Purdue University joins Britest

Process design organisation Britest chose CPhI Milan to announce its first North American academic member - Purdue University.

An independent not-for-profit organisation, Britest promotes a unique collaborative approach between industry and academia to deliver more efficient and sustainable manufacturing solutions to the pharma sector.

Purdue University has a leading centre of academic research in basic and applied science and engineering based in Indiana and it will contribute "in kind" to Britest's technology programme by linking leading US academic research with that undertaken in European on collaborative process design projects.

Purdue will gain access to the intellectual property developed by Britest's members. Membership of Britest will also open up valuable European networking opportunities for Purdue.

Britest further expands its global network and gains access to some of the best knowledge and skills in US academia. As a member of the US National Institute for Pharmaceutical Technology and Education (NIPTE), Purdue will provide a better understanding of the US regulatory views on process design.

Sue Fleet, Britest ceo said: "This is a highly significant development for Britest. It brings together the best international minds and talents to address the step change in process and manufacturing efficiency that industry desperately needs".

She added: "Purdue University adds highly complementary knowledge and understanding of secondary pharmaceutical manufacturing processes to the knowledge bank and success that Britest tools are delivering in API manufacturing."

Prabir Basu, Purdue University's Pharmaceutical Technology and Education Center MD said: 'Our research focus relates to the industrialisation component of the US FDA critical path initiative. and the application of basic sciences to drug development and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Joining Britest opens up exciting collaborative opportunities for us to link with leading European Universities and industry to advance basic sciences as a means for improving process understanding and streamlining drug development and manufacturing of pharmaceutical products'.

Britest's existing members include; AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Borregaard Synthesis, Excelsyn, NPIL Pharma, Hovione FarmaCiencia, Robinson Brothers Limited, Shasun Pharma Solutions, Foster Wheeler, Fujifilm, Jacobs Engineering, Johnson Matthey, ICI, University of Manchester, University of Newcastle and Imperial College London.