SAN DIEGO, Calif., 11/04/13 – Ajinomoto Althea’s Corynex® Recombinant Protein Expression System has been selected as a finalist in the Life Sciences – Diagnostic & Research Tools category for the 2013 Most Innovative Product Awards, sponsored by CONNECT. CONNECT, a regional program that catalyzes the creation of innovative technology and life sciences products in San Diego County, continues its twenty-six year tradition of honoring San Diego’s leaders of innovation and groundbreaking new products with the annual award.

“We are very pleased to be recognized as a company that contributes to the rich innovative tradition found in the San Diego biotech community, and we are equally excited to offer the Corynex Platform to our customers as they drive to commercialization with their critical therapeutics and vaccines.” – Kristin DeFife, Director of Biologics Manufacturing at Ajinomoto Althea.

Corynex Recombinant Protein Expression System is a novel protein expression system able to produce complex proteins using a specially-developed gram-positive bacterium, Corynebacterium glutamicum. Conventional microbial-based expression systems use organisms such as E.Coli, Pseudomonas, and yeast which can require multiple purification steps to remove significant host-related contaminants and inefficient refolding. Corynex, a breakthrough, patented system overcomes these challenges and allows for the isolation of higher yields of biologically active proteins by secreting proteins directly into the media with high initial purity. With Cornex, Ajinomot Althea has perfected a protein expression system that reduces costs, speeds time to market, and ultimately ensures that patients receive life-saving medicines as quickly as possible.

The CONNECT Most Innovative New Product Awards ceremony will be held at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines on Dec. 6th.

ABOUT AJINOMOTO ALTHEA, INC. Ajinomoto Althea, Inc. is a fully integrated, contract development and manufacturing organization located in San Diego, CA providing clinical and commercial product development services. Ajinomoto Althea offers cGMP drug product filling in both vials and syringes, and production of microbial-derived recombinant proteins and plasmid DNA. In conjunction with these manufacturing operations, Ajinomoto Althea offers comprehensive development services including: upstream and downstream process development, analytical development, lyophilization cycle, complex formulation, product release and ICH-compliant stability testing. Ajinomoto Althea’s formulation technology platform includes Crystalomics®, a proprietary technology that offers a formulation solution for large molecule products that must be delivered at high concentrations or as sustained release formulations. Ajinomoto Althea also has an innovative and proven recombinant protein expression technology called Corynex.

ABOUT CONNECT CONNECT is a regional program that catalyzes the creation of innovative technology and life sciences products in San Diego County by creating an environment in which inventors and entrepreneurs have access to the resources they need for success. Since 1985, CONNECT has assisted in the formation and development of more than 3,000 companies and is now widely regarded as one of the world’s most successful organizations linking inventors and entrepreneurs with the resources they need for commercialization of innovative products. As a result, the program has been modeled in more than 50 regions around the world – most recently in New York City, Bogotá, Colombia and Saudi Arabia. To learn more about CONNECT, please visit www.connect.org.