The Growth Factor | Newsletter | February 28, 2025
What's been brewing in the labs?
New Product Drop: Recombinant Peptides
We expanded our product lineup with two new recombinant peptides:
sh-Oligopeptide-1 – A short-chain peptide known for its cell regeneration properties, making it a go-to ingredient in advanced skincare treatments.
sh-Polypeptide-1 – A longer-chain peptide that supports tissue proliferation, with promising applications in treating alopecia.
Scaling Up in Joburg
Earlier this month, Ethan Hunter and Yuchan Park packed their PPE and headed to Johannesburg for a week-long trial with one of our industrial partners. While we can’t share the details (top-secret science and all), let’s just say it was a major milestone in proving our scaling capabilities in real-world conditions.
Farewell, Soyama
It wasn’t all smiles this month—we said goodbye to our colleague and friend, Soyama Nyangwa.
From his impressive lab record (89 bioreactors and purification runs in under a year!) to his unmatched positive energy, Soyama has left a lasting mark on the team and the company.
Protein of the Month: sh-Oligopeptide-1
This month, we’re spotlighting sh-Oligopeptide-1 —a bio-equivalent of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) and a powerhouse ingredient used in advanced skincare treatments.
Known for its role in epidermal regeneration and repair, it works by stimulating EGF receptors, helping to restore and strengthen the skin.
Key Benefits:
✔️ Promotes keratinocyte proliferation
✔️ Accelerates cellular turnover
✔️ Strengthens the skin barrier
✔️ Boosts overall skin health
Immobazyme’s recombinant sh-O-1 is expressed in E. coli and purified using immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography, ensuring high purity, consistency, and optimal performance for science-forward cosmetics.
Figure 1: Effect of sh-Oligopeptide-1 on HaCaT keratinocyte cell proliferation, tested over 48 hours.
Figure 2: Microscopic observation of HaCaT cells treated with 2.5 ng/mL of sh-oligopeptide-1, after 48 hours.
People of the Pipeline: Melissa Stofberg
Meet Melissa Stofberg, Head of Downstream Processing.
On a daily basis, Melissa oversees the purification and recovery of biologics—including our growth factors, enzymes, and peptides—after fermentation. Her role is critical in ensuring high yield, purity, and quality, all while keeping scalability and regulatory compliance in check.
Melissa is an overachiever so when she’s not fine-tuning purification processes, she’s leading one of our R&D projects with a global cosmetics brand.
Let’s Collaborate
We’re always looking for partners and collaborators.
email: gabriele@immobazyme.com
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