From Lab to Life: Albemarle’s Expertise Enables Solutions for Modern Medicine 

May 29, 2025 

Complex chemical processes enable many of the solutions people around the world use every day, including modern drug therapies. 

Among Albemarle’s specialty chemicals are a suite of tools for synthesis, which are solutions that enable the development of new drugs and help pharmaceutical manufacturers produce them at large scale. 

These tools for synthesis are essential to the development and manufacture of lifesaving pharmaceuticals used in oncology, immunology, diabetes management and more.  

“Our expertise from 50+ years of experience in lithium and bromine chemistries allows us to offer a range of customizable tools for synthesis,” says Christoph Hartmann, Albemarle’s business manager for tools for synthesis. “This large portfolio, coupled with our ability to safely deliver custom formulations, is why we describe our business as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for customers.” 

Having access to a variety of customizable solutions is especially important for the pharmaceutical industry. “In offering a suite of customizable tools for synthesis, Albemarle can help customers find solutions that work within the constraints of their unique operations. We also support customers in process development, helping to further optimize their production,” says Hartmann. 

While there may be multiple pathways to creating an active pharmaceutical ingredient, drug developers and manufacturers may face a variety of constraints, including limiting factors posed by their equipment, facilities and costs.  

The biggest consideration? Safety.  

“Lithium-, magnesium-, zinc- and cesium-based reagents are commonly used,” says Nils Lennart Frye, senior chemist at Albemarle. “While these reagents are essential, many of them are also highly reactive. It demands specialized chemical knowledge and experience to ensure safe handling.” 

Albemarle experts have helped make it possible to use these tools in common industry. 

“Managing safety is a differentiator for us,” said Mathias Jordan, head of lithium logistics for Albemarle’s Langelsheim facilities and global manager of customer technical service and emergency response team. “We offer a variety of packaging options – ranging from lab-scale to production-level quantities – that meets the stringent safety requirements for storing and transporting these compounds. We also provide customers with safety and handling training to ensure that they can properly handle these chemicals in the manufacturing of their products. This service offers end-to-end support tailored to the customer's needs—from the initial planning of a new unloading station to the first product transfer. Safety always comes first!” 

Albemarle’s tools for synthesis are used in a variety of industries worldwide, including agriculture and pharmaceuticals. Most of these solutions are produced at our facilities in Langelsheim, Germany, and in New Johnsonville, Tennessee, in the United States. 

These sites serve customers around the world with world-class expertise in process chemistry and safety. 

Albemarle will be participating in several key tradeshows this year, including Chemspec Europe (June 4-5) in Cologne, Germany, and CPHI Europe (October 28-30) in Frankfurt, Germany.  

These events provide excellent opportunities to meet our team and learn more about innovative solutions and expertise.