On June 14, 2024, Dr. Francesco Fontana (R&D Director), Dr. Dario Telese (Lead Chemist), and Dr. Lucija Ptiček (Synthesis Laboratory Specialist) from the Porton Slovenian site presented a lecture on the Master PRO-API program of the University of Perugia. The lecture, titled "Introduction to the Green Chemistry Metrics – Innovation Green Aspiration Level (iGAL)," The post-graduate master training program designed to prepare young graduates and post-graduates for careers as Process Chemists in the pharmaceutical industry. This program aims to provide participants with both methodological foundations and advanced specialist skills necessary for developing processes for producing active ingredients and pharmaceutical intermediates. It combines multidisciplinary theoretical instruction with practical experience gained through extended internships at industry-related companies. The ultimate goal is to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of the terminology, principles, and methods essential for process development and the production of pharmaceutical intermediates and active ingredients.

Porton's new R&D facility in Slovenia spans approximately 1,000 square meters and includes four API process labs, six analytical labs, and a kilo-lab built to OEB 4 (≥1µg/m³) standards. The facility is capable of operating under both non-GMP and GMP conditions. The labs are equipped to handle a wide array of reactions and processes, such as enzymatic reactions, metal catalysis, pressure reactions (including hydrogenation and carbonylation, etc.), and cryogenic - high-temperature reactions (ranging from -80°C to 200°C). This enables the facility to provide R&D services for API projects across various clinical stages. To date, the Porton Slovenia site has hired over 30 new employees and has initiated construction of a pilot plant. Once completed, this pilot plant will enable Porton to supply well-known international pharmaceutical companies with the first batches of APIs.

The Porton team is proud to contribute to the training and development of the new generation of Process Chemists, with a focus on the increasingly important Process Sustainability Metrics. Porton applies these metrics as a standard practice in its projects, not just during Process Development but throughout the entire products lifecycle. We hope that Master PRO-API students will integrate these lessons into their Process Chemist Toolbox!

Master of PRO-API (Process Development for the Production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients)

An advanced training program offered by the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Perugia, initiated by Professor Maura Marinozzi. As the first master's program in Italy of its kind, it provides an all-encompassing overview of activities related to the development and production of APIs, with a strong focus on chemistry. The program collaborates with Federchimica-Aschimfarma under a specific agreement, the PRO-API master's degree lasts one year and is divided into a semester of frontal teaching and a semester of full-time internship in the company.  visit: https://masterproapi.it/

About Porton PharmaTech D.O.O. (Porton Slovenia)

Porton PharmaTech D.O.O. serves as the European subsidiary of Porton Pharma Solutions Ltd. It stands as the first CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) in the pharmaceutical industry in Slovenia, offering comprehensive services that include synthesis route development, process familiarization, analytical methods development, and validation, as well as process scale-up. At Porton PharmaTech, d.o.o, Customers are fully supported by an integrated project team committed to deliver services and products within expected timelines and quality.

About Porton Pharma Solutions Ltd.

Founded in 2005, Porton Pharma Solutions Ltd. is an internationally recognized pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) in enabling our global clients to optimize drug development and manufacturing. We provide customer development and manufacturing services for Small Molecules, TIDES, Biologics, ADCs from pre-clinical to commercial. As of December 31, 2023, we have a proven record for the delivery of more than 3000 projects and established cooperation with more than 1000 global clients.