Pfizer CentreOne launches Enviero

Published: 8-Mar-2018

The green-chemistry progesterone API reduces the carbon footprint of the manufacturing process by more than 70%

Pfizer CentreOne announced the introduction of Enviero progesterone into the API marketplace. Enviero progesterone is produced by a first-of-its-kind progesterone synthesis developed by Pfizer to reduce waste, greenhouse gas emissions and the use of hazardous solvents.

Results include cutting the carbon footprint of the progesterone manufacturing process by more than 70%, compared to Pfizer’s traditional progesterone process and eliminating the use of metal catalysts.

Pfizer CentreOne is a global contract manufacturing organisation embedded within Pfizer, supplying steroid and hormone APIs, and intermediates.

“Enviero green-chemistry progesterone represents a step change in progesterone API synthesis,” said Greg Scanlon, API business lead for Pfizer CentreOne.

“And it’s in keeping with Pfizer’s commitment to reduce its impact on the environment.”1

Developed for 12 years, Enviero (“En-VI-ro”) progesterone is manufactured via a proprietary biocatalytic process based on plant sterols.2

Scanlon continued, “We are pleased to offer Enviero progesterone to customers looking for a reliable supply of high-quality progesterone for their medicines.”

While new to Pfizer CentreOne customers, Enviero progesterone has been used by Pfizer as an intermediate in the manufacture of its own medications for the past four years. More than 500 metric tons have been manufactured to date for internal use.

The compound is manufactured exclusively in the US at Pfizer’s Kalamazoo, Michigan, facility. As with all Pfizer CentreOne APIs, all processing steps for Enviero progesterone are performed under Pfizer’s stringent quality management system and the compound is backed by technical and regulatory support for the life of the product.

Enviero progesterone is the first API to be launched from Pfizer CentreOne’s green-chemistry programme. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, “Green chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances.”3

Green chemistry is applied at the process level – in this case, API synthesis – to minimise waste and pollution upfront.

References

  1. www.pfizer.com/purpose/environmental-sustainability/green-journey; accessed February 26, 2018
  2. “Biocatalysis is the use of biological catalysts, such as enzymes, to perform chemical transformations on organic compounds.” Biocatalysis in Sustainable Development, sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/5614Bio-catalysis.pdf; accessed February 26, 2018
  3. www.epa.gov/greenchemistry/basics-green-chemistry; accessed February 26, 2018

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