The 4th Spring Pharmaceutical Synchrotron X-Ray Powder Diffraction Workshop was held June 10-11, 2024, at the Novartis campus in Basel, Switzerland. The SPS-XRPD workshops are a collaborative effort between Excelsus Structural Solutions in Switzerland and Purdue University, Argonne National Laboratory, and Improved Pharma in the United States. These workshops bring together experts from the Read more
This blog focuses on how microscopy, hot-stage microscopy, and DSC microscopy can be used to develop co-processing strategies and relies heavily on input from Chemical Microscopy LLC, which is closely linked to Improved Pharma. Micro approaches are ideal when only limited amounts of material are available. Micro approaches also have the distinct advantage of Read more
Our first blog post on co-processed pharmaceutical solids provided a general introduction. A second blog discussed an approach to screening for co-processed pharmaceutical solids. This third blog focuses on analytical methods for studying co-processed pharmaceutical solids. Analytical methods for co-processed compositions are particularly important to verify the formation of the composition and provide a Read more
Co-processed pharmaceutical solids are of considerable interest because of the improvements co-processing can make in a number of solid state properties and pharmaceutical processes. Our first blog on this topic provided a general introduction to co-processed pharmaceutical solids. Examples of crystallization methods with a second component, spherical crystallization, HME prepared solids, and co-processing with Read more
Co-processed pharmaceutical solids are rising to the forefront as an important concept in pharmaceutical development. This general introduction is the first in a planned series of blogs delving into this exciting area. Schenck and coworkers reviewed co-processed API, suggesting co-processing would lead to sustainability improvements and emissions reductions. (Schenck et al., 2023) He indicated Read more
DSC is a powerful method for the analysis of a range of materials. A typical DSC experiment measures the heat changes that occur within the sample when the temperature is changed. For the analysis, a small sample, usually around 5 mg, is placed in a sample holder (a DSC “pan”) and heated at a Read more
Pharmaceutical materials can exist in a crystalline or amorphous state. Figure 1 illustrates the crystalline state as a perfectly ordered solid with molecules (circles) packed in an orderly array. Figure 1 also illustrates an amorphous material as a disordered material with only short-range order. Crystalline materials give an X-ray diffraction pattern because Bragg planes Read more
Since the ritonavir crisis in 1998, when a lifesaving HIV protease inhibitor had to be withdrawn from the market for almost a year due to a sudden and unpredictable appearance of a new less soluble polymorph, ritonavir has been of interest to solid state chemists, crystallographers, and drug development scientists.[1-4] After the appearance of Form Read more
In the early 1990’s SSCI, Inc. began working with Parke-Davis Warner-Lambert by providing X-ray diffraction measurements on samples manufactured at its Holland, Michigan manufacturing facility. One of the compounds under investigation was atorvastatin calcium. Atorvastatin had been synthesized by Bruce Roth at Warner-Lambert and patented in 1987 (US Patent 4,681,893). It was under development as Read more
Crystals were observed growing within a DayQuil Liquicap. This blog post describes the approach taken to isolate and identify the unknown crystals. Vicks® DayQuil™ Severe Cold & Flu provides an over the counter non-drowsy, daytime relief for common cold and flu symptoms. DayQuil™ Severe is formulated to relieve or reduce headache, fever, sore throat, Read more
