What Is Custom Chemical Synthesis?
We often hear the words custom chemical synthesis, custom synthesis or contract synthesis used interchangeably to essentially describe the same thing – the chemical synthesis of molecules exclusively for a specific customer. Whether your preference is for one or indeed any other variant of the terms above, the goal will always be the same, that is to obtain the compound in a required quantity and purity. This is custom synthesis is its simplest form. Where we begin to see the ´custom´ feature of each request is with regards to the purity element driven by end user specifications and supported by an array of quantitative and qualitative analytical techniques. In contrast, I think the quantity part is a more unifying trait between individual requests as it involves relatively small amounts of material ranging from a few milligrams to about 10 kg. The production of larger amounts we could classify as contract manufacturing. If only quantity and purity were our only requirements (as if it’s not enough!). For most of us the requirement for an exclusive synthesis is driven in the context of a larger business objective where time and cost (usually due to particular manufacturing, safety and or logistical requirements) takes on an increasingly important role in the decision-making process and the ultimate delivery of a ´successful´ custom chemical synthesis project.
Why would you use Custom Chemical Synthesis?
The pharmaceutical industry has undergone a transformation over the last few decades, with an uptick in outsourcing shining through as a key trend. The benefits of outsourcing research, development or manufacturing activities are multifold – it can cut R&D costs, increase efficiency across the value chain, and allows companies to benefit from expertise they may lack in-house. Consequently, the agrochemical in addition to the pharmaceutical industry can require custom synthesis for the purposes of discovery, new chemical development, regulatory compliance or analytical validation.
Who would use Custom Chemical Synthesis?
The clue is most definitely not in the name! In fact, this service is not dependent on any individual industry nor does it target one type of customer. Users of custom chemical synthesis would include pharmaceutical (small molecule / biologics, specialty and generics), biotechnology, diagnostic and agrochemical companies, clinical and bio-analytical contract research organizations (CRO), manufacturers of specialty chemicals, as well as hospital researchers, universities and various other research institutions.
Where can I find Custom Chemical Synthesis suppliers?
There are thousands of GMP and non-GMP suppliers worldwide that provide their services to deliver custom chemical synthesis. Fortunately, at Science Lantern we are here to help the customer identify those suppliers adequately suited to deliver the compound in the desired quantity and quality within an acceptable cost and time frame. If you would like to know more on custom chemical synthesis or require further information you can contact us at info@sciencelantern.com or directly through our website here.