BISHOP, TX, September 13, 2012 – BASF – the world leading producer
of generic active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) – honored
yesterday in a celebration twenty years of operations in the
manufacturing of Ibuprofen. In Bishop, Texas, BASF operates a world-
class production plant for manufacturing ibuprofen, a commonly used
pain killer drug substance, deploying an award-winning, environmental-
friendly production technique that avoids the use of chromium salts and
minimizes waste.
Bishop: 20 years dedication to the pharmaceutical industry
The BASF facility at the Bishop, Texas, site was built in 1991 and
began operations on September, 1992. Since then, it has become one
of the world’s most significant Ibuprofen plants. The FDA-audited and GMP-compliant production site is part of the OSHA (U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration) Voluntary
Protection Program (VPP) and is recognized with the “VPP Star site”
status. The VPP recognizes employers and workers in the private
industry and federal agencies who have implemented effective safety
and health management systems.
“We are proud of the Bishop facility team and their unparalleled
dedication to sustainability, safety and reliability,” said Daniele
Piergentili, Vice President BASF Pharma Ingredients and Services
North America. “The ibuprofen products manufactured at our Bishop
facility are the heart of our active ingredients portfolio and represent
BASF’s long-term commitment to reliable supply of high-quality
pharmaceutical ingredients to our partners.” BASF’s latest addition to
the ibuprofen product range is Sodium Ibuprofen. The product dissolves
quickly and thus provides faster pain killing effects for patients.
Leading in environmental-friendly production
BASF’s ibuprofen production process is an innovative, efficient
technology that has revolutionized bulk pharmaceutical manufacturing.
It provides an innovative solution to a prevalent problem commonly
encountered in bulk API synthesis. Large volumes of aqueous wastes
(often containing chromium salts) normally associated with such
manufacturing are virtually eliminated. The anhydrous hydrogen fluoride
catalyst/solvent is recovered and recycled. Furthermore, no other
solvent is needed in any of the reaction steps, simplifying product
recovery and minimizing fugitive emissions. The streamlined and
continuously improved process makes it a waste-minimizing,
environmentally friendly technology. The environmental superiority of the ibuprofen technology at BASF’s Bishop site was recognized with a Kirkpatrick Achievement Award for “outstanding advances in chemical
engineering technology” in 1993 and a Presidential Green Chemistry
Award in 1997.
Innovation with Ibuprofen DC 85
Today BASF produces several ibuprofen grades at its Bishop site
including the API for the process-accelerating Ibuprofen DC 85 product,
which has been specifically designed for direct compression into
tablets. With Ibuprofen DC 85, BASF solved two of the most common
industry challenges in direct compression of ibuprofen: persistent
sticking to the machinery and the need for high concentration of drug
substances. Ibuprofen DC 85 maximizes production speed while
minimizing stickiness. The result is a reliable fault-free tableting
production with higher output rates. Furthermore, expensive wet
granulation and compaction processing steps are not needed, which
reduces production costs.
For more than 75 years, BASF has been the world-leading supplier of
generic active ingredients such as ibuprofen, theophylline,
pseudoephedrine or caffeine to the pharmaceutical industry. In 2013,
BASF will extend its portfolio by introducing a pharmaceutical grade of
L-menthol to the market.
About BASF Nutrition & Health
BASF’s Nutrition & Health division develops, produces and markets a
comprehensive range of products and services for the human and animal nutrition,
pharmaceutical as well as flavor and fragrance industries. The division addresses
customer needs and enhances consumers’ well-being and quality of life. Nutrition &
Health provides the pharmaceutical industry with active ingredients such as caffeine
and ibuprofen, as well as excipients and customized synthesis services. The division produces aroma ingredients such as citral and geraniol for the flavor and fragrance industry. Important human nutrition products are vitamins and
carotenoids, plant sterols, emulsifiers and omega-3 fatty acids. Its feed additives
such as vitamins, carotenoids and enzymes make Nutrition & Health a worldwide
leader for the animal nutrition market.
BASF – The Chemical Company
BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North
American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than
16,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $20 billion in 2011. For more
information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us.
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its
portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection
products to oil and gas. We combine economic success, social responsibility and
environmental protection. Through science and innovation we enable our customers
in almost all industries to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products
and system solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring healthy food and
nutrition and helping to improve the quality of life. We have summed up this
contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future.
BASF posted sales of about €73.5 billion in 2011 and had more than 111,000
employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on
the Internet at www.basf.com.