Amyris, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMRS), a US-based synthetic biotechnology company, announced on Friday that it has entered into an exclusive license agreement with Croda International Plc, a United Kingdom-based specialty chemicals company, for the supply of sustainable squalene.

Amyris squalene, a biofermentation-based adjuvant, is developed utilising Amyris' unique Lab-to-Market technology platform. The product is used in adjuvants to increase immune responses and is commonly derived from shark liver. Amyris' sugarcane-derived, sustainable squalene is molecularly identical to the traditional shark source, offering a higher purity and a more predictable cost profile compared to sourcing directly from sharks.

Under the terms of the agreement, Amyris will manufacture and supply squalene to Croda and Croda will license squalene technology from Amyris to market, distribute, and sell squalene as an excipient, or as an ingredient in formulated products for use in human and veterinary vaccines, drug delivery systems, or nucleic acid delivery systems. Croda will also leverage its experience with good manufacturing practices for the pharmaceutical industry and accelerate commercialisation of the final packaged squalene products.

In addition to an upfront payment of USD4 million and a future – performance based - milestone payment of USD4m, Amyris will receive a share of profits generated from the sale of squalene excipients and formulated products incorporating Amyris' squalene technology for use in the vaccine field.