GSK signs packaging deal in Iraq

09-Aug-2011 - GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has won its four-year battle to start packaging drugs in Iraq by outsourcing production to a local company.

HP launches ‘cloud’ track and trace system to help fight counterfeits

04-Aug-2011 - HP has launched a global authentication service it says will help identify counterfeit and stolen pharmaceuticals.

Excipient capacity & portfolio expansion in FMC plans

04-Aug-2011 - FMC plans to add controlled release technologies and expand excipient production to drive growth at its BioPolymer unit.

EDQM to work on Chinese medicine quality monographs

03-Aug-2011 - The EDQM will work to improve the quality of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) sold in Europe under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with SATCM.

EDQM advocates Google Earth for plant GPS data on CEP applications

02-Aug-2011 - The EDQM has suggested Google Earth as a potential source of GPS co-ordinate data for manufacturing sites that must be supplied in CEP applications under recently introduced requirements.

CDSCO issues new Form 40 draft guidance for API importers

25-Jul-2011 - India’s CDSCO has issued draft guidance designed to help active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) importers streamline the submission and registration process.

Distribution deals to TAP into SE Asia bioprocessing sector

21-Jul-2011 - TAP Biosystems has inked deals with six distributors in South East Asia to extend sales support for its automated bioprocessing systems.

Pall solidifies long-term Engefiltro relationship in take-over

20-Jul-2011 - Filtration, separation and purification technology company Pall is to acquire its long-time Brazilian distribution partner, Engefiltro.

Granules and Ajinomoto OmniChem to open Indian API facility

19-Jul-2011 - Granules and Ajinomoto OmniChem have teamed up to produce high value APIs and intermediates at a new Indian plant.

EC drafts GDP guidance to tackle supply chain threats

18-Jul-2011 - Europe has proposed draft distribution guidance in response to globalisation and threats to the pharmaceutical supply chain.

Tamper evident devices must be traceable & unique; Rx-360

18-Jul-2011 - Physical endurance, traceability and uniqueness are key characteristics for tamper evident devices used in raw material supply, according to Rx-360.

FDA must be empowered to oversee supply chain; report

13-Jul-2011 - Congress must grant the FDA additional powers to bring oversight of manufacturing inline with shifts in production practices, according to a report.

Phillips to enter EU primary packaging with Medisize buy

12-Jul-2011 - Phillips Plastics is to expand into Europe and add primary packaging contract manufacturing capabilities by acquiring Medisize.

EU should revoke licenses if emission caps exceeded; report

11-Jul-2011 - Production plants exceeding emission levels could have manufacturing authorisations revoked under EU GMP proposals made by Sweden.

Gerresheimer wants to buy into US plastic packaging sector

06-Jul-2011 - Gerresheimer is interested in a US acquisition as part of a bid to build in the North American plastic drug packaging sector.

WTO rules against China in raw material export quota case

06-Jul-2011 - A WTO panel has ruled China’s export limits on raw materials, including some with pharma uses, are unfair after claims they drive up prices.

USP publishes free drug quality standards collection online

04-Jul-2011 - The USP has published a free, online collection of standards to support drug quality, particularly where regulatory resources are limited.

Sanofi opens new vaccine R&D site in Canada

28-Jun-2011 - Sanofi Pasteur has opened a new centre in Canada in an effort to streamline its global vaccine R&D operations.

Gerresheimer to invest €12m in key Czech plant

28-Jun-2011 - Gerresheimer will expand its pharmaceutical packaging plant in the Czech Republic to meet growing demand for plastic systems and to further expand a key training hub.

PhRMA and GPhA disagree on ‘first to file’ US patent law plan

27-Jun-2011 - The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) has welcomed proposed changes to US patent laws that would alter the basis for patent awards.

NeoStem’s China antibiotics unit gets expanded SFDA approval

14-Jun-2011 - US stem-cell therapy firm NeoStem predicts that output of its China-based generic antibiotics subsidiary Suzhou Erye Pharmaceutical will increase after further manufacturing approval from the SFDA.

GSK to buy China flu vaccine JV GSKNB for $39m

14-Jun-2011 - GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has announced plans to buy its joint venture Shenzhen GSK Neptunus Biologicals (GSKNB) to expand influenza vaccine production capacity in China.

Baxter ordered to pay compensation in heparin case

13-Jun-2011 - US drugmaker Baxter International has been ordered to pay compensation of $625,000 to the estate of man who received a dose of heparin that was contaminated with over-sulfated chondroitin sulphate (OSCS).

News in brief

Aurobindo Pharma gets US FDA OK for alprazolam extended-release

09-Jun-2011 - Drug maker Aurobindo Pharma has been cleared to make a generic equivalent of Pfizer’s CNS drug Xanax XR by the US FDA.