The role of digital twins in driving sustainability

29 Oct 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Deborah McElhone, Barrie Cassey, Kamal Abu-Hassan

As the pharmaceutical sector endeavours to become more sustainable, we hear how digital twins – virtual replicas of systems or products that can help predict performance – are supporting the industry in its efforts.

Continuous Processing. Continuous Evolution

08 Oct 2024 | Magazine | Contributor(s): Douglas Hausner

Continuous processing for small molecule products has been a hot topic for years, but where does the industry stand with it today? We speak with Doug Hausner, Senior Manager, Continuous Manufacturing, Oral Solid Dose, Pharma Services at Thermo Fisher Scientific, to find out.

Pharmaceutical Continuous Manufacturing: Content Uniformity With PAT And RTR

16 Sep 2024 | Website | Contributor(s): Richard Steiner

In pharmaceutical continuous manufacturing (PCM), technical solutions ensuring critical quality attributes for content uniformity and unit dose exist for online, in-line, and at-line measurements. Process analytical technology (PAT) allows in-line measurement and control of critical process...

A modeling and control framework for extraction processes

05 Sep 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Peter Neugebauer, Jakob Rehrl, Peter Poechlauer, Dirk Kirschneck, Martin Horn, Martin Steinberger, Stephan Sacher, Joscha Boehm, Daniel Moser

Many continuously operated pharmaceutical process routes have been presented recently. Most of these cover the synthesis of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) or solid dosage processing. However, the API purification is also gaining attraction. One widespread and waste-intensive unit...

The Rise of Continuous Manufacturing in Pharma

13 Aug 2024 | Website | Contributor(s): Editorial Team

"Mr Indu Bhushan, CEO and Director of STEERLife shares his insights on the transformative journey of continuous manufacturing, and the advanced technologies that have propelled this paradigm shift. He also throws light on how continuous manufacturing has accelerated drug development...

Matrix-assisted cocrystallization (MAC) simultaneous production and formulation of pharmaceutical cocrystals by hot-melt extrusion

23 Jul 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Boksa, Kevin, Otte, Andrew, Pinal, Rodolfo

A novel method for the simultaneous production and formulation of pharmaceutical cocrystals, matrix-assisted cocrystallization (MAC), is presented. Hot-melt extrusion (HME) is used to create cocrystals by coprocessing the drug and coformer in the presence of a matrix material. Carbamazepine...

Continuous Manufacturing in the Pharmaceutical Industry: Enhancing Drug Production

23 Jul 2024 | Website | Contributor(s): Timmerman, Siebe

A significant shift towards continuous manufacturing (CM) is currently underway in the pharmaceutical industry. Unlike the more commonly used batch processing, CM operates continuously. This method potentially offers increased efficiency, agility, and flexibility in the manufacturing of drug...

Process Intensification via End-to-End Continuous Manufacturing of Atorvastatin Calcium Using an Integrated, Modular Reaction-Crystallization-Spherical Agglomeration-Filtration-Drying Process

23 Jul 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Parvaresh, Rojan, Nagy, Zoltan K.

Continuous manufacturing can show potential benefits over batch processing in lower turnaround times and smaller footprint in addition to higher productivity, adaptability, and consistent product quality. Although these possible benefits exist, there are also challenges in integrating the various...

Blend uniformity monitoring in a continuous manufacturing mixing process for a low-dosage formulation using a stream sampler and near infrared spectroscopy

19 Jul 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Rodolfo Romanach, Raúl S. Rangel-Gil, Juan M. Nasrala-Álvarez, Rafael Méndez

Continuous manufacturing has the potential to offer several benefits for the production of oral solid dosage forms, including reduced costs, low-scale equipment, and the application of process analytical technology (PAT) for real-time process control. This study focuses on the implementation of...

Axial Chirality in the Sotorasib Drug Substance, Part 2: Leveraging a High-Temperature Thermal Racemization to Recycle the Classical Resolution Waste Stream

25 Jun 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Beaver, Matthew G., Brown, Derek B., Campbell, Kiersten, Fang, Yuan-Qing, Ford, David D., Mardirossian, Narbe, Nagy, Kevin D., Rötheli, Andreas R., Sheeran, Jillian W., Telmesani, Reem, Parsons, Andrew T.

The development and kilogram-scale demonstration of a high-temperature continuous-flow racemization process to recycle the off-enantiomer of an atropisomeric sotorasib intermediate is described. Part 1 of this two-part series details the design and execution of a classical resolution to generate...

Development and Scale-Up of a Continuous Manufacturing Process for a Hydrazine Condensation Reaction

25 Jun 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Zhu, Ruiheng, Reddy, Ramesh, Ding, Man, Xu, Ming, Deng, Chaoyi, Tadayon, Sam, Li, Hui, Depew, Kristopher, Lane, Benjamin

The development of a continuous manufacturing process for a hydrazine condensation reaction at high temperature is reported. This continuous process represents a safer approach to manufacture 3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-amine at scale and exhibits better impurity control compared to a traditional batch...

Development of a Continuous Flow Grignard Reaction to Manufacture a Key Intermediate of Ipatasertib

25 Jun 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Kaldre, Dainis, Stocker, Severin, Linder, David, Reymond, Helena, Schuster, Andreas, Lamerz, Jens, Hildbrand, Stefan, Püntener, Kurt, Berry, Malcolm, Sedelmeier, Jörg

This article outlines the development of a continuous flow process for the manufacture of a key intermediate of the active pharmaceutical ingredient ipatasertib for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and triple-negative metastatic breast cancer. The reaction sequence...

A Virtual Plant for Integrated Continuous Manufacturing of a Carfilzomib Drug Substance Intermediate, Part 3: Manganese-Catalyzed Asymmetric Epoxidation, Crystallization, and Filtration

25 Jun 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Maloney, Andrew J., Içten, Elçin, Capellades, Gerard, Beaver, Matthew G., Zhu, Xiaoxiang, Graham, Lauren R., Brown, Derek B., Griffin, Daniel J., Sangodkar, Rahul, Allian, Ayman, Huggins, Seth, Hart, Roger, Rolandi, Pablo, Walker, Shawn D., Braatz, Richard D.

This article describes the process characterization and development of models to inform a process control strategy to prepare (R,R)-epoxy ketone 2, an intermediate in the manufacture of carfilzomib. Model calibration for relevant unit operations and the development of a dynamic integrated...

Development and Scale-Up of a Continuous, High-Pressure, Asymmetric Hydrogenation Reaction, Workup, and Isolation

25 Jun 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Johnson, Martin D., May, Scott A., Calvin, Joel R., Remacle, Jacob, Stout, James R., Diseroad, William D., Zaborenko, Nikolay, Haeberle, Brian D., Sun, Wei-Ming, Miller, Michael T., Brennan, John

A fully continuous process including an asymmetric hydrogenation reaction operating at 70 bar hydrogen, aqueous extraction, and crystallization was designed, developed, and demonstrated at pilot scale. This paper highlights safety, quality, and throughput advantages of the continuous reaction and...

Polymorphs, Particle Size, and a Pandemic: Development of a Scalable Crystallization Process for Molnupiravir, an Antiviral for the Treatment of COVID-19

25 Jun 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Bade, Rachel, Bothe, Jameson R., Sirota, Eric, Brunskill, Andrew P. J., Newman, Justin A., Zhang, Yongqian, Tan, Melissa, Zheng, Michelle, Brito, Gilmar, Poirier, Marc, Fier, Patrick S., Xu, Yingju, Ward, Michael D., Stone, Kevin, Lee, Ivan H., Gmitter, Andrew J., Bernardoni, Frank, Zompa, Michael A., Luo, Hanlin, Patel, Sanjaykumar, Masiuk, Tina, Mora, Jeff, Ni, Tong, Okoh, Grace A., Tarabokija, James, Liu, Jiaying, Lowinger, Michael B., Mahmood, Tariq

Molnupiravir is a small-molecule active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) prodrug of a nucleoside analog that was demonstrated to be efficacious for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Early in the pandemic, Merck & Co. Inc. partnered with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics to accelerate the...

Development and Application of Control Concepts for Twin-Screw Wet Granulation in the ConsiGmaTM-25: Part 2 Granule Size

04 Jun 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Selma Celikovic, Johannes Poms, Johannes Khinast, Martin Horn, Jakob Rehrl

Traditional operation modes, such as running the production processes at constant process settings or within a narrow design space, do not fully exploit the advantages of continuous pharmaceutical manufacturing. Integrating Quality by Control (QbC) algorithms as a standard component of...

Development and Application of Control Concepts for Twin-Screw Wet Granulation in the ConsiGmaTM-25: Part 2 Granule Size

04 Jun 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Selma Celikovic, Johannes Poms, Johannes Khinast, Martin Horn, Jakob Rehrl

Traditional operation modes, such as running the production processes at constant process settings or within a narrow design space, do not fully exploit the advantages of continuous pharmaceutical manufacturing. Integrating Quality by Control (QbC) algorithms as a standard component of...

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,...

Development of a Continuous Schotten–Baumann Route to an Acyl Sulfonamide

24 Apr 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): White, Timothy D., Berglund, K. Derek, Groh, Jennifer McClary, Johnson, Martin D., Yates, Matthew H.

The development and scale-up of a synthetic route to tasisulam sodium (5-bromo-thiophene-2-sulfonic acid 2,4-dichlorobenzoylamide sodium salt, hereafter referred to as tasisulam) utilizing continuous Schotten–Baumann reaction conditions is disclosed. A new synthetic route for the cytotoxic API...

Development of a Multi-Step Synthesis and Workup Sequence for an Integrated, Continuous Manufacturing Process of a Pharmaceutical

24 Apr 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Heider, Patrick L., Born, Stephen C., Basak, Soubir, Benyahia, Brahim, Lakerveld, Richard, Zhang, Haitao, Hogan, Rachael, - Buchbinder, Louis, Wolfe, Aaron, Mascia, Salvatore, Evans, James M. B., Jamison, Timothy F., Jensen, Klavs F.

The development and operation of the synthesis and workup steps of a fully integrated, continuous manufacturing plant for synthesizing aliskiren, a small molecule pharmaceutical, are presented. The plant started with advanced intermediates, two synthetic steps away from the final active...

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...

A Focused and Flexible Analytical Strategy is Key to Unlocking the Benefits of Continuous Manufacturing

11 Apr 2024 | Website | Contributor(s): Bikash Chatterjee

Continuous manufacturing processes promise shorter manufacturing cycle times without the need for intermediate storage, sampling testing and release of intermediate process steps, and shorter product release times through the intelligent application of in-line and at-line testing strategies....