Matching the potential of Process Intensification technologies like continuous manufacturing/flow chemistry with the emerging Societal and Business Challenges in Medicines Manufacture and Supply – Part 1 The need for change

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INTRODUCTION
Flow chemistry has been topic of significant research over the last 20 years, and subject to numerous review articles (1-4). This has expanded the available practical chemistry for the synthesis of the complex organic molecules that form the basis of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API’s). As the topic matures, both the range of chemistries possible increases (eg photochemistry (5), synthetic biochemistry (6,7), electrochemistry (8)) and the availability of equipment suppliers and integrators increases, for lab and full scale production.