Alzchem: New applications and potential markets for Bioselect®
Trostberg, 26.03.2025. In times of increasing infection rates (including those beyond the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, such as bird flu or monkey pox), and a steady increase in so-called complex diseases, such as autoimmune disorders, Alzchem is already making a significant contribution to the global diagnostics and therapeutics market.
High-purity guanidine salts (Bioselect®) such as guanidine hydrochloride or guanidine thiocyanate are already used in the form of DNA/RNA extraction kits for PCR analysis and for the production of therapeutic biopharmaceuticals (e.g. monoclonal antibodies) and are valued by numerous customers for their special properties.
Guanidine Salts: Diverse Properties
Guanidine hydrochloride and – even more pronounced – guanidine thiocyanate belong to the so-called strongly chaotropic substances, which can decisively influence and alter the structures of a wide range of bio-molecules (RNA, DNA, proteins, cell membranes). Depending on their concentration, guanidine salts can either break up the complex 3D structures of RNA, DNA and proteins or reshape them into their original form.
This is what makes it possible to analyze or purify these substances in the first place. In addition, they also inhibit enzymes that would otherwise quickly degrade these favored molecules. Furthermore, interfering or harmful cells (e.g. bacteria) are destroyed or thereby ultimately made accessible for diagnostic or therapeutic technologies. In some cases, guanidine-containing substances can also be precursors of drugs in a wide range of different active pharmaceutical ingredient classes.
Growth Markets for Bioselect®
Due to the rapid nature of developments in the health care and life science sector, it is therefore crucial to identify trends and early growth markets in a timely manner and not to miss them. For these reasons, Alzchem is currently investing in several promising application areas for guanidine salts: In cooperation with a well-known university, experiments are currently being prepared that will investigate and elaborate new purification methods to produce a) diagnostically and b) therapeutically important proteins using guanidinium salts compared to a widely used substance called (thio-)urea.
Guanidine salts are also expected to play an important role in the commercial production of tnucleic acids in the growing mRNA therapeutics market. Due to the strong presence in Germany of some of the most important companies worldwide, Alzchem has set itself the goal of becoming an integral part of the existing mRNA landscape.
Due to the stabilizing and thus protective function of low-concentration guanidine salts in the field of cell analysis and possibly therapy, further research is also to be carried out into the targeted applications for which Bioselect® products could be used.
Contact
Dr. Alexander Dippold
About Alzchem
Alzchem is a globally active specialty chemicals company that is one of the market leaders in most of its fields of activity. Alzchem offers answers to various global developments such as climate change, population growth and increasing life expectancy. We deliver solutions through brands and products of the highest quality and through a sustainable vision to help shape global developments.
The company sees interesting growth prospects for itself in the areas of human and animal nutrition and agriculture in particular. As a result of population growth, it is necessary to achieve efficient food production. Pharmaceutical raw materials and creatine products can contribute to a healthy old age as life expectancy increases. Alzchem is facing up to the goal of sustainability arising from climate change in the field of renewable energies and across the entire company. The fields of fine chemicals and metallurgy offer just as great a perspective.
Alzchem Group AG’s broad product range includes dietary supplements, precursors for PCR tests and pharmaceutical raw materials. These offerings are the company’s response to global trends and developments. Alzchem is ideally positioned in this respect and considers itself well prepared for an environmental future and global developments.
The company employs around 1,730 people at four production sites in Germany and a plant in Sweden, as well as three sales companies in the USA, China and England. Alzchem generated Group sales of EUR 554.2 million and EBITDA of EUR 105.3 million in 2024.