Exploring new applications derived from Homoserine Lactone reaction compounds

OVERVIEW

CJ BIO, a global biotechnology company and the Seeker for this Wazoku Crowd Challenge, seeks innovative pathways to broaden its current product offerings derived from L-Homoserine-lactone (HSL).

CJ BIO is inviting submissions that explore new, efficient synthesis routes within 1 to 6 steps, for creating substances with viable applications across new markets.

Participants are asked to present detailed synthesis methodologies, potential applications, and target market insights for new HSL-derived compounds. Success in this challenge will potentially position CJ BIO to diversify its product portfolio, and tap into uncharted markets for them.

By taking part in this Prize Challenge you are granting CJ BIO a non-exclusive right to use your submitted information, provided that at least $10,000 is awarded and the award winners are decided within 60 days from the start of evaluation, otherwise CJ BIO loses this right of use.

This Challenge requires a written proposal to be submitted and the best idea(s) have the opportunity to win awards of $2,500 to $10,000 for meeting enough of the solution requirements. There is no assignment of IP Rights with this challenge.

Please Note; there is an exclusivity period of 60 days that applies with this Challenge, during which the Solver should not disclose or grant rights to their solution elsewhere. Please reference the Challenge Agreement.

CJ BIO may be interested in the potential to collaborate and further explore the idea with any award winning Solver.

Solvers may:

• Submit ideas of their own
• Submit third-party information that they have the right to use and further, the authority to convey to CJ BIO this right with the right to use and develop derivative works
• submit ideas from among patents that have already been filed or that have expired
• Submit information considered in the public domain without any limitations on use

Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on February 3rd, 2025.

Please note: Wazoku Crowd is on festive holiday shutdown from December 25th, 2024 to January 2nd, 2025. Any comments, questions, or clarifications about this Challenge will be read and actioned after this date. Happy holidays!

- Login or register your interest to start solving!

ABOUT THE SEEKER & ELIGIBILITY

CJ BIO is a global biotechnology company, at the forefront of microbial fermentation.

We leverage our expertise to develop high-value materials across diverse fields, including biopharmaceuticals, food, bioplastics, and chemicals.

We continue to pioneer a future where we make groundbreaking progress in health, sustainability, and technology based on biotechnology.

Employees of ­­­­CJ BIO are ineligible to receive an award for this Challenge.

Find out more about participation in Wazoku Crowd Challenges.

THE CHALLENGE

Background

CJ BIO is exploring new value creation methods for entering new markets. The objective is to mitigate the risks associated with current product limitations and customer dependencies, and to strategically position the company in growing market niches.

At the core of the CJ BIO production process is the creation of L-Homoserine (HS) through a fermentation method. This substance is subsequently converted into a lactone form, L-Homoserine lactone (HSL) or L-Homoserine lactone hydrochloride (HSL-HCl), products known for their varied industrial applications.

Currently, CJ BIO holds knowledge and has security on several chemicals within the HSL-derived synthetic pathways. Notably, these pathways lead to products like NecHSL, Cl-NecHS-OEt, and others which ultimately form critical industrial substances such as L-Glufosinate used in herbicides, and L-Erdosteine used in pharmaceuticals.

These are the detailed pathways currently secured by CJ BIO;

1. Herbicide Use

2. Pharmaceutical use

3. Pesticide industrial use

Despite the effectiveness and market success of these substances, CJ BIO recognizes the need for the development of novel derivatives or entirely new substance utilization based on the HSL framework.

The challenge and opportunity lies in identifying innovative applications and substances that extend beyond those already secured by CJ BIO, leveraging the untapped potential of the HSL and HSL-adjacent domains. These new substances or business models can provide avenues for portfolio diversification and market expansion, opening up strategic market positions and reinforcing the CJ BIO industry leadership.

For reference, both HS and HSL are produced through fermentation and are composed only of the L-form. You can view the substance details here.

The Challenge

CJ BIO is therefore actively seeking ideas that utilize L-Homoserine-lactone (HSL) (or its related compounds) within a multi-step (maximum 6 steps) synthesis that yields valuable, market-ready substances. The final substance should be visualized in a retrosynthetic analysis (this is a schematic of the various reaction sequence). The reagents should ideally be commercially available and conditions scalable. 

The challenge is to conceive novel applications for these substances, outlining their potential market uses and identifying viable target customers or industries, which could be in current, adjacent or completely new markets.

Participants are encouraged to explore novel conversion techniques or substance applications that can significantly expand the utility and marketability of products derived from HSL (means starting off with HSL as the building block rather than as an intermediary)

Participants are also encouraged to provide submissions with details about the possibilities of novel solutions from among patents that have already been filed or that have expired.

CJ BIO seeks to understand the prospective applications of these substances, along with your comments on their market relevancy and integration potential within existing or emerging markets.

SOLUTION REQUIREMENTS

CJ BIO is interested in ideas with the potential to meet the following criteria:

• The conversion of L-HSL or L-HCY into novel substances within a maximum of 6 synthesis steps, supported by its synthesis methodology proposal and scheme
• The final substance should be visualized in a retrosynthetic analysis (a schematic of the various reaction sequence)
• The reagents should ideally be commercially available and conditions scalable
• Details on the potential application of the resultant substance
• Identification of target markets and potential customers; your comments and justification on their market relevancy and integration potential for market entry would be appreciated
• Costs of solution
• The proposed idea should provide CJ BIO "freedom to practice” or be available for potential licensing, there should be no third party patents or patent applications preventing the use of the proposed solution in commercial applications

Solution Route examples that are of interest:

#1 L-HSL or L-HSL-HCl → (1~6 steps) → Material 1

#2 L-HCY → (1~6 steps) → Material 2

Things to Avoid:

The L-HS/L-HSL routes and substance information detailed in the Background section above that are already verified by CJ BIO and form industrial substances like L-Glufosinate(Herbicide use), L-Erdosteine(Pharmaceutical use) and L-Canaline(Pesticide industrial use)

Confidential Information guidance:

During the submission process, you will have the option to let CJ BIO know (yes or no) if you have further relevant information that may be of interest to CJ BIO, that you are only prepared to disclose if you are selected for an award.

Solutions with Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 1-3 are invited.

This Prize Challenge has the following features:

1. By taking part you are granting CJ BIO a non-exclusive right to use your submitted information, providred that at least $10,000 is awarded and the award winners are decided within 60 days from the start of evaluation, otherwise CJ BIO loses this right of use. You will receive a notification.
2. The best idea(s) have the opportunity to win awards of $2,500 to $10,000 for meeting enough of the solution requirements. There is no assignment of IP Rights with this challenge.
3. Please Note; there is an exclusivity period of 60 days that applies with this Challenge, during which the Solver should not disclose or grant rights to their solution elsewhere. Please reference the Challenge Agreement.
4. Solvers may:
   • Submit ideas of their own
   • Submit third-party information that they have the right to use and further, the authority to convey to CJ BIO this right with the right to use and develop derivative works
   • submit ideas from among patents that have already filed or that have expired
   • Submit information considered in the public domain without any limitations on use
5. CJ BIO may be interested in the potential to collaborate and further explore the idea with any award winning Solver. Please indicate your interest in partnering.

YOUR SUBMISSION

Please login and register your interest, to complete the submission form.

The submitted proposals must be written in English and can include:

1. Participation type – you will first be asked to inform us how you are participating in this challenge, as a Solver (Individual) or Solver (Organization).
2. Solution Level - the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of your solution.
3. Partnering - there may be an opportunity to partner at the conclusion of this Challenge. Please indicate if partnering is of interest to you.
4. Problem & Opportunity - highlight the innovation in your approach to the Problem, its point of difference, and the specific advantages/benefits this brings (up to 500 words).
5. Solution Overview - detail the features of your solution and how they address the SOLUTION REQUIREMENTS (500 words, there is space to add more in the summary field, and attach supporting data, diagrams, etc).
6. Confidential Information - Do you have further relevant information you could disclose, that may be of interest to CJ BIO, that you are only prepared to disclose if you are selected for an award? If yes, you will be asked for further details to capture our interest.
7. Solution and Market Feasibility – Please add here supporting information concerning the potential substance application, target market and potential customers; your comments and justification on their market relevancy and integration potential would be appreciated to help with the evaluation of the feasibility of the idea (up to 500 words).
8. Experience - Expertise, use cases and skills you or your organization have in relation to your proposed solution.  (up to 500 words).
9. Solution Risks - any risks you see with your solution and how you would plan for this (up to 500 words).
10. Timeline, capability and costs - describe what you think is required to deliver the solution, estimated time and cost (up to 500 words).
11. Online References - provide links to any publications, articles or press releases of relevance (up to 500 words).

Wazoku encourages the use by Solvers of AI approaches to help develop their submissions, though any produced solely with generative AI are not of interest.

Find out more about participation in Wazoku Crowd Challenges.

Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on February 3rd, 2025.

Late submissions will not be considered.

Your submission will be evaluated by the evaluation team first reviewing the information and content you have submitted at the submission form, with attachments used as additional context to your form submission. Submissions relying solely on attachments will receive less attention from the evaluation team.

After the Challenge submission close date, we will complete the review process and make a decision with regards to the winning solution(s) according to the timeline in the Challenge header. All Solvers who submit a proposal will be notified about the status of their submissions.