A Design of Experiments Approach to a Robust Final Deprotection and Reactive Crystallization of IPI-926, A Novel Hedgehog Pathway Inhibitor

A design of experiments (DoE) approach was taken to optimize purity and reaction yield of the final debenzylation and hydrochloride salt formation of IPI-926. The study involved a careful dissection of the different process steps to enable an independent investigation of these steps while ensuring that process streams were representative. The results enabled a streamlined process from the final chemical transformation to the salting and isolation and led to the elimination of variability in the process as well as a robust control of impurities. The optimized process was applied to production and demonstrated on the kilogram scale.