News in brief

Sanofi deal to supply H1N1 vacc to Brazil

09-Sep-2009 - Sanofi Aventis says it has been contracted to supply the Brazilian government with up to 33 million doses of H1N1 “swine” flu.

News in brief

Dainippon to buy Sepracor for $2.6bn

03-Sep-2009 - Japanese drugmaker Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma (DSP) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire US pharmaceutical group Sepracor for $2.6bn (€1.8bn).

Biosimilars market to be worth $19.4bn by 2014

03-Sep-2009 - The biosimilars sector is predicted to be worth $19.4bn (€13.6bn) by 2014, by which time the US will have overtaken Asia as the dominant market, according to a report.

SFDA set to approve two H1N1 vaccines

02-Sep-2009 - In the next week the Chinese SFDA is expected to approve licences for two locally produced H1N1 vaccines, which unlike some alternatives only require one dose to confer immunity.

Roche buys Lonza’s Singapore biologics plant

31-Aug-2009 - Basel-headquartered Roche has paid fellow Swiss firm Lonza $290m (€203m) for its Singapore biologics plant in a bid to secure long-term manufacturing capacity for biotech cancer drugs.

Phone-based anti-counterfeiting proposed for developing world

27-Aug-2009 - Researchers have presented a low cost track and trace and authentication system, which they believe could be implemented immediately, to combat counterfeiting in the developing world.

Europe leads US in R&D productivity, says Health Affairs

26-Aug-2009 - Europe is pulling ahead of the US in research productivity, according to a controversial new study by Washington public policy think tank Health Affairs.

Pfizer inaugurates new $214m Swedish biotech plant

26-Aug-2009 - Pfizer’s new $214.8 million (€150m) biotechnology facility in Strangnas, Sweden was inaugurated yesterday, securing the country’s future in the company’s manufacturing network according to global manufacturing president Natale Ricciardi.

GEA wins €15m order from China’s Hisun Pharmaceutical

20-Aug-2009 - GEA Lyophil, part of GEA Pharma Systems, has won a contract to supply Chinjese drugmaker Zheijang Hisun Pharmaceutical with freeze drying systems and automatic loading units.

News in brief

MHRA orders recall of 100 batches of Karib Kemi Pharm drugs

20-Aug-2009 - The UK's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has ordered the recall of 100 batches of drugs sold by generics firm Karib Kem Pharm.

Eastern Europe drug market worth $41bn by 2014; but rules complex

19-Aug-2009 - Eastern Europe’s pharmaceutical market is growing at an impressive rate, but the complex regulatory rules being introduced may make it a less attractive proposition that it first appears, according to a new study by Business Insights.

Philippine FDA will cut registration time, says health sec

19-Aug-2009 - The world’s newest pharma industry regulatory body was set up in Phillipines yesterday with the foundation of a new agency modelled on the US FDA.

Perrigo acts to cut API costs

19-Aug-2009 - Perrigo’s API business posted a $5.4m (€3.8m) operating loss in Q4 because of restructuring charges but it believes vertically integrating production, and opening a site in India, will help in coming years.

Dry powder vaccine nears Phase I

18-Aug-2009 - A dry powder measles vaccine formulation and inhalers that could be as affordable as needle treatments are due to enter Phase I in 2010, according to researchers at the ACS meeting.

Aurobindo enters injectables market with Trident deal

17-Aug-2009 - Generic drugmaker Aurobindo Pharma will add liquid-injectables to its roster of manufacturing capabilities with the purchase of fellow Indian firm Trident Life Sciences (TLSL).

West’s operating income drops in Q2

05-Aug-2009 - West Pharmaceutical Services’ operating income fell by 33 per cent in Q2 but the company reported that demand for some of its drug delivery technology is strong.

Lilly to train Russian FDA

04-Aug-2009 - Eli Lilly is among the organisations partnering to provide training for the Rozdravnadzor, Russia’s equivalent of the FDA, which is seeking to improve its knowledge of manufacturing standards.

Sanofi to buy Indian vaccine biz

27-Jul-2009 - Sanofi-Aventis is continuing to expand in emerging markets by agreeing to acquire Indian vaccine manufacturer Shantha Biotechnics in a deal that values the company at €550m ($784m).

CML aims to be west’s biggest API maker with new plant

23-Jul-2009 - US group Cambridge Major Laboratories (CML) will begin transferring API production to its 125,000 sq ft manufacturing plant in Germantown, Wisconsin at the end of next month.

Alcan talks still on in wake of Bemis deal, says Amcor

20-Jul-2009 - Australian group Amcor has confirmed that talks about a takeover of Alcan’s pharmaceutical packaging business are still ongoing but says that no binding agreement has yet been reached.

Pfizer may bid for Turkey’s Abdi Ibrahim

20-Jul-2009 - Rumours suggest that US drug giant Pfizer is considering a bid for Turkish generics group Abdi Ibrahim as part of its strategy of expanding in emerging markets.

OSI leaves Long Island after "failing to make biotech work"

08-Jul-2009 - US biotechnology group OSI Pharmaceuticals will move HQ to a facility in Greenburgh, New York due, according to observers, to the high cost of land at its current base in Long Island.

News in brief

Evolvence plans more Indian pharma investment

07-Jul-2009 - Dubai-based investment group Evolvence Capital plans to invest in more India drugmakers, according to a report in the Emirates Business newspaper.

Pfizer plans Irish process lab, shelves SF unit and sells skin drugs to Graceway

07-Jul-2009 - Pfizer will invest €11m ($15.3m) in a new kilo technology R&D laboratory at its API manufacturing facility in Ringaskiddy, Ireland.