Purdue University joins Britest to collaboration in process design
Britest has chosen CPhI Milan to announce a new global collaboration in process design for the pharma/fine chemical sector, by unveiling Purdue University as its first North American academic member.
Based in Indiana, Purdue University is a world leading centre of academic research and education in basic and applied science and engineering. It will contribute ‘in kind’ to Britest’s technology programme by linking leading US academic research with that of European academics/industry in collaborative process design projects.
Purdue will gain access to the intellectual property embedded in the tools and methodologies developed by Britest’s members. Membership of Britest will also open up valuable European networking opportunities for Purdue, where the innovation platform for process design is more advanced.
Britest further expands its global network by gaining access to some of the best knowledge and skills in US academia. As a member of the US National Institute for Pharmaceutical Technology and Education (NIPTE), Purdue will provide opportunities for Britest to forge stronger links with US academia and gain a better understanding of the US regulatory views on process design. The dual benefit of this transatlantic collaboration will be the opportunity to establish a coherent view on the key generic manufacturing issues facing the global pharmaceutical sector.
Sue Fleet, Britest CEO said: “This is a highly significant development for Britest. It brings together the best international minds and talents to address the step change in process and manufacturing efficiency that industry desperately needs”. She added: “Purdue University adds highly complementary knowledge and understanding of secondary pharmaceutical manufacturing processes to the knowledge bank and success that Britest tools are delivering in API manufacturing”.
Prabir Basu, Purdue University’s Pharmaceutical Technology and Education Center MD said: "Our research focus relates to the industrialization component of the U.S. FDA “critical path initiative” and the application of basic sciences to drug development and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Joining Britest opens up exciting collaborative opportunities for us to link with leading European Universities and industry to advance basic sciences as a means for improving process understanding and streamlining drug development and manufacturing of pharmaceutical products”.
Manufacturing costs in the pharma sector are said to be ca. 30-35% of total industry cost. Industry regulators also suggest there is scope for efficiency improvements through better understanding of the processes that underpin pharmaceutical manufacture. Against this backcloth, pharma companies are increasingly focusing on process understanding as a means of driving manufacturing innovation, quality improvements and cost efficiencies.
Purdue University becomes the first US academic institution to join Britest’s collaborative union of key academic and leading international companies in the fine chemical and pharmaceutical sector focused on process improvement.