DNA tests required for Trovan claimants after data lost

03-Nov-2009 - Pfizer and Nigerian authorities want Trovan compensation claimants to provide DNA samples to confirm their identity, according to former Nigerian Supreme court justice Abubakar Wali.

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.

Influenza: statins may help, but did aspirin misuse hinder in 1918?

02-Nov-2009 - Early-stage CDC research suggests that the anti-inflammatory properties of cholesterol-busting statin drugs can help mitigate the impact of flu infection.

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”

Efficacy at Ph III: lupus drug Benlysta confirms blockbuster potential

02-Nov-2009 - Good news for Human Genome Sciences (HGS) as development partner GSK reports Ph III data showing that their co-owned lupus treatment Benlysta (belimumab) is effective.

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.

Work begins on Indian seasonal flu vacc plant

29-Oct-2009 - Novavax says its new Indian vaccine plant will be operational in four months with sufficient capacity to help meet local demand for seasonal influenza vaccines.

News in brief

Pfizer, GSK and Bayer accept Ecuador’s plan to break patents

29-Oct-2009 - Late last week Ecuador’s government announced plans to sidestep patents on more than 2,000 drugs, enabling them to produced local or imported as “generics”

OctoPlus, Glycotope, Merck KGaA and SCM Pharma on BioPh 2009

29-Oct-2009 - How successful was the BioPh conference in Madrid? in-PharmaTechnologist asked key players attending the inaugural event.

Nokia forms anti-counterfeiting JV

28-Oct-2009 - Nokia, SAP and G&D are forming a company to provide anti-counterfeiting services which will draw on the firms’ respective expertise in mobile phones, supply chain technology and encryption.

News in brief

Unilife tagets pharma with Unifill brand

28-Oct-2009 - US headquartered Unilife is targeting pharmaceutical companies with its new Unifill RTF safety syringe and product range and has begun seeking international trademarks.

CDC targets track and trace

28-Oct-2009 - CDC Software has launched Trace Express Viewer which helps identify suspect materials, provides cGxP compliant transaction processing and covers users’ ePedigree requirements.

3Ms Drug delivery sales slide in comparison with strong 2008

27-Oct-2009 - Drug delivery device sales for Q3 were one of the few low points for 3M’s healthcare business, falling 5 per cent year on year.

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.

2D barcodes make faking less attractive, says EFPIA

26-Oct-2009 - The EFPIA hopes a pilot 2D barcode labelling scheme will make drug counterfeiting less attractive for fakers and help improve patient safety.

H Lundbeck eschews outsourcing and buys Elaiapharm

20-Oct-2009 - CNS focused drugmaker H Lundbeck says its acquisition of French CMO Elaiapharm represents a cheaper option than third-party manufacturing.

News in brief

Schott plans 24/7 RTF syringe production at US plant

19-Oct-2009 - The US arm of packaging giant Schott has added ready-to-fill (RTF) glass syringe manufacturing capacity at its facility in Lebanon, Pennsylvania in a $14m (€9.4m) expansion designed to meet growing demand.

Arch adds first plant scale SMB in India

19-Oct-2009 - Arch Pharmalabs is continuing its push to serve innovative pharma by adding simulated moving bed (SMB) technology, becoming the first in India to offer the offer the system for plant scale API manufacture.

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.

ACRO wants trials for most biosimilars

15-Oct-2009 - ACRO says while a 12-year exclusivity period for innovative drugs is important for R&D, US legislation should include rules on trials for biosimilars

News in brief

Reaxa sets up Indian subsidiary

14-Oct-2009 - Reaxa will set up an Indian subsidiary to manage supply chain, commercial scale production and application development for its growing number of customers in the country.

CPhI 2009 show preview

08-Oct-2009 - We look ahead to CPhI 2009 which takes place in Madrid, Spain next week and will showcase the world’s leading ingredients, contract services, machinery and biotech companies.

3M opens first Asia-Pacific R&D lab in Singapore

08-Oct-2009 - US firm 3M Drug Delivery Systems has set its sights on the Asia-Pacific region, with a new lab in Singapore which, it says, will help it better serve both local and international markets.