Strem Chemicals licenses out synthetic catalyst from Canberra which will boost efficiency in Ritalin manufacturing.
International chemicals developer Strem Chemicals has licensed out a synthetic catalyst developed at Canberra University which will help boost the production of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drug Ritalin.
Developed by Canberra researcher Ashraf Ghanem, the catalyst produces a reaction which allows targeted molecules to be extracted. The result is a high level of purity which in turn requires less processing or side effects in the finished product.
The deal marks a first for Canberra, as the catalyst is the university’s first licensed chemical product which will be sold worldwide. In addition, the catalyst could potentially be used with other chemicals, therefore extended the potential reach and uptake of the catalyst.
Saying that the work was important as it would produce more effective pharmaceuticals at a reduced cost, Ghanem added: “This commercialisation deal shows that we are achieving great results in our field and that our work is offering a solution that can improve the pharmaceutical industry’s access to more pure drugs. I feel that this is what my research is meant to be doing – taking the theory from the bench to a product in the marketplace.”
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