Medochemie Advances Pharmaceutical Sustainability with LIFE PHARMA-DETOX System

Leading Cypriot Pharmaceutical Company Implements Innovative Wastewater Treatment Technology to Protect Environment

In an industry-leading sustainability initiative, Medochemie Ltd, Cyprus's largest pharmaceutical manufacturer, has successfully installed a pilot system for its LIFE PHARMA-DETOX project. This four-year project, funded by the EU LIFE Programme, aims to transform pharmaceutical compounds in wastewater into non-toxic substances through an innovative detoxification process.

The recently installed pilot system represents a significant milestone in Medochemie's commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing. This system will evaluate the effectiveness of their novel approach to wastewater treatment in real-world conditions, gathering crucial data to optimize performance and explore wider applications across the pharmaceutical industry.

The Environmental Challenge of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

The pharmaceutical industry faces growing environmental scrutiny, with estimates indicating that more than 90% of wastewater from pharmaceutical industries globally was discharged untreated in 2014. While EU countries fared better with untreated discharge rates of 50–60%, the management of emissions from pharmaceutical facilities remains critical.

Over the past two decades, numerous studies have detected Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) accumulating in soil, animals, fish, and water systems. One of the main objectives of the European Strategy for the environment is to minimize the presence of active pharmaceuticals in surface water, groundwater, and the environment generally.

Dr. Andreas Pittas, Founder and Executive Chairman of Medochemie, has championed this initiative as part of the company's broader commitment to environmental stewardship. Under his leadership, Medochemie has been at the forefront of sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing practices in Cyprus and beyond.

Innovative Wastewater Detoxification Technology

The LIFE PHARMA-DETOX project aims to develop and implement an economically viable, innovative system for transforming pharmaceutical compounds present in wastewater into non-toxic substances. The system will treat wastewater generated from production activities, ensuring no APIs enter the wastewater sewage system without being processed and detoxified.

The project focuses on preventing API release into wastewater sewage systems. Additionally, the system will recycle water for non-critical applications such as heat exchanging equipment, cleaning procedures, and irrigation, saving 10m³ of potable water daily (3,650m³ per year). The environmental footprint is further minimized through the use of 100% renewable energy sources.

Dr. Christakis Sergides, Director of Research, Development, and Innovation and President of the Commission of Environmental Protection and Energy Conservation of Medochemie, is leading the company's efforts in this project. "This system represents a significant advancement in how pharmaceutical manufacturers can manage their environmental impact," Dr. Sergides noted during the system's installation.

International Collaboration for Environmental Innovation

The LIFE PHARMA-DETOX consortium brings together 5 partners from four EU countries: Cyprus, Greece, Denmark, and Italy. This international collaboration includes:

• Medochemie Ltd (Cyprus) – Coordinating Beneficiary
• Aarhus University (Denmark)
• NEVIS – Novel Environmental Solutions S.A. (Greece)
• National Technical University of Athens (Greece)
• Università degli Studi di Catania (Italy)

This pan-European collaboration demonstrates the pharmaceutical industry's growing commitment to addressing environmental challenges through innovation and cooperation.

Medochemie's Broader Environmental Initiatives

The LIFE PHARMA-DETOX project is part of Medochemie's comprehensive approach to environmental sustainability. The company has already implemented numerous environmentally responsible business practices, including:

• Installation of a 150KW Photovoltaic Park producing 1,650 kWh per KW annually, reducing CO2 emissions by 201.5 tonnes per year
• Development of an Atmospheric Air-Cooling System that lowers ambient air temperature by 10°C and reduces chiller energy consumption by 15%
• Installation of LED low-energy lighting and motion-activated sensors throughout facilities
• Implementation of voltage stabilization systems to maintain optimal voltage and reduce thermal losses
• Installation of water collection systems to capture and reuse water from air conditioning units

These efforts have earned Medochemie the "Gold Environmental Protector"award for six consecutive years at the Cyprus Environmental Awards for Organizations and Businesses.

Larger Impact on European Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

If widely adopted across the European pharmaceutical industry, the PHARMA-DETOX system could have a substantial environmental impact. The EU has approximately 4,000 pharmaceutical enterprises, and if the system were adopted throughout the EU, 1,606 kg of APIs would be converted to non-toxic compounds before being discharged into wastewater sewage systems each year.

The project also aims to promote knowledge transfer through:

• Training pharmaceutical facility industrial operators on PHARMA-DETOX technology
• Presenting the method and project progress at international conferences
• Developing commercial applications for implementation in other pharmaceutical companies across Europe

Medochemie's Expanding Global Presence

As the largest pharmaceutical company in Cyprus, Medochemie operates 15 state-of-the-art production facilities meeting European standards—nine in Cyprus, one in the Netherlands, and five in Vietnam. All facilities are certified according to EU Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards.

Medochemie has a presence in 122 countries through 19 offices and a trusted partner network. The company employs 2,000 skilled professionals, with scientists comprising 45% of its workforce.

Founded in 1976 by Dr. Andreas Pittas, Medochemie contributes 28.9% to Cyprus's industrial exports and enables over 300 million people worldwide to benefit from its products. Ranked among the top 200 generic drug companies globally, Medochemie produces, markets, distributes, and exports high-quality generic medicines.

Critical Medicines and Supply Chain Resilience

Beyond its environmental initiatives, Medochemie is also a member of the Critical Medicines Alliance, a consultative mechanism bringing together relevant stakeholders to strengthen the supply of critical medicines in the EU and combat shortages.

Medochemie produces many of the EU-shortlisted critical medicines at its European-authorized facilities. Many of these critical medicines also play a key role in fighting microbial resistance as they are old molecules facing less resistance from bacteria.

The Critical Medicines Alliance was established in January 2024 to identify priorities for action and propose solutions to strengthen the supply of critical medicines in the EU. The Alliance works to identify industrial challenges and determine suitable actions to address vulnerabilities in critical medicine supply chains.

Environmental Leadership in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

The successful installation of the LIFE PHARMA-DETOX pilot system represents an important step in Medochemie's environmental strategy. By taking proactive measures to reduce pharmaceutical residues in wastewater, Medochemie is demonstrating leadership in sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing.

As the project progresses, the company will continue to gather data, optimize performance, and explore wider applications of this technology. This initiative not only contributes to Medochemie's sustainability goals but also offers potential solutions for the entire pharmaceutical industry's environmental challenges.

Through ongoing innovation, international collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to environmental responsibility, Medochemie continues to live up to its motto of "Growth with a human face"—balancing business success with environmental stewardship and social responsibility.