US-based Corning Incorporated has announced the launch of its Advanced Flow Pharmaceutical Technology (AFPT) services business to help contract development manufacturing organisations (CDMOs) and pharmaceutical companies create key starting materials and active pharmaceutical ingredients. The services will provide faster methods for identifying effective compounds during early-stage research - helping shorten drug development timelines.

AFPT will draw on Corning’s two decades of experience in flow chemistry from its Advanced-Flow Reactors (AFR) business. Compared to traditional batch processing, flow chemistry allows for the rapid optimisation and efficient screening of chemical reactions, and for the faster synthesis of chemical compounds using inherently safer technology. AFR’s portfolio of flow products has been adopted by numerous pharmaceutical, fine chemical, and new materials companies.

During the initial stages of drug development, pharmaceutical companies face the extensive and time-consuming process of identifying and synthesizing compounds that could be viable drug candidates. AFPT services will help speed up this process. Using its dedicated, on-site lab equipped with Corning’s AFR technology, AFPT will provide the data, analyses, and consultation critical to determining possible drug candidates at these early stages.