Peptides are chains of amino acids that represent potential active ingredients for various therapeutic approaches. Originally, peptide drugs were based on hormones or peptides from natural sources. Among the best known are the hormone insulin for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and the immunosuppressant cyclosporine. The active ingredients in various “weight loss injections,” known as GLP1 analogues, are also variants of a natural peptide, the peptide hormone glucagon-like peptide, which is formed in the digestive tract, with one difference: they were developed synthetically.

CDMOs are contract manufacturers and developers that are commissioned by pharmaceutical companies when they cannot or do not want to provide the necessary resources themselves.

Founded in Cologne in 2002, INTAVIS became part of the high-tech company HB Technologies AG in 2008 and subsequently continued to expand its profile as a peptide specialist under the leadership of Dr. Steffen Hüttner. Today, INTAVIS, which was spun off in 2019 and is based in Tübingen, is an important partner for the scientific and medical community in peptide-based drug research – inspired by the high density of scientific excellence of personalities in research institutions, start-ups, and companies.

The basis for this success were two peptide testing laboratories in Cologne and at the Heidelberg Technology Park. In addition, the specialists cooperated closely with the NMI in Reutlingen (Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen), which also had a research group specializing in peptide synthesis. All three peptide groups were later consolidated as INTAVIS at the Tübingen site. The experts' goal was to provide researchers and physicians with the high-quality, customized tools they needed to exploit the full potential of peptides in fundamental research, preclinical research, and clinical trials.

The arrival of new shareholders in 2021/2022 marked an important financial and innovation boost. In addition to HB Technologies AG with Dr. Steffen Hüttner as company owner, Dr. Dr. Saskia Biskup and Dr. Dirk Biskup, founders of CeGaT GmbH, a global provider of genetic analyses, as well as Dr. Klaus Maleck, member of the board of BIO Deutschland since 2019, and other shareholders are also involved in INTAVIS. Today, the company employs around 60 people and supplies research institutes, clinics, and medical practices, as well as biotech and pharmaceutical companies, with its peptide products. INTAVIS also offers its customers advice on regulatory issues and supports them in all phases of drug development and approval for peptides – from basic research to preclinical and clinical development to approval and commercial production.

Peptides are produced for research applications in a different quality (non-GMP) than for therapeutic applications. This requires production facilities that comply with GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) guidelines, which were built in Tübingen and are currently being prepared for approval. Approval is targeted for 2026.

Around 20 million euros have been invested in the production facility – money that is also available thanks to the commitment of the new shareholders. In the future, peptides for cancer therapy will be produced here, among other things, which are designed to stimulate the cellular immune system to take action against cancer cells. Initial promising results have already been documented, for example in the treatment of glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain tumor.

The technical Know-how of INTAVIS is ready. The focus is on the production and analysis of peptides and related formulations. Through close cooperation with molecular biologists and oncologists, the company plays an important role in the development of new peptide-based therapeutic approaches.