"Integrating the ED-1 represents a step toward making MicroED routine in pharmaceutical development."
— Alex Chen, Co-founder, Chairman & CEO of Crystal Pharmatech
Suzhou, China – ELDICO Scientific AG has announced the installation of its ED-1 electron diffractometer at Crystal Pharmatech's site in Suzhou, China. This milestone makes Crystal Pharmatech the first company in China and the Asia-Pacific region to deploy a dedicated MicroED platform for industrial applications. The two companies have also expanded their strategic collaboration.
A Purpose-Built Platform
The ELDICO ED-1 is the first dedicated electron diffractometer, purpose-built for determining crystal structures from sub-micron crystalline powders for small-molecule compounds. Designed for automated, 24/7 operation with high reproducibility, the platform aims to transform MicroED into a scalable, high-throughput analytical tool.
Industrial Applications
Crystal Pharmatech will leverage the ED-1 for a wide range of critical tasks in pharmaceutical development:
- Direct determination of crystal structures, chirality, and absolute configuration from sub-micron powders, including complex polymorphic mixtures and low-crystallinity materials.
- Comprehensive polymorph, salt, and cocrystal screening and solid-form selection.
- Detection and qualification of trace polymorphic impurities at the single-particle level.
- Characterization of amorphous solid dispersions to confirm the absence of residual crystallinity.
- Accelerated preformulation, formulation, and CMC development.
Strategic Partnership
James Berwick, CEO of ELDICO Scientific AG, noted that Crystal Pharmatech's expertise in solid-state science and global pharmaceutical development support makes them an ideal partner for industrial MicroED.
Alex Chen added that the integration of the ED-1 aligns with their commitment to delivering industrialized solid-state solutions. The collaboration builds on an established partnership between the two organizations in solid-state research and advanced crystallography applications.