On-demand continuous-flow production of pharmaceuticals in a compact, reconfigurable system

TLDR

Pharmaceuticals are still produced in batch mode due to complex molecular structures, unlike commodity chemicals that are manufactured continuously in compact systems. The authors aim to demonstrate a compact, refrigerator‑sized system that can synthesize and purify pharmaceuticals continuously. The apparatus integrates modules that operate under continuous‑flow conditions to achieve synthesis and purification. The system can produce hundreds to thousands of doses per day in aqueous solution. Adamo et al.

Abstract

Drug manufacturing in a fridge-sized box Commodity chemicals tend to be manufactured in a continuous fashion. However, the preparation of pharmaceuticals still proceeds batch by batch, partly on account of the complexity of their molecular structures. Adamo et al. now present an apparatus roughly the size of a household refrigerator that can synthesize and purify pharmaceuticals under continuous-flow conditions (see the Perspective by Martin). The integrated set of modules can produce hundreds to thousands of accumulated doses in a day, delivered in aqueous solution. Science , this issue p. 61 ; see also p. 44