Evonik Develops New Animal-Free and Fermentation-Based Collagen Platform

Evonik has announced, in a March 17, 2020 press release, that it has developed a collagen platform that has been made with fermentation-based processes and does not use any animal or human-derived materials.

Featuring a triple helix structure, and other biological properties that mimic many attributes of natural collagen, the recombinant technology will provide medical, pharmaceutical, cell culture, and tissue engineering markets with a soluble, ultra-pure form of collagen that is sustainable and commercially scalable. Additionally, as it is not sourced from animals, the potential for batch-to-batch variability, transmission of diseases or pathogens, adverse immunogenic or allergic reactions, and non-sustainable sourcing methods can be avoided.

“This is arguably our biggest innovation breakthrough in recent years: a fermentation-based collagen platform that can effectively substitute the use of animal-derived collagen in pharmaceutical, medical, and cell culture markets,” said Dr. Thomas Riermeier, SVP and general manager for the Health Care business line of Evonik, in the press release. “We look forward to working with customers to develop the next-generation collagen products with an improved safety profile.”

“Biotechnology is an important lever for growth and innovation within Evonik Nutrition & Care that leverages our core competencies across fermentation, biomaterials, and product industrialization,” said Johann-Caspar Gammelin, chairman of the board of management of Evonik Nutrition & Care, in the press release. “This new collagen platform strongly complements other recent fermentation-driven biotech breakthroughs that have been pioneered by Evonik, including biosurfactants for household and cosmetic applications and omega-3 fatty acids from natural marine algae for animal nutrition.”

Source: Evonik