Our R&D teams continue to integrate principles of green chemistry and engineering to develop our medicines. A few examples include:
- For application in our late-stage product portfolio, we achieved process intensification and highly efficient processes via biocatalysis and organocatalysis. Biocatalysis and organocatalysis enable a reduction in the use of organic solvents and generate lower levels of organic waste, resulting in lower GHG emissions. This new green chemistry process was introduced at selected sites in 2021.
- Our Janssen R&D team worked with suppliers to adopt green chemistry and engineering principles in the production of a prescription medicine that is used with other medicines to treat HIV-1 infection in adults. By adopting a novel continuous catalytic process to create a component in the final product, our suppliers were able to improve both the raw material and hazardous waste profiles, ultimately improving overall environmental footprint of the product.
- At our Geel location, in Belgium, an on-site innovation allows us to purify processed water for reuse, while also recovering valuable materials and destroying toxins that result from the production of some pharmaceuticals. We call this innovation “Plant on a Truck” because the system is a mobile purification installation that treats wastewater left behind from chemical processes.
We also continuously collaborate widely with our suppliers to identify and evaluate green chemistry options across many manufacturing processes.