Current GMP standards for the production of vaccines and antibodies: An overview

The manufacture of pharmaceutical products made under good manufacturing practices (GMP) must comply with the guidelines of national regulatory bodies based on international or regional compendia. The existence of this type of regulation allows pharmaceutical laboratories to count on the standardization of high-quality production processes, obtaining a safe product for human use, with a positive impact on public health. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the importance of having more and better-distributed manufacturing plants, emphasizing regions such as Latin America. This review shows the most important GMP standards in the world and, in particular, their relevance in the production of vaccines and antibodies.

Rapid Multigram-Scale End-to-End Continuous-Flow Synthesis of Sulfonylurea Antidiabetes Drugs: Gliclazide, Chlorpropamide, and Tolbutamide

A multigram-scale robust, efficient, and safe end-to-end continuous-flow process for the diabetes sulfonylurea drugs gliclazide, chlorpropamide, and tolbutamide is reported. The drugs were prepared by the treatment of an amine with a haloformate affording carbamate, which was subsequently treated with a sulfonamide to afford sulfonylurea. Gliclazide was obtained in 87% yield within 2.5 minutes total residence time with 26 g/h throughput; 0.2 kg of the drug was produced in 8 hours of running the system continuously. Chlorpropamide and tolbutamide were both obtained in 94% yield within 1 minute residence time with 184–188 g/h throughput; 1.4–1.5 kg of the drugs was produced in 8 hours of running the system continuously. N-Substituted carbamates were used as safe alternatives to the hazardous isocyanates in constructing the sulfonyl urea moiety.

Towards 4th industrial revolution efficient and sustainable continuous flow manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients

The convergence of end-to-end continuous flow synthesis with downstream processing, process analytical technology (PAT), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and automation in ensuring improved accessibility of quality medicines on demand.

Total Synthesis of Glipizide and Glibenclamide in Continuous Flow

Glipizide and glibenclamide remain some of the widely prescribed antidiabetic sulfonylurea drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Herein the authors report on an isocyanate-free synthetic procedure towards the preparation of these on demand drugs at multigram scale using continuous flow technology. The safety concern over the use of isocyanates in most of the existing synthetic routes was dealt with in this present work by using N-carbamates synthesised in situ from activation of amines with chloroformates as safer alternatives. An overall yield of 80-85 % was obtained for the semi-telescoped steps within 10 min total residence time.

Improved batch and flow syntheses of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib

The comparison of an improved conventional batch mode synthesis of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib with its flow chemistry alternative is reported.

3D printing and continuous flow chemistry technology to advance pharmaceutical manufacturing in developing countries

The realization of a downward spiralling of diseases in developing countries requires them to become self-sufficient in pharmaceutical products. One of the ways to meet this need is by boosting the local production of active pharmaceutical ingredients and embracing enabling technologies. Both 3D printing and continuous flow chemistry are being exploited rapidly and they are opening huge avenues of possibilities in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries due to their well-documented benefits. The main barrier to entry for the continuous flow chemistry technique in low-income settings is the cost of set-up and maintenance through purchasing of spare flow reactors. This review article discusses the technical considerations for the convergence of state-of-the-art technologies, 3D printing and continuous flow chemistry for pharmaceutical manufacturing applications in developing countries. An overview of the 3D printing technique and its application in fabrication of continuous flow components and systems is provided. Finally, quality considerations for satisfying regulatory requirements for the approval of 3D printed equipment are underscored. An in-depth understanding of the interrelated aspects in the implementation of these technologies is crucial for the realization of sustainable, good quality chemical reactionware.

Recent advances in continuous-flow organocatalysis for process intensification

The progresses on continuous-flow organocatalysis from 2016 to early 2020 are reviewed with focus on transition from batch to flow.

Evolution of flow-oriented design strategies in the continuous preparation of pharmaceuticals

This review focuses on the flow-oriented design (FOD) in the multi-step continuous-flow synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients.