OUR SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD
Timothy F. Jamison, Ph.D
Co-Founder and Scientific Advisor
A world-renowned expert in flow chemistry, methodology development, and organic synthesis, Tim Jamison founded Snapdragon Chemistry with a vision to enhance the entire drug discovery >> development >> manufacturing value chain through flow chemistry. With a career spanning over 15 years as a Professor of Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), including as Department Head of Chemistry, Tim has advanced the organic chemistry field with over 125 academic publications. Tim is also a key scientific leader in the Novartis-MIT Center for Continuous Manufacturing, where he makes fundamental contributions to the initiative with his expertise in flow chemistry. In addition, he has worked with numerous pharmaceutical companies to solve some of their most difficult chemistry challenges that arise in their drug discovery/development efforts.
Aaron B. Beeler, PhD
Co-Founder and Synthetic Technologies Advisor
Aaron Beeler is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Boston University and, prior to that, was Associate Director of the Center for Chemical Methodology and Library Development at Boston University. Aaron has authored 31 publications and has 2 patents. In addition, he has made fundamental contributions to flow chemistry and medicinal chemistry and shares in the same vision as Tim of transforming drug discovery/development through flow chemistry. Aaron’s research has contributed considerably to the development of unique reactor designs in flow chemistry and has enabled, among other things, photochemistry to create unique building blocks that greatly expand the medicinal chemists’ toolkit for discovering more effective medicines.
Christopher J. Welch, PhD
Scientific Advisor
Christopher J. Welch is Chief Scientific Officer for Welch Innovation, LLC, an independent research and consulting firm located in Cranbury, NJ USA. Dr. Welch has worked in a variety of fields within the chemical industry, including discovery synthesis of agrochemicals (Velsicol-Sandoz), development of reagents for improved immunodiagnostic assays (Abbott Laboratories), development and commercialization of chromatographic stationary phases, reagents and enantioselective catalysts within a small chemical business environment (Regis Technologies) and the invention and application of new purification, analysis and high throughput experimentation technologies for pharmaceutical process research (Merck & Co.). Dr. Welch has authored more than 250 scientific publications and patents. He is co-founder of the journal, Enantiomer, a member of the editorial advisory board for the journals, Chirality, Journal of the Korean Chemical Society, Chemistry World and ACS Central Science. He has received honors and awards including the NJCG Award for Excellence in Chromatography, the PACS Activated Carbon Hall of Fame award, Merck Research Laboratories Presidents Award for Environmental Achievement, Microsoft Life Science Innovation Award, Fellow of the American Chemical Society, Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Chirality Medal, the University of Nebraska Chemistry Industrial Award and the EAS Award for Outstanding Achievement in Separation Science.
Stephen L. Buchwald, PhD
Scientific Advisor
Steve Buchwald is the Camille Dreyfus Professor of Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and is an expert in new chemical reaction methodology/development. His academic career has spanned over thirty years, during which he has co-authored over 420 academic publications and has 44 issued patents. His numerous honors and awards include the 2013 Arthur C. Cope Award from the American Chemical Society, the 2014 Linus Pauling Medal Award, and the 2014 BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Basic Sciences (awarded in 2015). He was elected as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2000 and as a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 2008. Professor Buchwald also serves as a scientific consultant to many companies and is an associate editor of Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis.
Andrea Adamo, PhD
Innovation Advisor
Andrea Adamo is the CEO of Zaiput Flow Technologies — a leading continuous flow equipment design/manufacturing firm — and an entrepreneur with extensive experience in the development of innovative engineering solutions. Dr. Adamo holds a Master of Science in Engineering from the University of Palermo, Italy and a Ph.D. in Fluid Mechanics from the University Federico II of Naples, Italy, in addition to a Master of Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He was also awarded a Fulbright Scholarship. After completing his graduate studies, Dr. Adamo joined the laboratory of Professor Klavs Jensen, in MIT’s Chemical Engineering Department. He worked in the Jensen Group first as a post-doctoral associate and then as a research associate. In these positions, Dr. Adamo gained extensive experience in the design and manufacturing of innovative microfluidic and millifluidic systems.
OUR SERVICES
PROCESS DEVELOPMENT
Snapdragon Chemistry provides process improvement and scale-up services. With our world-class consulting capability, we can suggest process improvement ideas that leverage technology to:
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Reduce the number of transformations required to synthesize a given molecule.
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Improve the efficiency of the transformations.
Moreover, our laboratory services support the implementation of these ideas to prepare scaled quantities of your target product. Snapdragon Chemistry will also work with your in-house team to establish process-scale reactors to ensure seamless technology transfer.
Some of the reactors we use to develop processes for our clients include:
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PLUG FLOW
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PACKED BED
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CSTR
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PHOTOREACTOR
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ELECTROCHEM
See more detailed reactor information. >>
We leverage our advanced capabilities in autonomous process development to deliver robust and scalable chemistry solutions. Snapdragon Chemistry can leverage our expertise in reactor platforms to deliver chemistry solutions for your toughest problems.
REACTOR DESIGN & BUILD
After establishing the process, Snapdragon chemists and engineers can work together to build a self-contained reactor "skid" to allow the process to be performed anywhere. Our process engineering team develops a 3D CAD model of the skid prior to ordering and assembling custom components for the system, allowing for "right first time" designs as well as clear communication with the client and the production facility. Customers use our skids for medicinal chemistry scale-up, process development, and production in GMP environments (kilo lab and plant).
Our R&D skids are designed to give our clients the power to use Snapdragon process development tools in their own labs. These systems can be based on platform technologies such as hydrogenation, high temperature/pressure, and photochemistry. They can be customized to meet the client's requirements, and include Snapdragon control software to allow for these complex systems to be managed easily.
Our GMP production skids use industry-standard automation technologies including PLC-based control panels and a PC-based SCADA system. The control panels can be constructed to comply with a range of electrical safety requirements as needed, including UL and CE, and they can be rated for use in hazardous locations (explosion-proof/ATEX). The SCADA system provides a user interface as well as a data historian compliant with GMP electronic records requirements (21 CFR Part 11). These control systems can be used to operate the equipment through a single interface, and they can also accommodate automation functions such as start-up, shut-down, emergency stop, and clean-in-place. Our automation systems can integrate into any plant-wide control system.
PORTFOLIO OPTIMIZATION
Snapdragon Chemistry can help you develop and optimize chemical reactions. Depending upon your stage of development, we provide consulting services regarding:
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FEASIBILITY OF APPLYING NOVEL TECHNOLOGY TO A REACTION
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REACTOR DESIGN AND SET-UP
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SPECIFIC CONDITIONS AND PARAMETERS TO OPTIMIZE A REACTION
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PORTFOLIO OPTIMIZATION
Based on your needs, our talented chemists and engineers provide holistic chemistry services to rapidly develop and optimize reactions so that you can focus on other priorities. We understand the importance of seamless technology transfer either within your own facilities or through our GMP manufacturing partners. We are happy to work with you to determine a customized plan that best suits your needs.
While we are agnostic as to the process development approach utilized, we have unique expertise in completing multiple synthetic steps in one continuous flow process across a broad set of reactions and conditions. By employing integrated multi-step processes, customers tap into some of the greatest benefits of this novel chemical technology. Our leadership has led many of the major developments in the flow chemistry field, and we employ chemists that have had hands-on experience in developing these continuous processes.
OPTIMIZE EARLY
Continuous flow chemistry is typically used as a last resort to address challenges that arise in conventional batch methodology. As a result, there are often missed opportunities to apply continuous flow chemistry to enhance product development and gain the greatest advantages of flow technology. We offer a detailed analysis of your portfolios, reviewing reactions and processes across a set of molecules and proactively identifying key opportunities to use innovative chemistry to improve productivity.
WORK WITH THE EXPERTS
We have unparalleled expertise in utilizing flow technology to transform synthetic routes (e.g., reducing the number of synthetic steps, improving conversion, and decreasing residence time) and substantially increasing their efficiency. Our broad experience in translating reactions into flow enables us to take a unique look at your portfolio to identify these opportunities and help you achieve a step-change in productivity.
GMP MANUFACTURING
Snapdragon Chemistry offers state-of-the-art process development, and provides clients the ability to choose to implement GMP manufacturing in-house or with one of Snapdragon Chemistry’s network of GMP manufacturing partners. There is no need to worry about technology transfer.
The GMP process covers everything from the starting materials, premises, equipment, and quality systems to the training and personal hygiene of the staff. Detailed written procedures are documented to ensure that the correct procedures are consistently followed at each step in the process.
The compliance process begins before the project starts. Everything is validated: a methodology is established through documented evidence for each procedure, process, equipment, material, activity, and system. Documented measures are taken to validate the production process to ensure quality and safety. This is a seamless process to our customers. We’ve got you covered.
