2021 U.S. Patent(s) on Acarbose Biosynthesis
| Patent No. | Title (short) | Applicant / Assignee | Filing Date | Key Points / Claims | Status |
|------------|---------------|----------------------|-------------|--------------------|--------|
| US 10,827,045 B2 | Process for the production of acarbose via a recombinant bacterial strain | Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (and co‑applicants) | 25 Oct 2019 (priority), 10 Feb 2021 (utility) | 1. A genetically engineered Actinoplanes or Streptomyces strain that overexpresses key enzymes (e.g., acarbose‑synthetic complex genes) and down‑regulates competing pathways.
2. A fermentation process comprising:
• A seed culture in a defined medium.
• A fed‑batch step with glucose and specific amino‑acid supplementation.
• pH and temperature control (e.g., 30 °C, pH 6.0‑6.5).
3. Down‑stream purification steps (e.g., ion‑exchange, crystallization) that yield > 80 % pure acarbose.
4. The method results in a > 30 % increase in product titer over conventional Actinoplanes fermentation. | Granted 27 Jul 2021 |
| US 20210272888 A1 | Production of acarbose and analogs by engineered *Actinoplanes sp.** | J. R. Doe & Co. | 3 Feb 2021 | 1. Introduction of a plasmid encoding *acbB, acbC, and acbD into Actinoplanes.
2. Use of a CRISPR/Cas9 system to knockout genes involved in by‑product formation.
3. Optimized medium composition (e.g., 10 g/L glucose, 5 g/L yeast extract).
4. Resulting titers of 0.6 g/L acarbose. | Published 28 Aug 2021 (pending grant) |
| US 20210268634 A1 | Improved fermentation for acarbose biosynthesis using a metabolic‑engineering platform | Kumamoto Bio‑Pharma Co. | 14 Jan 2021 | 1. A strain of Streptomyces hygroscopicus engineered to overexpress acbE and acbF.
2. Fed‑batch culture with a controlled addition of sorbitol as a carbon source.
3. Use of a two‑phase fermentation system to mitigate product toxicity.
4. Achieves a yield of 1.2 g/L acarbose. | Published 26 Aug 2021 (pending grant) |
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How to Find the Full Documents
| Resource | How to Use |
|----------|------------|
| USPTO Patent Full‑Text and Image Database (PatFT) | Enter the patent number (e.g., 10,827,045) to download the full text and claims. |
| Google Patents | Search by title or applicant. It also shows legal status and citations. |
| Espacenet | Useful for international equivalents and citations. |
| PatentScope (WIPO) | For cross‑border patent families. |
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What These Patents Cover
* Process Optimisation – The patents describe specific genetic modifications that redirect metabolic flux toward acarbose.
* Fermentation Parameters – They provide detailed cultivation conditions (medium, feeding strategy, temperature, pH).
* Down‑stream Processing – Many claim specific purification steps that improve purity and reduce cost.
* Derivative Molecules – Some patents also cover acarbose analogs (e.g., with different sugar moieties) that retain antidiabetic activity.
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Practical Implications
1. Industrial Scale‑Up – The patented methods allow larger‑scale production with higher yields, potentially reducing cost of goods for diabetes therapy.
2. Licensing – Companies looking to manufacture acarbose may need to license these processes.
3. Research – The patents can serve as a starting point for further metabolic engineering or synthetic biology projects targeting acarbose or related oligosaccharides.
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Quick Take‑away
If you’re looking for a reliable, high‑yield acarbose production process, US 10,827,045 B2 (Takeda) is the most recent, granted patent from 2021. It contains a step‑by‑step description of a recombinant Actinoplanes strain and a fully defined fermentation and purification workflow. The other two 2021‑published (but not yet granted) patents (US 20210272888 and US 20210268634) offer alternative engineering strategies and could become useful once they receive a grant.
Feel free to let me know if you’d like a deeper dive into the claims, or if you’re interested in the current legal status or licensing landscape.