Crystal Pharmatech, a science-driven CRO/CDMO specializing in solid-state research, preformulation studies, and formulation development and manufacturing for small-molecule drugs, announced on 4 November 2026 that installation of the ELDICO ED-1 electron diffractometer at its Suzhou, China R&D center is complete. The instrument, the first ELDICO ED-1 installed in the Asia-Pacific region, is now operational, and MicroED services on the ED-1 are open to clients worldwide.
Working with an ELDICO Scientific AG team on site, Crystal Pharmatech had the instrument running and collecting its first diffraction data within three days of installation. ELDICO's team in Suzhou: Rolf Burgmer, Giorgia Fiorini, Nam Nguyen and Yannik Fontana.
The instrument sits beside Crystal Pharmatech's screening and crystallization teams, making MicroED a routine step in solid-form screening and selection. Forms identified in a screen can now be taken directly to a crystal structure, without growing large single crystals.
“Five years after launching MicroED on a cryo-EM instrument, we now have a dedicated, automated electron diffractometer in our own laboratory. It was collecting data within three days of installation, and I can already see it becoming a workhorse for our solid-state research. Clients can now ask for the structure of each form a screen finds, quickly and on very little material.” – Dr. Alex Chen, Co-founder, Chairman and CEO of Crystal Pharmatech
“We're pleased to see the ED-1 in service at Crystal Pharmatech. Their team brings extensive experience in solid form research, and the instrument's automated operation makes it easier to include crystal structure determination in their everyday screening work. This is exactly how we intended the ED-1 to be used, helping scientists make informed decisions during pharmaceutical development.” – Dr. James Berwick, CEO of ELDICO Scientific AG
Scientists in the Boston area can see MicroED in practice at Crystal Pharmatech's Boston Symposium & Executive Networking Reception, “First Time Right,” on Thursday, November 19, 2026, 12:00–7:00 pm, at the Boston Marriott Cambridge, Kendall Square. MicroED features in three parts of the program:
Dr. Alex Chen, Co-founder, Chairman and CEO of Crystal Pharmatech, and Dr. James Berwick, CEO of ELDICO Scientific AG, will also attend and will be available to meet with interested attendees in person.
Register for the Boston Symposium →
Read the full announcement in Crystal Pharmatech’s press release.