Bioneemtec Looks At Manufacturing Key Starting Materials To Reduce Reliance On China

Chennai, 13 March 2021:

Bio-technology startup, Bioneemtec India has begun looking at manufacturing Key Starting Materials (KSM) through its newly launched Flow Pump facility with its in-house technology that will ensure a fast conversion rate and reduce the production cost without any environmental hazardous by-products or residues.

"We are concentrating on developing key raw materials from this flow reactor pump. We have developed some molecules and are looking to produce Acetophenone which is a major raw material that is used for API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) and intermediates," explained Dr. Menaga Magendran, Managing Director, Bioneemtec India. "If we are successful, we can produce it at Rs 400 when we are currently importing it from China at Rs 1700."

Further, she said that the Chennai-based company only has lab scale production and can produce up to 10 kilos but the demand for this compound is in tonnes.

"So once we are successful, we will be interested to come up with a commercial pilot plan so we can start supply of this key raw material to Indian API and pharma companies," Dr. Menaga said.

The company is focused on development of green technology especially using a Flow-pump reactor to synthesize intermediates, chemicals in sustainable methods of green chemistry.

"Normally, for the synthesis of molecules people use reactors. It is the conventional method of synthesis but there is a chance of explosion. More recently the pharmaceutical and chemical industry is adopting this technology. The Inherent increased safety, cost efficiency and overall production flexibility are the drivers for the growing use of continuous flow chemistry. With the flow reactor, that we have imported and customised and designed as per our project, everything is under manual and digital control. So in this facility we can synthesize the molecule in a controlled temperature and pressure so there will be no explosion and using an ecofriendly solvent like water."

Bioneemtec is also in the process of developing two-three blood clotting molecules for clients based in China and was sanctioned with a sum of Rs 3 crore to develop this through the novel route.

"We started validation in the flow reactor and optimisation is underway. This will be the first blood clotting molecule synthesised through this route and we are planning to patent it," said Dr Menaga.Economic Times