"SmartChem has allowed my colleagues and I to target specific companies and identify new worldwide opportunities to grow our business. It has also helped increase the effectiveness of my prospecting visits."

- Business Development Manager, One of the top 10 global pharmaceutical companies.

"ROW2’s RouteDesign report gave us novel synthetic routes suitable for commercial scale that we had not considered before, and therefore, added to our team's knowledge. We would definitely use this service again."

- Head of Process Research, One of the leading Biotech companies

ROW2 World:

• Expanding horizons for ROW2 offerings:  RouteDesign continues to be the flagship offering of ROW2. ROW2 bagged further long-term RouteDesign contracts with top Global Life Sciences Companies in 2008. Moreover, ROW2’s research team reduced to practice, the routes proposed in some of their RouteDesign projects and successfully provided proof of concepts to its customers. In addition to Intellectual Property generation, get wider scalable routes options and overcome process chemistry challenges, our customers have now incorporated RouteDesign and its variants in their workflow for in-licensed and out-licensed molecules. Their in-licensing and out-licensing candidates need to pass a RouteDesign Evaluation Test for Scalability before they progress further in the value chain.





• Successful entry in the biotech industry: ROW2 made a successful mark in the Biotech Industry in the year 2008. With increasing expectations from licensing partners, investors and increasing pressure to improve value realization, biotech companies are focusing on providing more and more complete packages to their licensing partners. Using RouteDesign and RouteIncubator, biotech companies are now providing scalable chemistries for their target compounds which strengthen their licensing packages further and increase realization multifold.





• SmartChem, the only knowledgebase to take today’s challenges head on: Chemical and life sciences industry today is facing the heat of global financial crisis. With increased cost consciousness, slashing of budgets and focus on improving efficiencies, sourcing professionals are expected to explore wider set of alternative sources to ensure credible suppliers with the best possible commercial terms. Business Development professionals are expected to explore new markets, increase customer base meeting time pressures with less resources.
  
  SmartChem has quickly adapted itself in order to equip its users to meet these challenges. Details on accreditations like DMF/VMF, wider suppliers options including trading forms help users identify credible suppliers and negotiate best deals. Focused on commercial and commercially significant molecules, users have access to the latest molecules and details pertaining to them. With new online After Sales Assistant, users can request for details on “difficult to find” molecules quickly and in the secured manner. SmartChem also provides alerts on REACH High Concern Chemicals helping users to respond proactively.
  
  SmartChem users will soon find SmartChem in an entirely new look, Details on Certificate of Suitability Holders and many more enhancements.





• Events and Conferences: Participation in various events and conferences gives us an excellent opportunity to showcase our offerings network with industry colleagues, understand their needs and meet customers. ROW2 exhibited at Informex 2008. The event was action packed with ROW2’s 5-Year Jubilee Finale, Press Conference and various exciting programs. ROW2 also participated in other major events such as CPhI, Chemspec, BIO Europe, etc.
  
  ROW2 was proud to be a Silver Sponsor at Organic Process Research and Development, Montreal, Canada and also was a sponsor to the conference organized by Scientific Update in India. ROW2 was also present at the events organized by ACS ProSpectives.
  
  ROW2 will be soon launching its Event Watch Calendar 2009 highlighting the major events and conferences. Request a copy here.
  
  

• Celebrations round the year: ROW2 celebrated the Third Process Research Chemists' Day on November 10, 2008 and Thanksgiving Day on November 27, 2008 with its customers. ROW2 customers also enjoyed the “SmartChem and Euro 2008 Contest” and won exciting prizes.

ROW2 Important Events: Jan’ 09 to March’ 09

January 2009:
27-30 : InformexUSA 2009: San Francisco, USA

February 2009:
11 :      Reduction Reactions in Organic Synthesis: London, UK

March 2009:
08-11: Drug Development Summit’09: Arizona
12-14: Informex India: Ahmedabad, India
17-18: Process Analytical Technology in OPR&D: Brussels, Belgium
19-20: Polymorphism & Crystallization: Brussels, Belgium

Summary of Featured Articles in 2008:

Catch glimpses of the articles that featured in the 2008 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 2008:

Route Selection as Primary Driver for Low Cost Of Goods and Green Chemistry
Author: Neal G. Anderson

An interesting article from Neal, which explains how the choice of correct starting materials is the key to Reduction in Cost Of Goods (COG) in multi-step syntheses. Sighting examples from companies like Merck, Pfizer. Neal further reinforces the importance of judicious route selection and selection of starting materials. To read the full article click here.


Issue No. 2, Jul 2008:

Ranbaxy, Daiichi Sankyo deal – is there more to come?
Author: Ravi Raghavan

Highlighting changes in the global pharmaceutical industries, Ravi discusses an interesting case study of Ranbaxy – Daiichi Sankyo deal. With a reality check for Indian Pharma Companies, he also gives an insight as to why it is increasingly important for the Innovator companies also to have a presence in Generics.
To read the full article click here.


Issue No. 1, Mar 2008:

Complying with REACH: Time is running out
Author: Ravi Raghavan

Through this article, Ravi Raghavan gives valuable details on REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) and the products covered under REACH. Ravi also explains further pre-registration procedure, registration options and evaluation timelines. It is a good informative piece for those who wish to learn about REACH legislation.
To read the full article click here.

ROW2 picks of the quarter

Focus on the Process Industries: Pharmaceuticals: Reworking the Pharma Supply Chain:
Published in: (Industry Week: Dec, 2008 Issue)
This article describes how the Pharma supply chains get a new look as the Pharmaceutical Industry faces multiple challenges.

Regulation of Biomarker Clinical Laboratory Tests Used in Personalized Medicine:
Published in: (Biopharm International: Dec, 2008 Issue)
This article explains how the links between genetic information and its clinical outcomes are of intense interest in Biopharmaceutical Research and Development today.


Following are the top 3 articles from our past 2008 issues, which were appreciated by our readers.

Pharma suppliers brace for downturn
Published in: (C&E News: Oct., 2008 Issue)
The global financial crisis is coinciding with a challenging time for big pharma firms. Here is an article on the impact of this financial turmoil on pharma industry.

Biotech Survives Difficult Opening to 2008
Published in: (BioPharm International: June, 2008 Issue)
This article sheds light on how Biotech IPOs and Financing are down in the current market crisis yet M&As are as successful as ever.

Befriending Enemies
Published in: (Express Pharma Online: Feb, 2008 Issue)
Learn how ‘Innovator’ pharmaceutical companies are adopting different ways of fighting their traditional enemies – generics companies in this fascinating article.

Chemistry World 2008 Highlights:

- The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was jointly given to Osamu Shimomura, Martin Chalfie and Roger Y. Tsien for their contribution in Discovery and Development of the Green Fluorescent Protein, GFP.

-Top 5 drugs that lost Patent Protection in 2008 are:
1. Fosamax (Merck),
2. Topamax (Johnson &      Johnson),
3. Advair and Lamictal     (GSK),
4. Effexor XR (Wyeth),
5. Casodex (AstraZeneca)

- Some Funny New Year Quotes:

Joey Adams
May all your troubles last as long as your New Year's resolutions!

Oscar Wilde
Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account.

Bill Vaughn
Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to.

F.M. Knowles
He who breaks a resolution is a weakling; He who makes one is a fool.