Avantium invests in new cytotoxic compound research facility

Netherlands-based Avantium Life Sciences has invested in a dedicated facility, capable of screening cytotoxic compounds for salt formation and polymorphic behaviour.

Located at Avantium's Amsterdam laboratories and hq, the new resource will complement Avantium's solid-state chemistry capabilities, and will respond to market demand for increasingly potent drugs and solid-form characterisation research.

The facility features a state-of-the-art glove box, equipped with additional filter systems and pressure control, to contain all solids-handling and enhanced sample holders to transfer the solids to the high throughput analytical techniques such as powder X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Since most auxiliary equipment is integrated within the glovebox, all solids handling and crystallisation experiments can be executed under full containment conditions.

The infrastructure supporting the new facility includes a regime of strict safety and decontamination procedures and a rigorous staff-training programme.

'Globally, there are very few contract research companies that can handle such levels of potency and we already have many projects from major pharma-ceutical companies lined up to utilise the new unit,' said Erwin Blomsma, vice president of Avantium Life Sciences.