Shanghai Lizhuo Pharmaceutical Launches High-Purity Vericiguat Intermediate (CAS 1361232-72-5)

Ethyl5-fluoro-1-(2-fluorobenzyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-3-carboxylate (CAS 1361232-72-5).

Product Specifications at a Glance

This compound is a critical building block for the chronic heart failure drug vericiguat (marketed as Verquvo®).

With the rising global incidence of chronic and metabolic diseases, the demand for reliable, high-quality pharmaceutical intermediates has never been greater. Lizhuo Pharma’s latest product launch directly addresses this need by offering a stable, scalable, and cost-effective supply of this complex heterocyclic intermediate.

Scientific Background: A Key to Cardiovascular Therapy

Vericiguat is an oral soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator developed by Bayer. It works by increasing cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) production, which helps regulate vascular tone, cardiac contractility, and cardiac remodeling – even when nitric oxide (NO) levels are low. For patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), vericiguat represents a major therapeutic advancement.

The intermediate CAS 1361232-72-5 is a fluorinated pyrazolo pyridine derivative. Its molecular formula is C₁₆H₁₃F₂N₃O₂, with a molecular weight of 317.29 g/mol. The presence of fluorine atoms and the ethyl ester group optimizes the molecule’s electronic properties, solubility, and metabolic stability, making it an ideal scaffold for complex drug synthesis. This class of compounds has also attracted attention in other therapeutic areas, including oncology and anti-infective research, due to its structural similarity to purines.

Industrial-Scale Production and Quality Assurance

Lizhuo Pharmaceutical has built a robust manufacturing infrastructure to support the consistent production of this high-purity intermediate. The company operates a 1,000-square-meter R&D laboratory, two pilot production workshops in Wuhan equipped with twenty 50L–1000L reactors, as well as advanced equipment including ultra-low temperature reaction systems capable of reaching -120°C, high-low temperature circulation units, and molecular distillation systems.

The production process for CAS 1361232-72-5 utilizes well-controlled reaction types such as ultra-low temperature reactions, nitration, nitro reduction, and epoxidation synthesis. Through rigorous process optimization, Lizhuo ensures that each batch meets purity specifications of ≥98% (by HPLC) and passes comprehensive quality testing, including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC), mass spectrometry (MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis.

The company can supply this intermediate in a wide range of scales – from grams for R&D purposes to metric tons for commercial manufacturing. Packaging options include 25g, 100g, 250g, 500g, 1kg, 5kg, 10kg, and 25kg, accommodating both research laboratories and large-scale pharmaceutical producers.

Market Recognition and Global Outreach

The significance of this product was highlighted at CPHI China 2025, where Lizhuo Pharma’s General Manager, Mr. Zheng, was invited for an exclusive interview with CCTV. During the interview, he announced that the company had successfully industrialized intermediates for two important drugs: finerenone (for diabetic nephropathy and chronic kidney disease) and vericiguat (for chronic heart failure). He emphasized that since its market launch, the high-purity vericiguat intermediate has gained widespread recognition from domestic and international customers due to its excellent quality and stable supply.

Furthermore, Mr. Zheng revealed that Lizhuo’s R&D team has made significant breakthroughs in intermediates related to weight-loss drugs, which are now entering large-scale mass production. This demonstrates the company’s strong pipeline development capability and its commitment to staying ahead of global pharmaceutical trends.

Collaborative R&D and Technical Expertise

Lizhuo Pharmaceutical is not merely a manufacturer – it is a research-driven partner. The company’s R&D team comprises doctoral and master-level chemists with years of experience in pharmaceutical synthesis and engineering scale-up. To accelerate innovation, Lizhuo has established strategic collaborations with prestigious academic institutions, including the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry (Chinese Academy of Sciences), the School of Pharmacy of Zhejiang University, and the School of Pharmacy of Zhejiang University of Technology. These partnerships have already yielded multiple research outcomes and enable Lizhuo to offer custom synthesis services for novel intermediates.

The company’s core competitive advantages include:

Ultra-low temperature reaction capability (down to -120°C) for sensitive transformations

Formate continuous reaction systems for improved safety and efficiency

Solid-liquid distillation and rectification for high-purity isolation

Tonnage-scale production with full batch traceabilit

Why Choose Shanghai Lizhuo Pharmaceutical?

As a subsidiary of Shenzhen Rich Chemical Technology Co., Ltd., Lizhuo Pharma adheres to a business philosophy of “excellence, continuous improvement, innovation and development, openness and sharing.” The company is committed to:

Reliable quality – Every product batch is accompanied by a formal test report (COA) from validated analytical methods.

Stable supply – With dedicated pilot and commercial-scale workshops, Lizhuo ensures consistent availability.

Flexible customization – From gram-scale R&D samples to multi-ton commercial orders, with custom synthesis available for novel intermediates.

Regulatory alignment – All processes are designed to meet global pharmaceutical supply chain expectations.

Future Outlook

With the continued rise in chronic and metabolic diseases worldwide, the demand for innovative drug intermediates will only accelerate. Lizhuo Pharmaceutical is well-positioned to serve as a reliable partner for global pharmaceutical companies, contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs), and research institutions.

The company plans to continue increasing its R&D investment, deepen collaborations with international partners, and expand its portfolio of high-value intermediates for cardiovascular, metabolic, and anti-obesity drugs. For CAS 1361232-72-5 and other advanced intermediates, Lizhuo Pharma offers a seamless path from early development to commercial supply.

Contact Information

For product inquiries, samples, or custom synthesis requests, please visit the official website:

You can also search for CAS 1361232-72-5 directly on the website to view detailed specifications, request a quote, or contact the sales team.

About Shanghai Lizhuo Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd.

Shanghai Lizhuo Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd. is a high-tech enterprise dedicated to the R&D, production, and sales of high-value-added pharmaceutical intermediates and APIs. The company focuses on anti-tumor, psychotropic, antiviral, hypoglycemic, and antibacterial intermediates, while also developing innovative drug intermediates aligned with market trends. With a strong R&D infrastructure, world-class scientific collaborations, and a customer-first approach, Lizhuo Pharma is your trusted partner in pharmaceutical innovation.