AMRI's CEO, Thomas D'Ambra, has indicated that the firm will be "hiring aggressively" this year, with plans to add 70 new employees to its global team of 1300.

The plans come at a time when restructuring fever is sweeping through the big pharma firms, resulting in thousands of job losses.

Amidst all this, outsourcing has been a major strategy for the firms making cut backs and hence service providers such as AMRI are naturally set to benefit. The firm has its finger in a number of pies, as it conducts both contract research and manufacturing in the US and India and also has laboratories in Hungary and Singapore.

Another US-based contract manufacturer, Pharmaceutics International, has announced the acquisition of UK preformulation and formulation development firm Pharmaterials for an undisclosed amount.

The purchase was made to extend the development capabilities and service offerings of Pharmaceutics International's business, adding prefomulation, polymorphism, salt screening and co-crystal services to the company's repertoire.

Steve King, senior vice president of Pharmaceutics International said that the firm currently offers a range of cGMP production and formulation development services which have been expanded through alliances in drug delivery ventures.

In other news, South Korean contract manufacturer Celltrion has inked a deal with Australia's CSL Limited, under which it will undertake the development and supply of CSL 360, an experimental monoclonal antibody therapy for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

CSL 360 is currently undergoing Phase I trials and Celltrion's role will involve providing process development expertise as well as clinical supplies of the drug throughout the clinical trial stages, with a view to manufacturing the commercial supply should the product reach the market.

Meanwhile, Indian contract manufacturer Gland Pharma is the recipient of a $30m investment from Malaysia's Evolvence India Life Sciences Fund (EILSF) that will allow it to expand manufacturing facilities, as well as fund further in-house R&D activities.

The company manufactures active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and injectable formulations for niche segments such as osteoarthritis, anti-coagulants, gynaecology, and ophthalmology, specialising in prefilled syringes.