A*STAR-Hellma Partnership to Innovate Manufacturing Processes

A*STAR’s Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences (ICES) has partnered Hellma Analytics to co-develop next generation manufacturing technologies for the pharmaceutical and specialty chemicals sectors. Hellma has joined the A*STAR consortium on Innovative Processing for Specialties and Pharmaceuticals (iPSP) to drive innovative manufacturing solutions aimed at achieving cost, quality, process and environmental improvements.

The iPSP consortium was launched in June 2013, bringing together several leading biopharmaceutical and specialty chemical manufacturers to bolster R&D for manufacturing processes and practices, and collectively accelerate pharmaceuticals and specialty chemical developments in the region.

ICES’ expertise in chemistry, chemical engineering, analytics, control, formulation science and catalysis complements Hellma’s pioneering knowledge in process analytical technology (PAT). PAT is also one of the key research themes in the iPSP consortium. Hellma offers a comprehensive range of research tools and facilities that will simplify the monitoring of scaled-up processes bringing greater clarity and speed to the research process.

Dr Keith Carpenter, Executive Director of ICES, said, “The iPSP consortium has been operating for over a year now, and it is already clear that our industrial partners have brought insight and an understanding of industrial relevance to the research programme. Both are invaluable for us to ensure that the research has impact in a real world environment. With Hellma’s accession, we are extending the understanding along the technology supply chain, ensuring that all aspects of active pharmaceutical ingredient can be brought together to provide an integrated solution.”

Dr Paul Sharratt, Programme Director for the iPSP consortium, said, “With the focus on improving our understanding of the underlying science, the ability to track in-line the behaviour of chemical reactions is very important. Hellma’s participation will give us a window into the chemistry that will ultimately allow us to develop better, more efficient and robust processes.”