Breaking News on Pharmaceutical Technology

Latest news headlines

Products

Suppliers

USP building database of fake & substandard meds

16-Nov-2010 - The USP is building a database of counterfeit essential medicines to support international drug procurement organisations, such as WHO, and the timely sharing of information between national regulators.

Joint API inspection pilot a success, says EMA

15-Nov-2010 - The European Medicines Agency (EMA) says 12-month API plant joint inspection programme has fostered greater collaboration between international drug industry regulators and cut the number of duplicate visits.

AMRI posts loss, but forecasts 23% contract rev growth in Q4

10-Nov-2010 - API maker AMRI cited arbitration costs, efforts to address a US FDA warning letter and acquisitions as key factors in Q3 loss, but predicted that large-scale contract manufacturing business will drive final quarter gains.

No inspections of heparin sites in China in 20 months pre-crisis

10-Nov-2010 - In the 20 month period before the heparin crisis no Chinese producers were inspected by the FDA and efforts during and since have been hindered by legal and practical challenges.

Celanese rolls out new customisable EVA excipient

08-Nov-2010 - Celanese has launched a new controlled-release EVA excipient and says developing enhanced formulations is key to a drugmaker’s competitive edge in today’s pharmaceutical market.

Overseas offices will shorten inspection times during crises

04-Nov-2010 - Overseas offices will help the FDA schedule inspections more quickly in times of crisis but, as yet, employees based abroad have visited relatively few facilities.

Visualisation of FDA overseas inspections by year & type

03-Nov-2010 - in-PharmaTechnologist presents interactive charts visualising FDA overseas inspections by type and year, as well as the proportion of sites that may never have been inspected.

Cambrex invests in formulations firm Zenara

03-Nov-2010 - Cambrex buys 51 per cent stake in Indian formulations firm Zenara Pharma, citing efforts to grow in emerging markets as key driver.

Anti-fake readiness a factor for emerging biotech buyers

02-Nov-2010 - Biopharm are increasingly assessing the threat counterfeiting and diversion pose to emerging biotechs when planning an acquisition, according to a white paper.

B. Braun recalls heparin after OSCS detected

28-Oct-2010 - B. Braun is recalling lots of its injectable anticoagulant, Heparin, manufactured in 2008, after finding a sample used to manufacture Heparin Sodium USP active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) was contaminated.

Endeavour sees recovery in intermediates sector

28-Oct-2010 - Drug industry demand for chemical intermediates and development projects has rebounded significantly in the last 12 months according to UK group Endeavour Specialty Chemicals.

Aoxing Pharma and Johnson Matthey form narcotics and neurological drug firm in China

28-Oct-2010 - Aoxing Pharma and Johnson Matthey team up to research, develop, manufacture and market active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for narcotics and neurological drugs in China.

FDA may never have inspected 88 per cent of Chinese sites

27-Oct-2010 - The FDA may never have inspected 88 per cent of the 920 Chinese facilities in its inventory, according to the GAO.

Exclusive interview

Rx-360 membership to “snowball” as it prioritises growth

26-Oct-2010 - Rx-360 expects membership numbers to “snowball” in the coming year as it looks to build on progress made in establishing the consortium.

FDA finds excessive peroxide levels in Crospovidone batch

25-Oct-2010 - US FDA finds high levels of peroxide in batch of the excipient Crospovidone made by China’s Tianjin Boai NKY International (TBNI).

WHO begins prequalification programme for selected APIs

21-Oct-2010 - The WHO is today initiating a pilot prequalification programme for selected APIs used in drugs for HIV and related diseases, antimalarials and anti-tuberculosis medications.

News in brief

WR Grace’s acquisition of Synthetech approved by US Bankruptcy Court

19-Oct-2010 - Industrial catalysis firm WR Grace has been OKed to acquire fine chemicals group Synthetech by the US Bankruptcy Court.

Stemedica & AnC form stem cell production joint venture

14-Oct-2010 - Stemedica and AnC Bio have formed a joint venture to manufacture stem cells for the treatment of ischemic stroke and other degenerative disorders.

Pharmatek ‘roll’ out new equipment to expand GMP manufacturing capabilities

13-Oct-2010 - Pharmatek Laboratories has once again expanded service offerings at its San Diego, California facility by adding two roller compactors to its solid oral dosage form manufacturing capabilities.

IMS prediction: Emerging markets front 5-7 % rise in drug sales for 2011

13-Oct-2010 - IMS Health predicts that global drug sales will increase 5 to 7 per cent next year, driven by development of innovative pharmaceuticals and growth of emerging markets.

Exclusive interview

Falsified APIs and gangsters in the pharma industry

12-Oct-2010 - Guy Villax, board member of the EFCG, talks falsified APIs, EU efforts to tackle the issue, and the presence of gangsters in the pharma industry in an in-PharmaTechnologist video interview.

SoluBest and Dr Reddy’s ink formulation development deal

12-Oct-2010 - SoluBest and Dr Reddy’s Laboratories are joining forces to develop a proprietary formulation of one of SoluBest’s pipeline compounds using its Solumer platform.

Novartis and Synthetics Genomics Vaccines to co-develop synthetic flu vaccines

11-Oct-2010 - Novartis will use technology from Synthetics Genomics Vaccines to speed up the development of influenza vaccines for seasonal and pandemic flu outbreaks.

Capsugel up for sale as Pfizer reviews strategy?

11-Oct-2010 - Pfizer has hired Morgan Stanley to review its Capsugel business unit with the possibility of selling the maker of capsules for oral medicines and dietary supplements.

Exclusive interview

SAFC completes Jerusalem fermentation plant expansion

07-Oct-2010 - SAFC has completed the expansion of its manufacturing plant in Jerusalem, Israel, further increasing its global footprint.

Sign up for your free newsletter