Innovation and reliability for the pharmaceutical industry
Andreas Niedermaier, CEO of Alzchem Group, is proud to lead with innovation, sustainability and excellence in pharmaceutical intermediates and speciality chemicals
Reliable, high-quality and flexible partners are essential for the pharmaceutical industry when it comes to the supply of intermediates and speciality chemicals. Considering global challenges like supply chain risks, increasing regulatory requirements and growing pressure to innovate, chemical producers play a key role.
With a unique combination of tradition, modern production, a clear focus on sustainability, and a wide range of specialised products, the speciality chemicals industry has established itself as an indispensable partner for pharmaceuticals over the past decades. The spectrum ranges from classic basic chemicals like cyanamide and dicyandiamide( DCD) to highly specialised guanidine salts, and systems in contract synthesis.
The following sections provide a closer insight into selected products and services to illustrate how the sector’ s portfolio not only meets current requirements but also sets impetus for future developments.
Integrated production & strategic advantages
A defining feature of European speciality chemicals is their integrated production network. Starting with basic raw materials such as calcium carbide, the value chain often extends to cyanamide, DCD and numerous fine chemicals up to high-purity pharmaceutical intermediates.
For customers, this vertical integration means above all: safety and reliability. Global supply structures can
be a challenge when one is dependent on them. Companies with internal control can strictly monitor both quality and specifications while ensuring security of supply at the same time.
Also worth highlighting is the strategic location advantage offered by European production‘ Made in Europe’ – apart from the quality promise that results from it.
A versatile building block
One of the most traditional and at the same time forward-looking products in the pharmaceutical field is cyanamide. Specialised grades meet increasing demand for highly reactive building blocks for API synthesis.
Cyanamide is used in a variety of well-known drugs, such as albendazole, fenbendazole and imatinib – a milestone in cancer therapy. It is valued not only in human pharmaceuticals but also in veterinary applications, underscoring the versatility of the product.
DCD: Key component for metformin & more
Another essential building block of pharmaceutical portfolios is DCD. This is available in various degrees of purity. Its use in the field of antidiabetic drugs is particularly noteworthy: DCD is required to produce the intermediate tropharm, which indispensable for manufacturing metformin, the world ' s most widely prescribed API.
The importance of this intermediate continues to grow, especially given the increasing prevalence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Producers in Europe represent the only Western source of pharmaceutical-grade DCD, thus ensuring a security of supply that is strategically crucial for many customers. In addition to metformin, DCD is also used in other API syntheses and offers high purity, consistent quality and environmentally friendly production.
26 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981