Data published in the current issue of the Journal of OrganicChemistry describes a discovery by Genzyme Corp. that couldhelp simplify the preparation of certain pharmaceuticals,making them more pure and possibly more potent.

The technology is based on the use of biocatalysis forseparating pairs of substituted amino acids whose molecularstructure have a mirror relationship to each other.

Many drugs and chemicals on the market contain a mixture oftwo molecules that appear in two forms that are mirrorimmages of each other, the company said. These includeseveral agricultural chemicals, ibuprofen and the no-caloriesweetner aspartame.

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