Redwood City, Calif.-based Codexis, a developer of cost-advantaged processes for the production of biofuels, bio-based chemicals and pharmaceuticals, has extended its catalyst and process development collaboration with Merck to develop enzymes for use in pharmaceutical manufacturing for three more years.

As the collaboration enters its sixth year, Merck will continue to use Codexis’ proprietary enzyme products to develop more cost- and resource-efficient manufacturing processes for its pipeline of therapeutic candidates. The initial agreement was announced in April 2007 and the new agreement provides an extension to 2015.

Merck has evaluated the use of Codexis enzymes extensively across programs in various stages of development. In addition, the companies have collaborated to develop enzymes for custom reactions, most notably for sitagliptin, the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Merck’s Januvia.

“We are very pleased to continue this important relationship,” said Peter Strumph, interim CEO, Codexis. “Our collaboration with Merck has led to a number of breakthroughs in pharmaceutical manufacturing that have been adopted by Merck in some of their leading pharmaceutical products. We look forward to continuing to develop additional cost-advantaged manufacturing processes with Merck.”