A flow chemistry approach for the supply risk management: Optimization of industrial processes

Synopsis

In modern world, supply chain management is crucial to guarantee a stable supply of APIs into the market. India first and now China were markets of choice to source intermediates and starting materials which have high volumes and low prices.

With the increased need of compliance from both quality and EHS (from Clients, Health Authorities as well as Governments), what was easy to produce and sell a very low cost is now becoming difficult to achieve. On the other hands, insourcing these basic molecules are often not productive nor economically convenient with big impact on product costs and plant flexibility.

Approaches that would include minimal investments and impact on capacity, same quality with minimal if none regulatory changes and, last but not least, cost containment are key for succeeding in a supply chain risk management solution, even if combining all of these benefits could be seen as impossible.

Flow chemistry could fit perfectly this approach and Angelini Fine Chemicals has taken big effort to step into this with a cGMP advanced intermediate. After an initial R&D approach, easy scalability at industrial plant with minimal investment, it has been possible to insource 100% of production volumes (instead of 40% as classical batch reactions), with negligible impact from Regulatory point of view and improvement into quality and cost associated. A full business case will be described in our presentation.