An Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) is by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration defined as the following: Any substance or mixture of substances intended to be used in the manufacture of a drug (medicinal) product and that, when used in the production of a drug, becomes an active ingredient of the drug product. Such substances are intended to furnish pharmacological activity or other direct effect in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease or to affect the structure or function of the body.

Teva api, global leader in Active pharmaceutical Ingredient production and development

In other words The Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient is the part of the drug that produces its effects. The leading manufacturer of APIs today is Teva api, which Specializes in range of API-related production methods. Teva api’s expertise includes chemical synthesis, fermentation, chromatography and plant extraction and is the industry’s largest producer and developer of API products, with over 400, sold to over 1,000 customers around the globe.

API Production Methods

Teva api’s state-of-the-art production sites are located in Italy, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Israel, India, Mexico, and its two main methods to manufacture API’s are chemical synthesis and fermentation.

Chemical synthesis. Most API’s are produced by chemical synthesis, from a range of compounds. Chemical synthesis involves highly complex chemistry, equipment and procedures. Teva api was a global pioneer in this technique and is still the number one developer and producer of chemically synthesized API’s.

Fermentation. Teva api has also been a pioneer in the development of fermentation based API’s and its portfolio of biotechnologically manufactured API’s is steadily growing. Basically the fermentation process enables living microorganisms to produce the desired active ingredient.

Production of High Potency Active pharmaceutical Ingredient

A growing number of pharmaceutical products contain Highly Potent Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (HP APIs) – molecules that are effective at much smaller dosage levels than traditional APIs. Teva api was a pioneer of HP API production and its long tradition of highly potent product manufacturing dates back to the 1980s. Initially, the focus at its High Potency sites was on steroids and steroidal hormones. Later they added oncolytic drugs, muscle relaxants (anaesthesia) and drugs for pulmonary diseases (e.g., COPD and asthma).  Today Teva api operates four main High Potent sites: two in Italy, one in the Czech Republic, and one in Mexico. In addition to meeting industry needs for injectable and respiratory drugs, Teva api has also introduced lyophilization (freeze-drying) and micronization processes on a commercial scale.

Significant investment in Research & Development generates a steady flow of Active pharmaceutical Ingredient production

Teva api’s significant investment in Research & Development generates a steady flow of API compounds, enabling its customers to go to market with new pharmaceutical products more quickly. About half of Teva api’s R&D expenditure is dedicated to improving process efficiency and automation, to help its customers reduce costs and remain competitive in the global marketplace.

If you are interested in working in close co-operation with our profession and friendly team to produce your new or existing formulation based on high quality API’s, or would like to know more about Teva api’s production capabilities, expertise or facilities, please contact us – We would be delighted to answer your questions, queries or enquiries.