Breaking News on Pharmaceutical Technology

News in brief

EC OKs Novartis’ move for Ebewe SP's injectables biz

24-Sep-2009 - The European Commission has approved Novartis’ €925m ($1.2bn) acquisition of Ebewe Spezial-Pharma’s generic injectables business.

Teva further streamlines ops with Czech plant closure

23-Sep-2009 - Israeli generics giant Teva Pharmaceutical Industries will close one of its manufacturing plants in the Czech Republic by the end of the year, resulting in the loss of around 400 jobs.

Apotex recalls some drugs; supply cuts staff

21-Sep-2009 - Apotex’s manufacturing difficulties have begun to impact on its operations, with the company recalling some products, New Zealand authorities issuing a temporary import ban and lay offs at a supplier.

People on the move: pharma jobs

21-Sep-2009 - in-PharmaTechnologist presents its latest round up of movements in the pharma space, including appointments at Sanofi-Aventis, MorphoSys and Ironwood Pharmaceuticals.

Genzyme starts work on new Mass facility

17-Sep-2009 - US biotechnology major Genzyme has begun $68m of refurbishment work on a new 211,000 sgft manufacturing and shipping complex in Northborough, Massachusetts.

News in brief

B-MS sells facilities and product rights

16-Sep-2009 - Bristol-Myers Squibb (B-MS) is continuing to sell divisions, with the latest deal offloading its Indonesian unit and product rights to Japan-based Taisho Pharmaceutical for $310m (€211m).

FDA approves four H1N1 swine flu vaccines

16-Sep-2009 - The FDA has approved four H1N1 vaccines, made by CSL, AstraZeneca, Novartis and Sanofi-Aventis, that will be distributed in the next four weeks as part of the US’ swine flu preparation.

Lilly to cut workforce 10% in bid to save $1bn by 2011

15-Sep-2009 - US drugmaker Eli Lilly plans to cut 5,500 jobs by 2011 as it prepares to enter what CEO John Lechleiter said will be “the most challenging period in [the] company’s history.”

News in brief

GSK must hand over Paxil emails

15-Sep-2009 - GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) must hand over emails from researchers studying birth defects allegedly caused by Paxil (paroxetine) after a district judge refused to block a family’s request to see the documents.

News in brief

AstraZeneca cuts 113 jobs at Mass Pulmicort plant

14-Sep-2009 - UK pharmaceutical major AstraZeneca will eliminate 133 US drug manufacturing jobs in response to increasing market competition for its asthma treatment Pulmicort Respulses.

People on the move: pharma jobs

14-Sep-2009 - in-PharmaTechnologist presents its latest round up of movements in the pharma sector, including Roche appointing Genentech’s CEO to lead its pharma division and Mylan’s CFO leaving after three months in the job.

Pfizer $2.3bn payout; how much does your State get?

10-Sep-2009 - Last week, US pharmaceuticals giant Pfizer agreed to pay $2.3bn to resolve criminal and civil liability relating to the off-label promotion of several of its drugs in what the Department of Justice called the largest fraud settlement in its history.

Supply chain lapses slow pandemic responses; survey

10-Sep-2009 - More than 50 per cent of executives believe their company fails to respond quickly enough to pandemics because of lapses in the supply chain, according to an IBM survey.

News in brief

Sanofi deal to supply H1N1 vacc to Brazil

09-Sep-2009 - Sanofi Aventis says it has been contracted to supply the Brazilian government with up to 33 million doses of H1N1 “swine” flu.

News in brief

Galencia extends global reach with OM Pharma deal

08-Sep-2009 - Pharmaceutical manufacturer Galencia says its acquisition of Switzerland-based biotech group OM Pharma will bolster its international presence.

People on the move: pharma jobs

07-Sep-2009 - in-PharmaTechnologist presents its latest round up of movements in the pharma space, including Merck’s post-merger management structure and a difference of opinion at LifeCycle Pharma.

News in brief

Dainippon to buy Sepracor for $2.6bn

03-Sep-2009 - Japanese drugmaker Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma (DSP) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire US pharmaceutical group Sepracor for $2.6bn (€1.8bn).

Biosimilars market to be worth $19.4bn by 2014

03-Sep-2009 - The biosimilars sector is predicted to be worth $19.4bn (€13.6bn) by 2014, by which time the US will have overtaken Asia as the dominant market, according to a report.

Genzyme receives EMEA letter about Allston plant

02-Sep-2009 - The EMEA has issued US biotech firm Genzyme with a letter detailing “one major observation and several other observations” following an inspection of its Allston, Massachusetts manufacturing plant last month.

SFDA set to approve two H1N1 vaccines

02-Sep-2009 - In the next week the Chinese SFDA is expected to approve licences for two locally produced H1N1 vaccines, which unlike some alternatives only require one dose to confer immunity.

News in brief

Sanofi to close Kansas plant impacting 370 employees

01-Sep-2009 - Sanofi-aventis is initiating the phased closing its manufacturing facility in Kansas, US, with complete shutdown expected to occur in 2012 and impact on 370 employees.

Roche buys Lonza’s Singapore biologics plant

31-Aug-2009 - Basel-headquartered Roche has paid fellow Swiss firm Lonza $290m (€203m) for its Singapore biologics plant in a bid to secure long-term manufacturing capacity for biotech cancer drugs.

People on the move: pharma jobs

31-Aug-2009 - in-PharmaTechnologist presents its latest round up of movements in the pharma sector, including Novartis’ former CEO joining Amylin’s board and an appointment at OctoPlus.

Europe leads US in R&D productivity, says Health Affairs

26-Aug-2009 - Europe is pulling ahead of the US in research productivity, according to a controversial new study by Washington public policy think tank Health Affairs.