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Pharmaceuticals

Manufacturing Process for Zerbaxa™

Merck Research Laboratories redesigned the manufacturing process for Zerbaxa™, a drug used to treat gram-negative bacterial infections resistant to conventional antibiotics. Ceftolozane sulfate is a key ingredient of the drug. Unfortunately, existing processes for its production require hazardous chemicals, a high process mass index, long cycle times, and low yields. Merck developed a sustainable second-generation manufacturing route.

Eucodis Bioscience Enzymes

Custom enzymes for biopharma, fine chemicals, cosmetics, and other industries. This company generates novel enzyme-based biocatalysts for industrial and white biotechnology applications. Currently, they have made over 50 enzymes, including innovative lipases, beta-lactamases, peroxidases, and other enzymes. Enzymes are an alternative to complex synthesis steps as they only require a single biocatalytic step that reduces energy and chemical consumption by enabling chemical reactions to occur at lower temperatures.

GLDA — A Biodegradable Chelating Agent

Biodegradable chelating agents. Chelating agents (NTA and EDTA) are used in industrial, domestic, and agricultural industries for complex metals. Traditional chelating agents are not biodegradable and accumulate in aquatic systems, harming human health and the environment. Aquapharm has made biodegradable chelates with applications in industrial cleaning, food processing, personal care, kitchen cleaning, textiles, water treatment, automatic dishwashing, and pulp and paper. One of Aquapharm's chelants, GLDA, is a viable substitute for NTA and EDTA.

Green Chemistry in the Redesign of the Pregabalin Process

New Pregabalin manufacturing process. The original manufacturing process for Pregabalin was inefficient and produced nonrecyclable enantiomer as a byproduct. This new manufacturing process enables recycling of enantiomer, increasing product yields and the life cycle of raw materials; this significantly reduces the amount of raw materials required and generated waste. It also requires less organic solvents that pose health concerns.

An Alternative Synthesis of Bisnoraldehyde, an Intermediate to Progesterone and Corticosteroids

New pathway to bisnoraldehyde (BNA) from waste soya bean residues. The original route to BNA uses heavy metal catalysts that generate toxic waste, which is harmful to human health and the environment. This novel route to BNA from soya bean residues uses bleach and a catalyst cofactor system. This new process generates a nontoxic, aqueous waste stream and recoverable organic solvents that can be reused. The process also avoids toxic reagents.

Efficient Production of Cytovene®

New synthetic methodology for ganciclovir, the main active component in Cytovene®. The conventional production process of ganciclovir was very wasteful and involved environmentally hazardous chemicals. CordenPharma Colorado developed the Guanine Triester (GTE) Process, a new method that climates the production of hazardous solid waste. This novel process introduces a recycling process of total recovery for 80% of inputs. The overall process is also more cost-efficient as it requires less monitoring and transportation of hazardous chemicals.