Breaking News on Pharmaceutical Technology

Wacker expands cyclodextrin capacity

27-May-2009 - Wacker has brought its expanded cyclodextrin facility online following its $21m (€15m) expansion, which has significantly increased capacity in response to growing demand for the excipient.

FIT partners to develop HIV vaccine

26-May-2009 - FIT Biotech has entered into a partnership that will see its GTU MultiHIV DNA plasmid developed using ImmunoVaccine Technologies’ DepoVax delivery tool, which uses liposomes to encapsulate a target antigen and adjuvant.

Sanofi lands $190m swine flu contract

26-May-2009 - Sanofi Pasteur has landed what it believes will be the first of a series of orders from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to produce H1N1 vaccines.

KAHR hoping to benefit from Cobra’s tech

26-May-2009 - At BIO 2009 Cobra Biomanufacturing explained to Outsourcing-Pharma its maxXpress service, its thoughts on expanding to commercial scale and the recent deal with KAHR Medical.

Singapore ready to spend to boost biomanufacturing

25-May-2009 - Singapore’s prudent spending means it can view the economic crisis as an opportunity, according to an executive director of its EDB, using saved funds to progress beyond its struggling rivals.

Hovione to invest €2m in nano drug R&D unit

22-May-2009 - Portuguese contract manufacturing organisation (CMO) Hovione plans to invest €2m ($3m) in a new R&D unit in the capital Lisbon, as expansion space at its active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) plant in Loures is limited.

Interactive map of FDA registered pharma facilities

22-May-2009 - in-PharmaTechnologist presents an exclusive interactive map of all the FDA registered facilities of 30 of the pharmaceutical industry’s major players, giving a unique geographical oversight.

Minakem adds EU API capacity to compete with Asia

20-May-2009 - Fine chemicals firm Minakem believes that manufacturing capacity added by its newly acquired API plant in Dunkirk, France will reduce costs and help it compete on a global scale.

Positive Phase III for intranasal cancer pain med

18-May-2009 - Archimedes Pharma has presented positive Phase III results of its treatment for breakthrough cancer pain, NasalFent, which uses the company’s PecSys delivery technology.

Sanofi invests €350m in dengue fever facility

13-May-2009 - Sanofi-aventis is has made its largest ever investment in its vaccine capacity, using €350m ($479m) to construct a dengue fever vaccine manufacturing plant in France.

Pfizer supplied Heparin API linked to Delaware deaths, says Baxter

12-May-2009 - Baxter International says Pfizer supplied the bulk API used in a batch of Heparin linked to two patient deaths in Delaware, US last week, amid concerns of a repeat of last year’s contamination scandal.

Wireless drug delivery tech targets compliance

12-May-2009 - Cambridge Consultants has developed its ‘connected patient’ technology, which creates a communication network between drug delivery devices and healthcare professionals to increase compliance.

Agilent expands oligonucleotide manufacturing services

11-May-2009 - Agilent has completed the second expansion of its nucleic acid active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing facility, which is intended to meet rising demand for oligonucleotide-based drugs.

PharmaTek OKed to make cytotoxics at San Diego plant

07-May-2009 - US chemistry firm PharmaTek Laboratories has a green light to start making high potency APIs and cytotoxics at its facility in California after meeting strict safety and control rules that govern their production.

Positive Phase I for SurModics’ ocular device

07-May-2009 - SurModics has completed the three year Phase I trial of I-vation TA (triamcinolone acetonide), which uses a novel drug delivery system capable of sustained ocular release of a therapeutic.

Chávez sets up pharma site to provide for allies

06-May-2009 - Venezuela has inaugurated a state funded pharmaceutical manufacturing facility and allocated resources for a new complex as part of the nation’s attempts to provide subsidized drugs to citizens.

Axentis gains ODD for cystic fibrosis related infection treatment

05-May-2009 - Axentis Pharma has received orphan drug designation (ODD) in the US for its cystic fibrosis treatment, which uses liposomes to deliver prolonged high-concentrations of a therapeutic to the infected area.

First USP OK for rHAs a "significant advantage", says Novozymes

04-May-2009 - Two recombinant human albumins made by Novozymes' biopharma division have become the first to comply with the USP-NF's recently revised excipient monograph.

News in brief

Budenheim OKed to make phosphates for pharma

04-May-2009 - German industrial phosphate maker Budenheim has been certified to produce calcium phosphates as pharmaceutical excipients under ICH Q7A GMP guidelines.

San Diego plant will help clients concentrate on R&D, says Althea

04-May-2009 - Althea Technologies’ biologics and injectables contract development, manufacturing and testing facility in San Diego, US is open for business, bringing to an end the firm’s two year campaign to expand capacity.

Lilly & Amylin team up to create diabetes pen

30-Apr-2009 - Eli Lilly and Amylin Pharmaceuticals are jointly developing an exenatide once weekly pen device, which should provide a more convenient way for diabetics to treat themselves.

Nanoparticles used to create topical Viagra rival

29-Apr-2009 - Erectile dysfunction could be treated by a nanoparticle formulation applied directly to the penis, according to research, reducing the side effects that can occur when taking drugs like Viagra.

News in brief

AAFI expands Benecel hypromellose capacity

29-Apr-2009 - Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients (AAFI) has expanded capacity at its Doel, Belgium facility that produces Benecel hypromellose, a compound used in tablet coating and granulation.

Novozymes begins work on Chinese bHA plant

28-Apr-2009 - Novozymes Biopharma is building a new Bacillus-based hyaluronic acid (bHA) production facility in China to meet “increasing demand” for the substance that has drug delivery applications.