Breaking News on Pharmaceutical Technology

News in brief

Berlin Packaging to buy All-Pak

09-Feb-2010 - Berlin Packaging has agreed to acquire All-Pak, creating a combined company with annual revenues of $500m (€365m) and an expanded geographic, including Puerto Rico.

Hybrid printing press to boost performance for shrink sleeves, lids

08-Feb-2010 - Greater production efficiency, flexibility and state-of-the art capabilities are benefits that lids and shrink sleeve manufacturer Nyco said it can offer after investing in a new hybrid printing press.

Schott launches InJentle syringe to improve drug stability

04-Feb-2010 - Schott AG has launched its InJentle syringe to improve the stability of highly sensitive drugs, which is a “major topic” for the company’s clients, according to a company director.

NAFDAC launches mobile anti-counterfeiting service

03-Feb-2010 - Biofem Pharmaceuticals and NAFDAC have launched an anti-counterfeiting pilot project in Nigeria, using a mobile authentication service (MAS) to validate if a medicine is genuine.

Amcor completes Alcan acquisition

02-Feb-2010 - Global packaging giant Amcor today announced that its acquisition of Alcan Packaging had been completed as it spelled out what the move would mean for suppliers and customers.

Keller buys Lehigh to boost pharma label capacity

02-Feb-2010 - Keller-Crescent has acquired Puerto Rico-based Lehigh Press to expand its capacity for producing pharmaceutical labels, inserts and outserts.

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.

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.

News in brief

Nipro recalls GlucoPro insulin syringes

26-Jan-2010 - Nipro Medical has recalled all batches of its GlucoPro insulin syringes in the US after discovering that the needles could detach during use.

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.

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.

Castle Harlan buys Pretium and Novapak

20-Jan-2010 - Blow-moulded packaging companies Pretium Packaging and Novapak Corporation have been taken over by New-York-based buyout firm Castle Harlan Inc in a deal worth $200m.

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.

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.

MPI and Bioject form needle-free pact

06-Jan-2010 - US preclinical CRO MPI Research has formed an alliance with Oregon-based needle-free delivery specialist Bioject Medical Technologies.

Amcor gets US approval for Alcan takeover

05-Jan-2010 - The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has given partial approval for Amcor’s takeover of Alcan after announcing it would now limit its review to Alcan’s Medical Flexible operations.

Rexam to close Nashua plant; appoints new CEO

04-Jan-2010 - Rexam will close its pill and tablet bottle making facility in New Hampshire, US by the end of the year to further align global plastics operations according to new CEO Graham Chipchase

News in brief

Rio Tinto accepts Amcor offer for Alcan

23-Dec-2009 - Rio Tinto today formally accepted the offer by Amcor to buy Alcan Packaging for US$2.025bn.

Sanofi boosts syringe and vacc capacity at French plant

15-Dec-2009 - Sanofi Aventis has revamped operations at its sterile injectables plant in Le Trait, France, adding three new production units that double syringe making capacity and diversify its vaccine manufacturing capability.

EU clears Amcor takeover of Alcan

15-Dec-2009 - Amcor’s takeover of Alcan has been cleared by the European Commission after the Australian company agreed to sell off two pharmaceutical and food packaging plants in Spain.

Amcor prepares for life after Alcan takeover

14-Dec-2009 - Amcor unveiled its proposed management shake up in preparation for the $2bn takeover of Alcan last week – with the European Commission set to announce its final decision on the deal later to day.

RPC cuts costs to post profit

30-Nov-2009 - RPC Group said strict cost cutting measures were responsible for it posting a half-year profit of £8m - despite the continued economic gloom and hints of polymer price rises.

Unilife files US patents for “world first” RTF vacc syringe; mulls Nasdaq listing

30-Nov-2009 - Unilife Medical Solutions has filed US patents for Unifill Select, which it claims is the first ready-to-fill (RTF) syringe specifically designed for vaccine delivery.