CORYNEX™ Microbial Protein and Peptide Expression Platform

Our CORYNEX™ microbial protein and peptide expression technology uses the gram-positive bacterium Corynebacterium glutamicum to produce recombinant proteins, including long-chain peptides and VHH, with high purity, scalability, and efficiency.

How CORYNEX™ Works

CORYNEX™ puts secretion to work. Using the Gram-positive bacterium Corynebacterium glutamicum, the platform secretes proteins and peptides directly into the culture medium for streamlined product recovery. Its proprietary, LPS endotoxin-free host and optimization tools enable efficient production tailored to each target.

CORYNEX™ vs. Competitive Expression Systems

CORYNEX™ combines the advantages of traditional E. coli, CHO, and Yeast platforms. It secretes targets directly into the media with high titers and purity, without endotoxins, cell lysis, protein refolding, or complex purification steps. It is fast-growing and scalable, leading to higher overall productivity.

CharacteristicCORYNEX™
ApplicationsSimple Biologics
Culture TimeShort
Secreted expressionYes
Purification complexityLow — No refolding required
Endotoxin (LPS) burdenEndotoxin-free
SporulatingNo
N-GlycosylationNone
MethanolNo
CharacteristicE. coli
ApplicationsSimple biologics
Culture TimeShort
Secreted expressionLimited
Purification complexityModerate
Endotoxin (LPS) burdenHigh LPS burden
SporulatingNo
N-GlycosylationNone
MethanolNo
CharacteristicCHO / Mammalian
ApplicationsComplex Biologics
Culture TimeLong
Secreted expressionYes
Purification complexityComplex
Endotoxin (LPS) burdenLow
SporulatingNo
N-GlycosylationHuman glycosylation
MethanolNo
CharacteristicYeast
ApplicationsComplex Biologics
Culture TimeMedium
Secreted expressionYes
Purification complexityModerate
Endotoxin (LPS) burdenLow
SporulatingYes
N-GlycosylationNon-human glycosylation
MethanolYes

Simplified, Fast, Scalable, and Affordable Production

The CORYNEX™ expression system removes three of the highest cost and time drivers in microbial biologics manufacturing: LPS purification, inclusion body refolding, and the scale limitations of column-bound platforms.

No LPS. No Inclusion Bodies. Active Without Refolding.

C. glutamicum produces no LPS (lipopolysaccharide) — eliminating the endotoxin removal burden inherent to E. coli systems. Direct secretion means the protein folds correctly in the culture medium. Purification starts from a clean baseline.

Faster Time to Material.

Fewer purification steps and no refolding cycles translate directly to faster timelines. From strain development through first GMP batch, CORYNEX™ programs move faster than E. coli inclusion body routes — with fewer failure modes.

Clinical and Commercial-Scale Fermentation.

CORYNEX™ achieves titers 10 g/L and higher — competitive with best-in-class microbial expression. Standard fermentation equipment. Lower manufacturing costs vs. mammalian cell culture. 60+ years of C. glutamicum industrial fermentation expertise.

4

Clinical trials up to Phase 2

~15 kL

Achieved in GMP run

11

Patents

Production Across Molecule Class

Confirm specific titer figures, case study details, and client permissions before publishing any example on the live site.

VHH Nanobodies

Secreted in active, properly folded form — no refolding required. High titer via CORYNEX™. Applicable to therapeutic VHHs, diagnostic VHHs, VHH-drug conjugates, and multi-specific formats.

PAS Fusion Proteins

Half-life-extended proteins using PAS sequences. CORYNEX™ as the secretory expression platform; XL-protein as the PASylation® technology partner. Applicable to VHHs, peptides, and other rapidly cleared therapeutic proteins as a biological alternative to PEGylation.

Long Chain Peptide

…

Simplified Downstream = Less Waste

Fewer purification steps mean fewer solvents, fewer column volumes, and less buffer waste per gram of product — a measurable environmental benefit vs. inclusion body routes, producing less protein loss and overall yield is increased, reduction in time and cost (in addition to waste reduction)

Ready to move forward?

Let’s discuss your protein manufacturing program — from strain development through cGMP commercial supply.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Corynex™ avoid endotoxin contamination?

Corynex™ can avoid endotoxin contamination because it’s based on the gram-positive bacterium C. glutamicum, which doesn’t produce any endotoxins. Because proteins are endotoxin-free from the start, we can eliminate dedicated endotoxin removal steps during purification.

Can Corynex™ match E. coli yields?

Yes. Corynex™ can deliver comparable and/or better yields than E. coli in many cases, without the endotoxin burden and the hassle of cell lysis and protein refolding.

Can Corynex™ integrate with my existing CDMO?

Yes. Tech transfer and process adoption packages are available. Aji Bio-Pharma handles strain, process, and analytical development at our site in Kawasaki, Japan, before transferring the strain and process to qualified manufacturing partners.

What types of proteins are best suited for Corynex™?

Non-glycosylated targets such as VHH nanobodies, long peptides, antibody fragments, and other recombinant targets where endotoxin-free and highly productive manufacturing is a priority.