"ROW2’s RouteDesign service has given us many Novel Route ideas for our target molecules. The diverse route ideas recommended in RouteDesign reports also act as excellent stimuli to our own thought process. I must add that ROW2 team is very responsive and follow strict security norms. We are using RouteDesign service satisfactorily for the past 3 years."

- Director Technology, Process R & D Dept, One of the top 10 global pharmaceutical companies.

"SmartChem helps me tremendously in my work by allowing me to understand the chemical market around difficult molecules. It is a valuable sourcing tool I often recommend to other industry professionals"

- Sourcing & Materials Mgr, Sanofi-Aventis

ROW2 World:

• ROW2 Scaling new heights: ROW2 continued to scale new heights during 2007. Some of the significant events include multi year contracts with large Pharmaceutical Companies for RouteDesign. ROW2 is also on the path to kick-start two laboratory projects on a “risk sharing” model with Pharmaceutical companies. We have also seen an increased demand for our other services like Route2India as more and more companies are looking at strategic partners in India for their outsourcing needs.





• 5 Years of Value: SmartChem completed 5 Years of providing value to industry professionals and celebrated 5 Year Jubilee this year. As a part of celebration we had various activities including Jubilee Offers for customers and new subscribers. We received an overwhelming response to the SmartChem Jubilee offer. This offer will be formally concluded at Informex 2008. SmartChem team has been strengthened and validation norms made more stringent.





• ROW2 Answering Industries Call (Oct 07): ROW2 scientists’ have always received respect for their thoughts and Dr. Joseph D’Antuono, Vice President - Process Chemistry Solutions at ROW2 was invited to speak at the Mastering Process Chemistry Conference held in PA, USA. ROW2 also took the podium at the Global Pharma R&D Summit in Boston to discuss process development challenges.





• Media Accolades for ROW2: This year, articles featuring ROW2’s thought leaders discussing Novel trends in the industry, were published in internationally reputed Life Sciences Publications like Specialty Chemicals, World Pharmaceutical Frontiers etc. ROW2’s value driven services also gained the media’s notice and applaud.
  
  

• Webseminar (Jun 07): ROW2’s third successful webseminar on “Overcoming Challenges in Coupling Reactions with Catalysts” was attended and appreciated by over 80 Process Research Professionals across worldwide organizations. The recording is now available on the ROW2 website.





• Events & Conferences: ROW2's proactive initiative to tie up with major events and conferences have led to savings of up to 20% for ROW2 customers who registered through ROW2.
  
  ROW2's atttractive Event Watch Calendar cum Mousepad for 2008 highlighting major events and conferences will be released in January 2008. Request for your free copy of the calendar now.





• Annual Celebrations (Nov 07): ROW2 celebrated its second Thanksgiving and Process Research Chemists Day this year.





• Upcoming Events: ROW2 will exhibit at Informex 2008 (booth #747) on Jan 29 – Feb 1, New Orleans, USA. We will be celebrating the SmartChem 5 Year Jubilee Grand Finale and hold a Press Conference presenting views on “Pharmaceutical Licensing: Challenges from a synthetic view”.

ROW2 Important Events: January to March 2008

January 2008:
28-29: Bio Asia 2008: Tokyo, Japan
29 Jan – 1 Feb: Informex USA: New Orleans, USA

February 2008:
12–15: Drug Development Summit 2008: Amelia Islands, FL
14–15: Developing Chemical Processes for API's: Hyderabad, India
25-26: Global Biopharmaceutical Outsourcing: Philadelphia, USA

March 2008:
11–14: OPR&D: Dublin, Ireland

Summary of Featured Articles in 2007:

Catch glimpses of the articles that featured in the 2007 CI2E special issues.

We would like to thank all the industry experts who have shared their thoughts with CI2E Quarterly readers worldwide through this section.

Issue No. 3, Oct 2007: Business Development Special:

Business Development Strategies for Today’s Chemical Industry – Robert J. Byron, Business Development Manager, Tosoh USA
While describing Business Development strategies, Mr. Byron explains how purchasing factors, key success factors and timelines vary with chemical industry segments. Detailing Key Factors to be kept in mind in order to achieve success, he also introspects the techniques, which work in today’s 24/7 global business climate, such as communication, responsiveness, flexibility etc.
Click here to read the article.


Issue No. 2, Jul 2007: Process Research Special:

Solvents and Sustainability – Dr. Lalitha Krishnan, Consultant – Pharmaceutical companies, USA
Dr. Krishnan sheds light on some Solvent-Selection considerations while designing environment-friendly API Manufacturing Processes. In the current drive to develop cleaner technology with minimized environmental impact, Dr. Krishnan explains how solvents contribute significantly to the overall toxicity, which has led to major pharma companies developing and integrating “green” practices into the design of their commercial syntheses.
Click here to read the article.


Issue No. 1, Mar 2007: Outsourcing Special:

Outsourcing of Chemistry – Dr. Anand Shintre – Director, IndusChemie U.K.
With Outsourcing of core activities emerging as a global trend in the life sciences industry, Dr. Shintre’s article details the reason for this trend as well as the considerations involved when one thinks about Outsourcing these core activities. He also gives an insight to the expected performance of an outsourcing initiative, effective communication methods and tips for successful relationships with outsourcing partners.
Click here to read the article.

ROW2 picks of the quarter

Pharma Adapts:
Published in: (C&E News, Dec. 3, 2007 issue)
This interesting article sheds light on how the pharmaceutical industry is changing and how companies are inventing new strategies to deflect generic competition and stem growing safety concerns.

Drug Companies Cut Costs
Published in: (C&E News, Dec. 3, 2007 issue)
With the rapidly changing global market, this article helps understand how firms are aggressively reducing spend to protect profitability.


Good read: The top three articles from our past issues of 2007, which were appreciated by the readers.

Specialty Pharma: Business Development & Licensing Strategies:
Published in: (Specialty Pharma - Jul/Aug 2007 issue)
This article focuses on the Business Models and Strategies adopted in Specialty Pharmaceutical Companies. It also gives a further input to Licensing Strategies, Life Cycle Management and Outsourcing.

Total R&D Projects – plateauing out:
Published by: (Pharma Projects)
This interesting 2006 Annual Review of the Pharmaceutical Industries provides insight into the total number of drugs in R&D, examinations of R&D drugs by status, company, therapy etc. over a ten-year period.

Strategies For Choosing An Outsourcing Provider:
Published in: (pharmaceuticalonline.com in January 2007)
The author indicates very simply the 4 steps for effective selection of an Outsourcing Partner.

Scientific Update presents the Conference Developing Chemical Processes for API's on 14-15 February 2008 in Hyderabad, India

This is a ‘must-attend’ event for process chemists who want to keep up to date with the latest developments and learn directly from top international experts.

Participants at the 2007 show include BASF, Lanxess, Clariant, Rhodia, Jubilant Organosys, Schenectady etc.

Key speakers from major companies (including Eli Lilly, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Ranbaxy, DSM, AstraZeneca and Dr Reddy’s) will discuss the latest challenges and issues confronting industry. Hear detailed presentations and case studies on new and innovative approaches to synthetic route design, development, optimisation and scale-up.

To know more about the Scientific Update Conference, click here.

Chemistry World 2007 Highlights:

- The 2007 Nobel Prize in Chemistry went to GERHARD ERTL for his studies of the chemical processes on solid surfaces

- Top 4 drugs which lost Patent Protection in 2007:
- Norvasc (Pfizer),
- Risperdal (J&J),
- Betaloc (AstraZeneca),
- Zyrtec (Pfizer)

- 4 Potential Blockbusters set to launch in 2008:

Certolizumab pegol by UCB Pharma for Crohn's disease

Ipilimumab by BMS for Melanoma

Motavizumab by Medimmune for respiratory syncytial virus

Desvenlafaxine by Wyeth for depression

Chemistry Carol: In the Christmas spirit, we introduce to you the Chemistry Carol, to be sung in the tune of the Christmas Carol - Dreaming of a White Christmas, Enjoy

Silent Labs

I'm dreaming of a white precipitate,
just like the ones I used to make,
Where the colors are vivid,
and the chemist is livid,
to see impurities that glow.