A new study from the University of Maine Forest Bioproducts Research Institute (FBRI) has identified a sustainable method to produce a critical pharmaceutical ingredient that could help lower prescription drug costs.
Published in Chem, the research outlines how (S)-3-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone (HBL)—a chiral molecule used in a wide range of medications including statins, antibiotics, and HIV inhibitors—can be produced from glucose in high concentrations and yields. Chirality, a property where molecules exist in non-superimposable mirror images, plays a key role in determining how drugs interact in the body, and chiral building blocks are among the most expensive components of drug synthesis.
A new pathway from biomass
Thomas SchwartzFBRI researchers demonstrated that glucose derived from lignocellulosic feedstocks such as wood chips, sawdust, or tree branches can serve as the basis for HBL production. This approach provides a renewable, lower-cost alternative to traditional petroleum-based processes. According to Thomas Schwartz, associate director of FBRI and associate professor in the Maine College of Engineering and Computing, the process could also extend to other chemicals:
“If we use other kinds of wood sugars, like xylose, that is an unneeded byproduct from making pulp and paper, we expect that we could produce new chemicals and building blocks, like green cleaning products or new renewable, recyclable plastics.”
Economic and environmental benefits
The Department of Energy has identified HBL as a highly valuable precursor to pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and plastics. Earlier attempts to produce it sustainably were limited by low yields, hazardous inputs, or high costs. The new UMaine method reduces production costs by more than 60% compared to petroleum-derived processes and significantly cuts greenhouse gas emissions. The process also yields other commercially relevant chemicals, such as glycolic acid, opening additional economic opportunities.
Collaborative effort
The work was carried out with contributions from UMaine students in the Catalysis Group, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Products Laboratory and the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Funding came from the USDA, the U.S. Forest Service, and the National Science Foundation.
By leveraging renewable wood-based feedstocks, the researchers believe their discovery could contribute both to more affordable medications and to the development of a new generation of sustainable consumer products.
The University of Maine’s Forest Bioproducts Research Institute (FBRI) is dedicated to advancing research and innovation in sustainable materials, renewable chemicals, and bio-based fuels. Located in Orono, Maine, the institute works at the intersection of forest resources, chemistry, and engineering to develop value-added products from woody biomass. Through partnerships with government agencies, industry, and academic collaborators, FBRI supports solutions that promote economic growth, reduce environmental impact, and create new opportunities for the forest products sector.
