It’s time to review last year’s figures, read on about our good chemistry in 2024!
Our numbers in 2024 (data for 2023 shown in brackets):
2024 in Numbers
- Projects started: 73 (73)
- Projects completed: 49 (84)
- Projects not completed succesfully: 1 (1)
- Projects completed with delay: 2 (3)
- Success rate: 98% (98%)
- Longest route: 10 steps linear (14) / 13 steps convergent (24)
- Average number of steps per product: 4.3 steps (5.3)
- Total number of reactions: 10110 (10252)
- Products delivered: 901 (1313)
- Average number of reactions per product: 7.8 (7.8)
- In quantity below 100 mg: 763 (1063)
- In quantity between 100 mg and 1 g: 88 (105)
- In quantity between 1 and 10 g: 30 (123)
- In quantity between 10 and 100 g: 14 (19)
- In quantity over 100 g: 6 (3)
Last year we started a number of long-term collaborations (meaning fewer projects initiated) and also strengthen our Process Chemistry department with new process development projects (meaning fewer products delivered). In addition, different contracts advanced toward preclinical stages, so the number of projects completed is comparatively lower than in the previous year. As happens in this business, the new projects are increasingly complex (PROTACs, conjugates, and so), but we love a good challenge!
In terms of success, only in one instance we were unable to deliver the requested product, keeping our success rate at a consistent 98%. Nevertheless, a number of circumstances (logistics, chemistry…) resulted in late delivery of two projects. Logistics improved compared to 2023, with our suppliers delivering products mostly within the expected deadlines.
It is interesting to note that our routes are shorter: only 10 steps in linear and 13 in convergent syntheses. This is due to the application of some new tools, such as photorredox reactions, organometallic couplings in flow, chiral SFC and others, allowing us to prepare more complex products in fewer steps. Nevertheless, the number of reactions remains pretty much the same, because things usually do not work on the first try.
The number of products delivered is significantly lower, which is explained by the mix of projects mentioned above. Some of those programs reached the multigram scale (6 products in the hundreds of grams range), but process development projects are more focused on results than in products anyway.
In short, another interesting year.
Jacobo Cruces, CSO
