Challenge Seeks New Pseudoephedrine Production Process

Pseudoephedrine blister package (Department of Justice)

InnoCentive in Waltham, Massachusetts has released a challenge with a $100,000 award for new methods of producing the common medication pseudoephedrine that make it very difficult to extract ingredients for the illegal drug methamphetamine. InnoCentive acts as a marketplace that brings together companies or organizations seeking solutions with groups or individuals interested in providing those solutions, using an open-innovation process commonly called “crowdsourcing”.

Pseudoephedrine is in a class of medications called nasal decongestants, to relieve nasal congestion caused by colds, allergies, and hay fever. It is also used to temporarily relieve sinus congestion and pressure. It works by narrowing the blood vessels in the nasal passages.

While pseudoephedrine has widespread legitimate uses, it also provides ingredients for the illegal drug methamphetamine. The conversion to methamphetamine not only helps create an illegal drug, the clandestine and, in many cases, home-based labs are dangerous to their inhabitants and surroundings. Legislation passed in 2005 regulates the retail sale of over-the-counter medications containing pseudoephedrine and requires stores to keep records of those sales.

The challenge requires a solution that maintains the medicinal qualities  of pseudoephedrine, but prevents its conversion to methamphetamine. Potential solvers, as InnoCentive calls them, will need to prepare a well thought-out rationale and background, as well as provide experimental proof-of-concept data. The sponsor of the challenge may also seek out further collaboration with the solver. The deadline is 9 August 2011.

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