Jonathan Steele

Hypha Discovery is a specialist CRO with expertise in scalable synthesis, purification and structure elucidation of phase 1 and phase 2 metabolites using biotransformation and late-stage chemical synthesis techniques. We work with pharma and agrochemical companies globally to make even the most difficult-to-synthesise metabolites. Hypha are experts in purification and structure elucidation of small molecules by NMR spectroscopy, as well as the production of microbial products. Synthesis of metabolites of drugs and agrochemicals We create human and other mammalian phase 1 and phase 2 metabolites of drug candidates and agrochemicals at mg to gram scale for many of the top pharma and agrochemical companies. Metabolites produced from a variety of phase I reactions are accessible, including both CYP and non-CYP derived mechanisms in addition to conjugated metabolites such as N-, O– & acyl glucuronides and sulfates. We employ a number of techniques in our One-Stop Metabolite Shop to identify the best method for synthesis and scale-up: • Chemical synthesis • Recombinant enzymes using PolyCYPs and other enzymes • Microbial biotransformation • Mammalian tissues such as liver fractions (S9/microsomes) We can provide an end-to-end service including purification, structure elucidation using NMR spectroscopy, and certificates of analysis. Late stage functionalisation Multiple oxidised derivatives of lead compounds can be accessed in parallel from application of the PolyCYPs enzyme platform and our new late-stage chemical oxidation platform. These techniques generate molecules that have increased polarity together with the possibility of greater activity, better selectivity or improved DMPK properties than the parent compound. The process provides an opportunity for expanding chemical space to generate SAR information or to identify derivatives with superior properties.