Many different aspects of polymorphism as it relates to pharmaceutical solids were discussed at the CrystEngComm Symposium: Pharmaceutical Poymorphism in The Chemistry Centre, Friday 4th November.
From modelling and control, through development and formulation to intellectual property aspects, all areas concerning the impact that polymorphism has on the development of pharmaceuticals were covered by the speakers. Dr Örn Almarsson (Alkermes Inc. USA) began the day with an overview of crystal polymorphism and pharmaceuticals, followed by Dr Graeme Day’s (University of Cambridge, UK) account of how computational methods are being developed to deal with complex molecular flexibility when predicting polymorphs and crystal structures. Professor Ivo Rietveld (Universite Paris Decartes, France) then closed the morning session with a review of using pressure-temperature diagrams to determine the stability hierarchy of a set of polymorphs.
Dr Ann Newman (Seventh Street Development Group, IN, USA) began the afternoon session with a discussion of the importance of solid form screening to drug development, while Dr Simon Black (Astra Zeneca, UK) illustrated some of the issues around the discovery of a new polymorph with some interesting case studies.
Professor Jamshed Anwar (University of Bradford, UK) outlined the methodology for molecular simulation and its application to polymorph phase transitions, followed by Dr Z. Jane Li (Boehringer Ingelheim, USA) who gave an overview of the impact that the necessary control of polymorph formation has on the development of pharmaceutical formulation. Dr Avijit Kelkar (Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (UK) Limited, UK) then finished the Symposium by sharing his expertise in the area of patents and intellectual property.
Many thanks are due to CrystEngComm Editorial Board member, Dr Z. Jane Li, who provided the vision and concept behind the symposium, and without whom the event would not have been possible. Full details of the presentations (abstracts, biographies etc), take a look at the symposium programme which can be found on the symposium website.
CrystEngComm will publish a themed issue on ‘Crystal engineering and crystallography in the pharmaceutical industry’ in early 2012 with Guest Editors Dr Magali Hickey, Dr Örn Almarsson and Dr Matt Peterson. For more information, contact the Editorial Office.
Read some related CrystEngComm Highights by following the links below:
