Breaking News on Pharmaceutical Technology

Catalent unveils ulta-sensitive melamine test for drugs

05-Nov-2009 - US contract services firm Catalent has launched a new test service capable of detecting trace amounts of the toxic chemical melamine in pharmaceuticals.

Abraxis dedicates nanobiologics site

05-Nov-2009 - Abraxis Health has dedicated its manufacturing facility in Phoenix, Arizona, US which is the result of a $70m (€47m) investment to give the company the nanotech and biologics capacity needed for Abraxane production.

Genzyme targets BBB

04-Nov-2009 - Genzyme is evaluating to-BBB’s G-Technology as part of a research collaboration aimed at developing treatments capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB).

Penn completes phase one of Tredegar plant expansion

03-Nov-2009 - Welsh contract services firm Penn Pharmaceuticals has reorganised its transport and delivery infrastructure in the first phase of a £12m (€13.3m) expansion at its facility in Tredegar.

Novartis invests in China

03-Nov-2009 - Novartis is investing $250m (€170m) to construct a facility in China focused on research, development and manufacture of APIs and has earmarked a further $1bn to expand its R&D activities in the country.

Lonza cuts 2009 guidance 14% and plans workforce cuts

02-Nov-2009 - Lonza cuts 2009 earning guidance and may reduce its workforce under “Project Bond” cost cutting plan after a Q3 characterized by an “accumulation of unexpected events”

News in brief

Phoenix helps closed Shasun plant rise from the “ashes”

02-Nov-2009 - Phoenix Chemicals will re-open a chemicals manufacturing plant in Scotland less than a year after it was closed by former owner Shasun Pharma Solutions.

News in brief

Korsch and ACG set up tabletting machine JV

27-Oct-2009 - German compression technology specialist Korsch says its JV with ACG Worldwide (ACG) helps meet growing global demand for tabletting machines.

Hovione adds aseptic spray drying to offering

26-Oct-2009 - Portuguese CMO Hovione has bought an aseptic spray-drying line from US firm Acusphere and says that the demand for the technology is increasing as drug firms aim to boost bioavailability.

News in brief

Micromeritics opens new European HQ

26-Oct-2009 - Micromeritics says its new European headquarters in Germany is better positioned to serve its expanding client base in the region.

Novavax increasing H1N1 vaccine production

26-Oct-2009 - Novavax has entered into a deal with Xcellerex to boost production of its H1N1 vaccine, which is entering clinical trials in Mexico, using the CMO’s FlexFactory disposable biomanufacturing platform.

Soluplus launched as market for HME excipients heats up

22-Oct-2009 - BASF says its new Soluplus excipient will help meet demand for solubilising agents that are compatible with hot melt extrusion (HME) manufacturing methods.

APC’s new R&D unit to focus on complex peptides

21-Oct-2009 - The American Peptide Company (APC) plans to set up an R&D unit at its facility in Sunnydale, California to better serve growing demand for innovative technologies.

Valois discusses what patients want from a device

20-Oct-2009 - Patients want nasal delivery devices that are portable, hygienic and can be used discretely, according to a director at Valois who delivered a talk on the company’s side-actuated product at CPhI 2009.

Cargill discusses Zerose erythritol's development

19-Oct-2009 - Henry Hussell, marketing manager at Cargill Pharma, talks about Zerose erythritol's development since it was launched at CPhI 2008.

EC GMP directive “still alive”; Cargill

19-Oct-2009 - The EC’s plan to make excipients comply with GMP is “still alive”, according to Cargill which spoke to in-PharmaTechnologist at CPhI about its Zerose erythritol product that it claims can improve compliance.

Critical gains funding for hGH nasal delivery

19-Oct-2009 - Critical Pharmaceuticals has received a £1.5m ($2.4m) award to develop its hGH nasal spray, the market for which could be sizeable as company’s attempt to differentiate in response to generic competition.

CPhI 2009 - Road to recovery?

15-Oct-2009 - As CPhI 2009 draws to a close we take a look back on the show, which, despite some negatives, appears to have been an overall success.

galenIQ 981 cuts coating time and extends shelf-life, says Beneo Palatinit

14-Oct-2009 - Beneo-Palatinit’s new galenIQ 981 excipient offers drugmakers a way of improving industrial processing, stability and shelf-life.

Dow launches flake PEG at CPhI

14-Oct-2009 - Dow Polyglycols and Surfactants is using CPhI 2009 in Madrid to launch Carbowax Sentry PEG in flake form, expanding the company's excipient range.

Heptares calls on Sygnature for discovery chemistry

12-Oct-2009 - Sygnature Chemical Services will provide synthetic chemistry services for Heptares Therapeutics GPCR drug development programme under a deal signed last week.

USP targets counterfeits in Cambodia

12-Oct-2009 - The USAID and USP have launched a campaign to tackle counterfeits in Cambodia and Greater Mekong Subregion, using a film to educate the population of the dangers of fakes and need to use legitimate pharmacies.

Labopharm upbeat about depression drug after FDA OKs API maker

08-Oct-2009 - Canadian drugmaker Labopharm says its Italian API maker Gruppo Angelini has resolved all the US FDA concerns about processes used to make a once-a day version of the depression drug trazodone.

News in brief

Colorcon asks Oracle to help cut costs

08-Oct-2009 - Drug excipients and coatings firm Colorcon says that adoption of Oracle’s “Enterprise Manager” platform will reduce IT downtime and costs.