Officials at India-based Syngene International, a CRDMO, report that the company executed site upgrades to accelerate drug discovery and development. The investments included a dedicated peptide laboratory in Bengaluru and the integration of advanced automation across DMPK (Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics) and Direct-to-Biology (D2B) workflows in Hyderabad.
The goal is to boost scalability, cost-efficiency, and data quality to accelerate therapeutic innovation, according to the company.
The dedicated peptide laboratory is designed to produce a range of molecules, including linear peptides, cyclic peptides, and peptide-drug conjugates, and supports synthesis scale-up to 800 mmol (millimole). With six automated peptide synthesizers operating in parallel and equipped with robotic arms, the lab reduces project timelines by weeks or even months while ensuring consistent results, said Peter Bains, managing director and CEO, Syngene.
Automation-driven transformation
The lab also features integrated solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and liquid-phase purification coupled with quality control capabilities.
In parallel, Syngene has made an automation-driven transformation in the DMPK operations. The automation includes robotic systems for high-throughput sample preparation that reduces turnaround times from five days to three and improves cost efficiency by 30%, and triples sample capacities, continued Bains, adding that the D2B platform further accelerates hit-to-lead and lead optimization by combining rapid compound design, miniaturized synthesis, and high-throughput screening, saving at least a week for 24-compound sets and several weeks for larger sets.
“We are committed to integrating advanced automation technologies into our research and development workflows to accelerate scientific discovery and improve operational efficiency. These capabilities not only enhance throughput and reproducibility but also allow our teams to focus on high-value scientific problem-solving to support our customers,” he said.
“The establishment of our dedicated peptide laboratory is another strategic step forward. Peptides are increasingly vital in therapeutic development, and this specialized facility enables us to support our partners with end-to-end capabilities—from synthesis and purification to characterization and early-stage development. By combining automation with scientific expertise, we are creating a robust platform to accelerate therapeutic innovation and deliver greater value to our clients with end-to-end capabilities, all under one roof.”
