Process
Analytical Technology Sciences

Building quality into a product should start already in the research and development phase. If product quality requirements are considered and implemented from the very beginning, life will be much easier as large-scale manufacturing will start and continue running. This is why “Process Analytical Technology – PAT could play an even more important role in design, analysis, and control of manufacturing processes that are based on timely measurements during processing, including integrated system approach, innovative development and cutting edge science.

At the EUFEPS 2004 in Brussels – the overall theme of which was New Safe Medicines: Towards Mechanistic Prediction – there was a session set up on Revolution in Science Driving Process Analytical Technology. While there, those participating in this two and a half days session on PAT decided to create a European Network on Process Analytical Technology Sciences to further encourage, stimulate and initiate (PAT) scientific approaches and interaction as well as education and training in the field. Both better understanding of chemical and industrial processes and development of advanced measurement tools are very much needed, it was concluded. For a short summary outcome of the EUFEPS 2004 Session on PAT, see the December 2005 (4/2005) issue of the EUFEPS NewsLetter.

EUFEPS has agreed to provide a home for this new Network as well as to help with communication within and organisation and announcements of meetings and courses.

A Steering Group was also formed, at the EUFEPS 2004. The current members of it include:

Peter York, University of Bradford, UK (Chair)	p.york@bradford.ac.uk
Staffan Folestad, AstraZeneca, Mölndal, Sweden (Vice Chair)	staffan.folestad@astrazeneca.com
Jan Broerson, Organon, Oss, The Netherlands	jan.broerson@organon.com
Fritz Erni, Novartis Pharma, Basel, Switzerland	fritz.erni@novartis.com
Hans Leuenberger, University of Basel, Switzerland	hans.leuenberger@unibas.ch
Hans H. Linden, EUFEPS Secretariat, Stockholm, Sweden	hans.linden@eufeps.org
Carl-Fredrik Mandenius, University of Linköping, Sweden	cfm@ifm.liu.se
Anders Rasmuson, Chalmers University, Gotehnburg, Sweden	rasmuson@chemeng.chalmers.se
Kevin Roberts, University of Leeds, UK	k.j.roberts@leeds.ac.uk
Anna-Maria Tivert, AstraZeneca, Mölndal, Sweden	anna-maria.tivert@astrazeneca.com

If you would like to forward ideas and suggestions on how to proceed, send a message to any of them. Also, if you would like to join this European PAT Sciences Network, let Hans H. Linden of EUFEPS know. Currently, there is no additional fee. EUFEPS would, however, like to see this as a network of Individual Membership of EUFEPS.

Progress and plans since the formation of the Network include: