The role of chemical engineers in R&D in the pharmaceutical industry has evolved over the past decades in response to changing technological and regulatory challenges. The focus of academic preparation has also evolved from an emphasis on petroleum based chemistry and continuous processes to increasing attention to the needs of the pharmaceutical industry. These needs can include preparation for the engineering of increasingly complex chemical and biological processes. One question is always present: can this product candidate be actually made on a commercial scale or will it remain a laboratory curiosity with great therapeutic potential but no practical way to bring it to market?

Examples will be provided to illustrate how chemical engineering has contributed to provide solutions to some of the challenges.