Continuous Processing in the Manufacture of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients and Finished Dosage Forms: An Industry Perspective

Abstract

Continuous manufacturing as a way of producing fine chemicals, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and finished dosage forms is gaining widespread attention. Although potential benefits over traditional batch-wise production have been discussed at many occasions and appear evident, continuous processes are only slowly being implemented. The American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute Pharmaceutical Roundtable has defined “continuous processing” as one of its research priorities(1) and performed a survey of its members’ opinions, the status of implementation, and perceived hurdles blocking implementation of continuous manufacturing processes. Here we discuss the most important results of this survey and their relation to present trends in this industry to “go green”.