Compact pharmaceutical factory manufactures drugs on demand

By Edward Gardner2020-01-07T14:36:00

An image showing an automated modular assembly line for drugs in a miniaturized box

Source: © Chuntian Hu/Continuus Pharmaceuticals

Plant with modular design would occupy about half the area of a squash court

Scientists have constructed a modular plant that can produce a generic drug in less than 30 hours. The plant, which is simple to reconfigure to produce other small-molecule pharmaceuticals, could eliminate drug shortages.