3.) DBU Grant Initiative »Sustainable Pharmacy«

The production of pharmaceuticals frequently involves a high use of raw materials, solvents and energy, as well as a large amount of waste. After being used, the pharmaceutical substances and their metabolites are excreted and can thus reach the environment. Today, pharmaceutical residues can be detected in the soil, surface-, ground- and drinking water. They represent a long-term risk to human health and do measurable environmental harm.

Sustainable pharmacy is not only oriented towards medications with positive effects. It also aims for a sparing use of resources, efficient production, and application of the active ingredients with the least possible amount of emissions, and thus contributes to environmental protection. In support of these objectives, the German Federal Environmental Foundation (Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, DBU) announces a grant initiative on the subject of »Sustainable Pharmacy« for small and medium-sized businesses (kleine und mittlere Unternehmen, KMU) and research institutions.

Projects awarded grant support will be characterized by the following features:

• Development of new environmentally-friendly synthesis- and purification procedures using Green Chemistry methods and/or industrial biotechnology

• Improvement of absorption and metabolization of active ingredients in the body

• Emission reduction through changes in formulation, administration form (galenics) and route of administration

• Substitution of environmentally-friendly pharmaceutical additives for those which are problematic

Submission deadline for proposals is August 20th, 2012. Further information on submissions and contacts at: www.dbu.de/2031.html.