NIH grant: Continuous, Scalable, Safe Hydrogenation for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (1R43TR006372-01)

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NIH grant 1R43TR006372-01: Continuous, Scalable, Safe Hydrogenation for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Institute: {'code': 'TR', 'abbreviation': 'NCATS', 'name': 'National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences', 'admin_org_id': '12500062', 'admin_funding_url': ''}. PI: Andrea  Adamo. Award: $306301.
Start: 2026-08-15T00:00:00.
Project Summary/Abstract
Domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing is currently struggling to meet growing demands. To
address this challenge, it is crucial to develop tools that can significantly enhance the
productivity of existing production facilities.
Pharmaceutical production today relies heavily on batch-based chemical synthesis, where
chemical reactions occur in several separate steps within large reactors. Among these steps,
hydrogenation stands out as a very frequent and important chemical transformation
unfortunately plagued by significant technical challenges, including scalability issues and safety
risks due to the explosive nature of hydrogen. Additionally, the process requires expensive
precious metal catalysts, further complicating production.
We propose the development of a safe, scalable, and continuous hydrogenation solution for
pharmaceutical applications. This innovative approach will combine W.L. Gore’s advanced
catalyst immobilization technique with a layered modular reactor design designed by Zaiput. Our
goal is to overcome the current challenges associated with hydrogenation, such as safety
concerns, scalability limitations, and the inefficiencies inherent in traditional batch-based
chemical synthesis.
In Phase I of this SBIR project, we will focus on key technological innovations necessary to
demonstrate the scalability of the layered reactor concept. Specifically, we will: 1) develop an
advanced gas-liquid distribution module that ensures uniform distribution across various reactor
sizes, and 2) demonstrate the system’s effectiveness by achieving scalable reaction results. In
Phase II, we will design and build larger-scale devices, conduct real-world testing in partnership
with pharmaceutical manufacturers to validate the technology in a manufacturing setting, and
initiate the commercialization process.
If successful, this project will produce a tool capable of immediately addressing hydrogenation
challenges and contribute to the reshoring of pharmaceutical manufacturing to the U.S. This
aligns with government priorities by offering safer, more efficient, cost-effective, and
environmentally friendly hydrogenation processes.

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