Systematic investigation of the impact of screw elements in continuous wet granulation

10 Sep 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Katharina Kiricenko, Peter Kleinebudde, Robin Meier

Twin-screw wet granulation (TSG) is a continuous manufacturing technique either for granules as final dosage form or as an intermediate before tableting or capsule filling. A comprehensive process understanding is required to implement TSG, considering various parameters influencing granule and...

Process analytics for the new era of continuous RNA manufacturing

23 Jul 2024 | Website | Contributor(s): Botonjic-Sehic, Edita

In this article, Edita Botonjic-Sehic, Head of Process Analytics and Data Science at ReciBioPharm, examines the need for a digitally controlled continuous manufacturing process to correct the shortcomings of the current standard of batch processing. She highlights the critical role in-line...

Improvement of a pharmaceutical powder mixing process in a tote blender via DEM simulations

04 Jun 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Benedict Benque, Luca Orefice, Thomas Forgber, Matthias Habeler, Beate Schmid, Johan Remmelgas, Johannes Khinast

An industrial-scale pharmaceutical powder blending process was studied via discrete element method (DEM) simulations. A DEM model of two active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) components and a combined excipient component was calibrated by matching the simulated response in a dynamic angle of...

A modified Kushner-Moore approach to characterising small-scale blender performance impact on tablet compaction

03 Jun 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Hikaru G. Jolliffe, Martin Prostredny, Carlota Mendez Torrecillas, Ecaterina Bordos, Collette Tierney, Ebenezer Ojo, Richard Elkes, Gavin Reynolds, Yunfei Li Song, Bernhard Meir, Sara Fathollahi, John Robertson

Continuous Direct Compaction (CDC) has emerged as a promising route towards producing solid dosage forms while reducing material, development time and energy consumption. Understanding the response of powder processing unit operations, especially blenders, is crucial. There is a substantial body...

Continuous Flow Intensification for the Synthesis of High-Purity Warfarin

10 May 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Silva-Brenes, Diana V., Reyes-Vargas, Stephanie K., Duconge, Jorge, Vlaar, Cornelis, Stelzer, Torsten, Monbaliu, Jean-Christophe M.

While racemic warfarin was initially commercialized as a rodenticide, it has become the most prescribed anticoagulant drug for prevention of blood clots and is part of the World Health Organization’s list of essential medicines. The synthesis of warfarin appears straightforward, consisting of a...

Rapid production of the anaesthetic mepivacaine through continuous, portable technology

24 Apr 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Díaz-Kruik, Pablo, Paradisi, Francesca

Local anaesthetics such as mepivacaine are key molecules in the medical sector, so ensuring their supply chain is crucial for every health care system. Rapid production of mepivacaine from readily available commercial reagents and (non-dry) solvents under safe conditions using portable,...

Multi-step Flow Synthesis of the Anthelmintic Drug Praziquantel

24 Apr 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Phull, Manjinder Singh, Bohara, Chander Singh, Gundla, Rambabu, Mainkar, Prathama S., Jadav, Surender Singh

Praziquantel (PZQ; Brand name: Biltricide) is categorized as an anthelminthic drug, and it is used for the treatment of Schistosomiasis and other parasitic infections. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified it as one of the essential and emergency medicines needed across the globe....

Continuous Flow-Facilitated CB2 Agonist Synthesis, Part 2: Cyclization, Chlorination, and Amination

24 Apr 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Prieschl, Michael, Sagmeister, Peter, Moessner, Christian, Sedelmeier, Joerg, Williams, Jason D., Kappe, C. Oliver

A new route to the cannabinoid receptor type 2 agonist, RG7774, has been developed circumventing an alkylation with poor regioselectivity as the final step. In the new synthetic route, this side chain is incorporated from the beginning. In this article, the development of the final four...

A Continuous Process for Manufacturing Apremilast. Part I: Process Development and Intensification by Utilizing Flow Chemistry Principles

24 Apr 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Hsieh, Hsiao-Wu, Griffin, Daniel J., Ananthoji, Padmini, Avci, Nadide Hazal, Brown, Derek B., Ericson, Ari, Fostinis, James D., Irfan, Muhammad, Langille, Neil, Lovette, Michael A., Murray, James I., Spada, Simone, Thiel, Oliver R., Aiello, Frankie, Daou, Joseph, Goudas-Salomon, Nicole, Pan, Ende, Sarkar, Nandini, Wimalasinghe, Rasangi, Wu, Zufan Steven, Zeng, Alicia, Beaver, Matthew G., Cohen, Carolyn M.

Herein, we report the development of an integrated continuous manufacturing (CM) process for the penultimate step in the synthesis of apremilast, the drug substance (DS) of the commercial product Otezla. This development effort was motivated by the desire to create an alternative manufacturing...

Influence of refilling on dosing accuracy of loss-in-weight powder feeders in continuous manufacturing

19 Feb 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Jochen Thies, Peter Kleinebudde, Fabiola N. Santamaría Alvarez

Continuous manufacturing is a novel concept to produce high quality drug products. The manufacture of solid dosage forms starts with the feeding of materials, which is consider a critical step because it could have a high influence on the quality of the final product. Therefore, this unit...

MOOC I Blending - Flow and Mixing Regime

29 Nov 2023 | Teaching Materials | Contributor(s): RCPE

MOOC I Feeding - Refill Strategy

29 Nov 2023 | Teaching Materials | Contributor(s): RCPE

MOOC I Blending Basics

29 Nov 2023 | Teaching Materials | Contributor(s): RCPE

MOOC I Continuous Blender Types

29 Nov 2023 | Teaching Materials | Contributor(s): RCPE

MOOC I Feeding - Twin Screw Feeder

29 Nov 2023 | Teaching Materials | Contributor(s): RCPE

MOOC I Feeding - Disturbances

29 Nov 2023 | Teaching Materials | Contributor(s): RCPE

MOOC I Continuous Blend Analysis

29 Nov 2023 | Teaching Materials | Contributor(s): RCPE

Pharmaceutical Continuous Manufacturing: A Guide to Control Strategies for Solid Oral Dose Drugs

23 Aug 2023 | Technical Guides | Contributor(s): Atul Dubey

Advanced manufacturing technologies like pharmaceutical continuous manufacturing (PCM) can provide potential efficiencies for many medicines and their ingredients, thereby facilitating geographic diversity in manufacturing and supply chain resilience. One of the ways the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP)...

Wet Granulation in a Twin-Screw Extruder: Implications of Screw Design

09 Jun 2023 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Thompson, M. R., Sun, J.

Wet granulation in twin-screw extrusion machinery is an attractive technology for the continuous processing of pharmaceuticals. The performance of this machinery is integrally tied to its screw design yet little fundamental knowledge exists in this emerging field for granulation to intelligently...

WHAT are sampling errors-and WHAT can we do about them? Part 1

09 Jun 2023 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Romañach, Rodolfo J., Joubert Castro, Aidalu, Esbensen, Kim H

The objective of this column is to provide easy-to-understand examples of sampling errors. Prompted by recent participationsand presentations at on-line conferences and meetings, we believe there is a need for a more fulfilling introduction andexemplification of the concept and real-world...

Variographic analysis: A new methodology for quality assurance of pharmaceutical blending processes

09 Jun 2023 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Sánchez-Paternina, Adriluz, Sierra-Vega, Nobel O., Cárdenas, Vanessa, Méndez, Rafael, Esbensen, Kim H., Romañach, Rodolfo J.

Analytical methods for real time monitoring of pharmaceutical blending processes are thoroughly validated but not the sampling methods. Variographic analysis was investigated as a method to determine the sampling and analytical errors when the drug concentration of pharmaceutical powder blends is...

Visualization and understanding of the granulation liquid mixing and distribution during continuous twin screw granulation using NIR chemical imaging

09 Jun 2023 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Vercruysse, Jurgen, Toiviainen, Maunu, Fonteyne, Margot, Helkimo, Niko, Ketolainen, Jarkko, Juuti, Mikko, Delaet, Urbain, Van Assche, Ivo, Remon, Jean Paul, Vervaet, Chris, De Beer, Thomas

Over the last decade, there has been increased interest in the application of twin screw granulation as a continuous wet granulation technique for pharmaceutical drug formulations. However, the mixing of granulation liquid and powder material during the short residence time inside the screw...

Validation of a continuous granulation process using a twin-screw extruder

09 Jun 2023 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Van Melkebeke, B., Vervaet, C., Remon, J. P.

Using twin-screw granulation as particle size enlargement technique, the effect of modifying the screw configuration (number of mixing zones, configuration of kneading block) on granule quality, tablet properties and mixing efficiency was investigated. The amount of oversized agglomerates and...

Use of a continuous twin screw granulation and drying system during formulation development and process optimization

09 Jun 2023 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Vercruysse, J., Peeters, E., Fonteyne, M., Cappuyns, P., Delaet, U., Van Assche, I., De Beer, T., Remon, J. P., Vervaet, C.

Since small scale is key for successful introduction of continuous techniques in the pharmaceutical industry to allow its use during formulation development and process optimization, it is essential to determine whether the product quality is similar when small quantities of materials are...

Use of near-infrared spectroscopy to quantify drug content on a continuous blending process: Influence of mass flow and rotation speed variations

09 Jun 2023 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Martínez, Lizbeth, Peinado, Antonio, Liesum, Lorenz, Betz, Gabriele

The aim of this study was to develop a quantitative Near-Infrared (NIR) method which monitors the homogeneity of a pharmaceutical formulation coming out of a continuous blender. For this purpose, a NIR diode array spectrometer with fast data acquisition was selected. Additionally, the dynamic...