesis, or by eliminating the need for protection/ deprotection strategies.
In the acylation of sugars, different regioisomers can be obtained (without the need for sugar protection), with appropriate biocatalyst selection.
The application of biocatalysis was key for commercialisation of the anti- flu drug Relenza, in order to overcome economic constraints regarding the availability of an important precursor.
