First, acib’s innovative chemo-enzymatic approach combines efficient organic synthesis with advanced biocatalysis to produce high-value alkaloids and in particular crucial opioid precursors. Examples are (R)-reticuline and salutaridine promorphian, which are key building blocks for important pain medications. The technology offers the option to use renewable feedstocks, e.g. eugenol, and exploits the use of defined enzymes/biocatalysts to introduce the desired chirality and make the C-C bond in the final steps. Alternatively, the small molecules can be produced in submers culture using cells of their native production hosts, i.e. plants.