NEWSLETTER OF eurostar-science

NO 1 -- May 21, 2001

This is the first newsletter of the European Society for Applied Physical Chemistry - eurostar-science.  With this new communication tool we would like to make you aware of the ongoing activities of our society and other news in the field of applied physical chemistry.  The newsletter is announced by an e-mail sent to registered members and includes also a printable pdf-version.
  
If you haven't already done it, you are invited to subscribe to this free service by sending an empty message to eurostar-science@solvias.com with the subject "Newsletter".  To unsubscribe, please send an empty message with "Unsubscribe" from the e-mail address on which you are subscribed. In case of any problems, please contact the webmaster.
  
Today we would like to announce our new eurostar-science website published at the well-known address http://www.eurostar-science.org. With the renewing of our website, we hope to offer our members steadily increasing opportunities to share information on relevant issues, and to intensify contacts among members or other scientists interested in this area. Beside general information on the society, their aims, statutes and the possibility to register with us, we plan to include the following content:
  
- information on the next and previous conferences  
  organized by eurostar-science
- links which could be useful in the daily work of our 
  members
- information on other interesting events
- opportunities to present your own work, to share your 
  experiences with others, and to ask and answer
  questions
- get information on new techniques, methods and 
  equipment.
  
Of course there is no limit to possible further interesting topics.However, these targets cannot become reality if we depend on only a few people, and naturally we need some time to grow up to a more and more useful platform. To create a vivid atmosphere of communication, we appreciate your response, comments, proposals and especially contributions to the website and the newsletter. Thank you.
  
The next issue of our newsletter is expected in the third quarter of this year.

  
Details on the following topics are available at the website.

CONFERENCES

  Munich Meeting, a joint conference of GEFTA, eurostar-science, and STK on Thermal Analysis
     in Material Sciences and its Application to the Car and Aircraft Industry, takes place from 
     September 11 - 13, 2001 @ the BMW Research and Engineer Center in Munich, Germany.
     The scientific program will be published on the website in July. Further information are available on
     GEFTA's homepage.

  PhandTA 6, the 6^th International Conference on Pharmacy and Applied Physical Chemistry of 
    eurostar-science, takes place from May 26 - 29, 2002, the second time @ Monte Veritá in Ascona, 
    Switzerland.General information and the tentative program are already available.

  Workshop on Solid State Chemistry and Physics takes place on May 30, 2002,  @ Monte Veritá in 
      Ascona, Switzerland, following PhandTA 6.

  Information on previous conferences, i.e. PhandTA 4 and PhandTA 5 incl. the scientific programs and 
     abstracts are archived now.
   

NEWS FOR CURRENT & FUTURE MEMBERS

Registration Form. Members registering in 2001 receive a present.

Statutes of eurostar-science are available.

Visit the Useful-Link-Section. Contributions are appreciated. 

Furthermore selected conferences and symposia are collected on the  Event-page. Please feel free to share 
    your knowledge on further interesting events with others by sending your proposals to the webmaster.

Solvias AG was founded in October 1999 as a spin-off of a centre of scientific expertise at Novartis. The fully independent company provides a comprehensive range of scientific services in physico-chemical characterisation, chemical analysis, synthesis and catalysis, online measurement technologies and software development.

Polymorphism is the ability of a compound to crystallise in more than one distinct crystal structure. The probability that a particular drug substance can exist in different solid forms (polymorphs, solvates, hydrates and amorphous form) is high. These modifications or polymorphs have different physical and chemical properties. From the pharmaceutical point of view, bioavailability (through solubility profile), processability and stability are influenced by the existence of polymorphs. In order to avoid undesired changes during the production process or during the product lifetime, it is therefore extremely important to know the thermodynamic and kinetic stability of all forms as a function of temperature and other environmental variables. Moreover, it has been demonstrated several times that a sound polymorphic characterisation is a powerful means of extending the lifetime of one’s own patent or, under favourable conditions, of getting patent protection on generic 

drugs.We can provide complete studies or answer highly specialised questions and our in-house attorney can assist in evaluating existing patents or applying for new patents. In short, we adapt our polymorphism studies to the customers needs, wishes and special requirements (timeframe, compound availability and budget).

Our clearly defined and structured strategy for polymorphic studies includes the search for new solid forms via thermoanalytical techniques as well as via different crystallisation techniques from selected solvents. Any new relevant solid form is characterised spectroscopically and thermally and the hygroscopic behaviour is analysed. Finally, if possible, the thermodynamic relationship between the forms is established and an interrelation scheme is drawn.

Project extensions include the production of several grams of the desired new form, the optimisation of the crystallisation procedure, the development of a scale-up procedure and the transfer to production. Further on, the physical and chemical stability in a given formulation and possible interactions with excipients are established. Finally there is the Solvias Salt Program, where different salts are produced, characterised and eventually screened again for their polymorphic behaviour.

  
Contact

Dr. Rolf Hilfiker
Solvias AG
WKL-127.550 
Klybeckstrasse 191
CH-4002 Basel 

Phone: +41 61 686 6021
Fax: +41 61 686 6022
e-mail: rolf.hilfiker@solvias.com
Internet: http://www.solvias.com
  

Example - Polymorphism of Lufenuron

Examples of state of the art technique and of a transformation scheme resulting from a systematic polymorphism study. [1]

© eurostar-science, 2001
issued: May 21, 2001 by katiniko