eXoZymes, a leader in AI-engineered enzymes, announced the creation of NCTx, LLC. This new subsidiary will develop and produce N-trans-caffeoyltyramine (NCT), a rare plant-based compound. NCT shows promise for metabolic health, gut health, and liver function but is scarce in nature.
NCT occurs in hemp seeds at less than 0.014%, making commercial use difficult despite its potential. Using eXoZymes’ AI-driven exozymes platform, NCTx has developed a proprietary method to produce NCT at scale. This approach is patent-pending and aims to improve manufacturing.
Michael Heltzen, CEO of eXoZymes and interim CEO of NCTx, explained that the ‘x’ in NCTx represents new analogs of NCT unlocked by their BioClick and other tools. He said the platform could revolutionize small molecule drug development by creating better versions of natural products. He sees billion-dollar market potential for this technology.
Damien Perriman, Chief Commercial Officer, highlighted rapid progress. Proof of concept was finished in six weeks, and the subsidiary was set up in 12 weeks. Perriman called this speed unprecedented in synthetic biology. They validated the process 25 times and are now moving toward scaling up and producing samples for partners.
The global market for bioactive ingredients in functional foods is worth $216 billion, growing at 7.6% annually. NCT is gaining interest for its possible role in supporting liver fat metabolism, gut health, and mitochondrial function. Preclinical studies showed increased fat breakdown, higher mitochondrial activity, and no short-term toxicity. It also has potential for NAFLD (now MASLD) treatment and gut gene regulation.
