Scientific and Technological Advances in the Fields of Preparative and Process Chromatography

Professor Giorgio Carta, University of Virginia, PREP Symposium Chair

Preparative and process chromatography are key to the manufacture of broad classes of products, including fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology products. The 30th International Symposium, Exhibit & Workshops on Preparative and Process Chromatography – PREP 2017 – is where scientists, engineers and suppliers of media, equipment and technology from around the world will come to focus on the most recent scientific and technological advances in this field.

PREP was founded by the late Professor Georges Guiochon in 1985 in response to the rapidly growing need to scientifically understand preparative and process chromatography. By providing a dynamic forum where scientists, engineers and suppliers of media, equipment and technology could come together to comprehensively discuss all aspects of preparative chromatography, PREP was instrumental in laying the foundation for the tremendous growth that occurred in the area.

Today’s PREP Symposia fulfill an expanded mission, not only serving as the driving force for scientific progress in preparative and process chromatography, but also as a major technology showcase, and as an avenue for advanced education and training in chromatographic process development and design. PREP’s expanded focus comprises applications to both small molecules and to biomolecules including peptides, proteins, plasmids, and virus-like particles. Pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical applications play a central role, driven in large part by the increased emphasis on process understanding and the desire to improve manufacturing, through more effective designs and continuous processing.

Recent PREP Symposia have been attended by 300 to 350 people, with many international participants, including more than 50 pharmaceutical, biotechnology and fine chemical companies, and more than 50 chromatography media, equipment and technology suppliers.

Members of the organizing committee are Lois Ann Beaver (LAB Enterprises), Olivier Dapremont (AMPAC Fine Chemicals), Igor Quinones-Garcia (Mersana Therapeutics), and Qi (Tony) Yan (Pfizer). The Symposium and Exhibit are managed by Janet Cunningham, Barr Enterprises. The four-day PREP 2017 program, which runs from July 16-19, will include a Training Workshop Program with half-day workshops, held the Sunday preceding the symposium. These address topics such as “Fundamentals of Preparative Chromatography for Biomolecule Purification by Batch and Continuous Chromatography” and “Fundamentals of Preparative Chromatography for Purification of APIs, Peptides, and Oligonucleotides by Batch Chromatography, SMB, and SFC”. There will also be tutorials on “Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting Analytical and Overloaded Prep Chromatography” and on “Practical Concepts on Process Characterization and Validation of Biopharmaceuticals based on QbD Principles”. The Vendor Exhibit will take place on Sunday through Tuesday, providing ample opportunities to interact with vendors and become acquainted with the latest developments in the field, from the analytical/lab scale all the way to the full process scale. Many vendor workshops will also be offered. The Scientific Program will include both general and keynote sessions, including keynotes on Industrial Case Studies in Protein Chromatography; Continuous Chromatography for APIs, Fine Chemicals, and Natural Products; Continuous Downstream Processing for Biopharmaceuticals; Preparative Chromatography in Drug Discovery, Development, and Manufacture; Process Scale Purification of Peptides; and Preparative Supercritical Fluid Chromatography.

For more information visit www.PREPsymposium.org.