FDA: drug safety benefits of import inspection system easy to Predict

09-Feb-2010 - The US FDA says its new screening system will expedite the importation of genuine drugs and help inspectors focus their efforts on “high risk” products.

Almost half of antimalarials in Senegal are substandard; study

09-Feb-2010 - Almost half of antimalarials in Senegal are substandard, according to a USP study which will be used by local regulators to focus efforts on high-risk products, brands and geographies.

EU revives GMP for excipients

08-Feb-2010 - The EFCG has welcomed the addition of excipient GMP requirements to the draft amendments of the EU falsified medicines directive but warned that deeper analysis is needed to establish which products warrant further regulation.

Pfizer, Roche and GSK report 2009 results

04-Feb-2010 - In a busy week of Big Phama results Pfizer reports sales boost from Wyeth, Roche says Genentech hit profits and GSK unveils surge in Relenza sales and plans to expand R&D restructuring.

News in brief

US FDA asks for $4bn for 2011

04-Feb-2010 - The US FDA says regulating the safety of drugs will cost $100m more in fiscal 2011 than it will this year, and has asked for a 23 per cent increase in its budget to $4.03bn.

Pharmadule targets China with Morimatsu accord

04-Feb-2010 - Pharmadule has teamed up with Morimatsu to capture a share of Chinese pharma and biotech manufacturing markets’ “huge potential.”

Peakdale and Pfizer team up on chemistry

01-Feb-2010 - Peakdale Molecular and Pfizer unveil plan set up a synthetic chemistry services group just days after the US major trimmed its pipeline.

AZ plans 8,000 job cuts by 2014 and will outsource more R&D

29-Jan-2010 - AstraZeneca will cut 8,000 more jobs by 2014 with R&D and supply chain operations being the main focus of the cutbacks.

Lonza hit by lower demand last year; cuts capex in 2010

28-Jan-2010 - Full-year income at the Lonza was hit by falling demand for life science ingredients and custom manufacturing services and only modest gains for its bioscience unit.

Global RFID market to be worth $884m in 2015

28-Jan-2010 - The global market for RFID products and services in the pharma industry will be worth $884m (€631m) in 2015, according to a report, but apprehensions about initial costs and return-on-investment need to be overcome.

Environmental sustainability should be built into GMP; MPA

27-Jan-2010 - Environmental certification of production facilities should be introduced to GMP legislation and sustainability risk assessments linked to marketing authorisations, according to a MPA report.

Schott: Russian plant operational by year end

27-Jan-2010 - Schott says its new Russian packaging plant will help meet demand of growing local pharmaceutical market.

SPMC seeks loan to meet Sri Lanka’s medical needs

26-Jan-2010 - The SPMC of Sri Lanka is seeking a $10m (€7.1m) loan to buy high-speed tablet and capsule filling machines and ensure it can meet the island’s demand for safe medicines.

Freezer-farm phase of PCT’s cell-therapy plant complete

25-Jan-2010 - Work on “freezer farm” phase of Progenitor Cell Therapy’s (PCTs) new manufacturing facility in Allendale, New Jersey is complete.

Romaco and CRO Ankur complete Siebler StripTab line

25-Jan-2010 - Indian CRO Ankur Drugs and Pharma is a step closer to stating production of Romaco’s Siebler StripTabs now the German firm developed a fully integrated manufacturing line.

News in brief

Drug industry aid for Haiti earthquake relief efforts

21-Jan-2010 - Emergency relief groups in Haiti can expect to receive continued support from the drug industry, according to the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (IFPMA).

AMRI plant gains SafeBridge HPAPI certification

21-Jan-2010 - AMRI’s plant in Rensselaer, New York gained SafeBridge potent compound certification this week after an effort that spokesperson Andrea Schulz said istestament to the firm's "willingness to go the extra mile”.

Lupin's Mandideep plant OKed by US FDA

21-Jan-2010 - Indian drugmaker Lupin can start seeking US approval for new drugs made at its API plant in Mandideep, Bhopal after resolving the cGMP deficiencies that earned the facility a US FDA warning last year.

Emerging markets drive packaging machinery growth at Sepha

21-Jan-2010 - Pharmaceutical packaging machinery manufacturer Sepha has reported a 33 per cent increase in sales for 2009, underpinned by strong growth in Asia and South America.

Vaccine makers did not hype H1N1, says EVM

19-Jan-2010 - The EFPIA’s European Vaccine Manufacturers (EVM) group has denied allegations that its members were involved in hyping up the threat of the H1N1 pandemic to boost vaccine sales.

Catalent and Compass boost blister capacity

18-Jan-2010 - New Jersey, US-based contractors Catalent Pharma Solutions and Compass Pharma Services expanded their respective blister pack offerings last week, both citing growing drug industry demand.

Lonza to close Riverside API plant

14-Jan-2010 - Lonza will shut down its API plant in Riverside, Pennsylvania, US by the end of the year as part of a plan to cut costs and shift small-molecule production to Asia.

Pall buys MRT for mini MTPD technology

13-Jan-2010 - Pall says its acquisition of MicroReactor Technologies (MRT) broadens its offering in the $1bn (€689m) a year global biopharmaceutical process development market.

News in brief

Gerresheimer opens new insulin pen plant in Brazil

12-Jan-2010 - German healthcare packaging group Gerresheimer says operations at its new Brazilian plant will begin in the near future.