Merck Millipore Introduces CellPrime™ Recombinant Human Lysozyme for Increased Protein Recovery From E. coli Production Systems

• Provides five-times-higher protein recovery compared to animal-derived lysozyme
• Gentle lysing agent minimizes risk of denaturing protein
• Reduces regulatory concerns regarding animal-derived raw materials and risk of adventitious agents

March 1, 2012, Darmstadt, Germany — Merck Millipore, the Life Science division of Merck KGaA* of Darmstadt, Germany, today announced the launch of CellPrime™ recombinant human lysozyme for increased recovery efficiencies in biopharmaceutical production. Especially suited for lysing Micrococcus and E. coli, it delivers a five-fold increase in target protein recovery as compared with animal-derived lysozyme, the version commonly used in production. The increased efficiency offered by CellPrime™ recombinant human lysozyme, combined with high activity levels, results in a reduction of overall production costs when compared with animal-derived lysozyme.

While proteins are typically expressed in E. coli at high levels, extraction of functional protein is a critical step in the bioproduction process. Successful recovery is dependent on effective extraction methods such as disruption of bacterial cells by lysozyme or other enzymatic means.

“Use of animal-derived lysozyme for extracting protein therapeutics has significant drawbacks, including high lot-to-lot variation,” describes Janmeet Anant, Ph.D., Global Product Manager for Cell Culture Supplements. “In contrast, CellPrime™ recombinant human lysozyme is a more active cell lysis reagent, from non-animal origin, and is more consistent by virtue of being recombinant. As a result, it delivers increased protein yield while reducing regulatory concerns around animal-derived raw materials and risk of adventitious agents.”

For more information on CellPrime™ recombinant human lysozyme, please visit www.merckmillipore.com/lysozyme.

About Merck Millipore
Merck Millipore is the Life Science division of Merck KGaA of Germany and offers a broad range of innovative, performance products, services and business relationships that enable our customers’ success in research, development and production of biotech and pharmaceutical drug therapies. Through dedicated collaboration on new scientific and engineering insights, and as one of the top three R&D investors in the Life Science Tools industry, Merck Millipore serves as a strategic partner to customers and helps advance the promise of life science.

Headquartered in Billerica, Massachusetts, the division has around 10,000 employees, operations in 67 countries and 2010 revenues of EUR 1.7 million. Merck Millipore operates as EMD Millipore in the U.S. and Canada.

Note: Merck KGaA or Merck shall mean Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany