Continuous processing and Digitalisation, the future of Pharma to supply medicine in a robust, agile and cost effective way to the patients

Continuous processing (CP) is a manufacturing methodology that dominates the production of commodity chemicals. CP is seen as the method of choice for delivering products associated with the oil and gas, food, and polymer industries s. In contrast, the pharmaceutical industry has only started to focus on the application of continuous processes. Two primary drivers have driven this renewed interest over the past decade. Firstly, flow chemistry enables a diversity of reactions from which to synthesize complex molecule. Secondly, supply chain and factory utilization benefits are beginning to be realized providing added-value benefits.

Sanofi is committed to the acceleration of availability of high-quality medicines for patients. Across the CMC small molecule organization, continuous manufacturing is being implemented to improve and accelerate the development and commercialization of processes delivering high degree of robustness, high eco-design potential and sustainability. Sanofi has adopted a flow-by-first-intent strategy which is transforming its current small molecule portfolio from one comprised of exclusively batch manufacturing processes into one based on hybrid batch-continuous processes.