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Industries | Life Sciences

High-purity glycolic acid for life sciences innovation.

PureTech Scientific supplies glycolic acid for bioresorbable polymers, drug delivery, synthesis and topical dermatology. It is made in the USA on a continuous, single-step process that avoids the chloroacetic acid route, and we share the impurity and metals data your risk assessments need.

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Non-detect
Formaldehyde and DCA in Glypure® 70 ULTRA*
No chloroacetic acid route
No route-related chloride or DCA
85+ years
Continuous production in Belle, WV
ISO 9001
One quality system, two U.S. sites

How it works

Published research shows that diglycolic, methoxyacetic and oxalic acids in industrial-grade glycolic acid can destabilize glycolide production, and that residual acid impurities in PLGA can affect stability and drug release. That is why the impurity profile of the starting glycolic acid matters, and why we share the data behind ours.
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Product solutions

Grades and capabilities for life sciences

Choose a high-purity grade, or bring us a molecule to make.
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Glypure® Med+

High-purity glycolic acid for life sciences development.
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Glypure 70 Ultra

Glypure® 70 ULTRA

Ultra-purified, formaldehyde-free* and DCA-free*.
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Glypure 99

Glypure® 99

Crystalline powder for anhydrous applications.
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Dayton TN toll manufacturing

Contract & toll manufacturing

Custom synthesis, purification and scale-up in Dayton, TN.
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Applications

Roles for glycolic acid in life sciences

Biodegradable polymers

The monomer for PGA and, with lactic acid, PLGA, used in bioresorbable sutures since the 1970s

Drug delivery

PLGA is a reference material for sustained-release injectable microparticles

Synthesis

A two-carbon building block for esterification and intermediates

Topical dermatology

The smallest alpha hydroxy acid for exfoliating and renewal products

pH buffering

A pKa near 3.8 for buffering and pH control

Data spotlight

The production route shapes the impurity profile

How common glycolic acid production routes compare, based on published research.
Production route What it can leave behind
Chloroacetic acid route

Chloride and DCA
Glycolonitrile route

Nitrogen-related residues
PureTech continuous carbonylation

Neither route is used
Why PureTech

What life sciences teams need from a raw material supplier, built in.

Life sciences teams need raw materials with a known impurity profile, documented consistency and dependable supply across long development programs.

Supply your program can plan around

Our dedicated glycolic acid facility runs 24/7, backed by a documented Business Continuity Plan. Plan long development programs with confidence.

An impurity profile you can risk-assess

We make and purify our glycolic acid ourselves on one continuous, single-step process under one ISO 9001 quality system, and we share data for ICH Q3D-style risk assessments.

From specification to custom synthesis

Our team works with you on custom specifications and documentation, and our Dayton, TN site offers custom synthesis, purification and scale-up from lab to market.

Building a polymer, a delivery system or a new molecule?

Tell us your application and the impurities that matter to you. We'll share specifications and impurity data, send a sample and connect you with our custom synthesis team if you need it.
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Frequently asked questions

What quality system do you operate under?
ISO 9001, as one quality system across our Belle, WV and Dayton, TN sites.
Can you share impurity and metals data?
Yes. We share impurity and metals data to support your risk assessments.
Which impurities matter most in glycolic acid?
Published research points to diglycolic, methoxyacetic and oxalic acids, along with water and metals, as the impurities that most affect polymer and drug delivery work.
Can you make a custom specification?
Yes. Talk to us about custom specifications and documentation, or custom synthesis at our Dayton, TN site.
Is your glycolic acid FDA approved?
PureTech supplies glycolic acid as a raw material. Approvals for finished drugs and devices belong to their manufacturers.