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Mach One buys pharma processing machine firm

25-Feb-2009 - Equipment specialist Modular Process Constructors has been snapped up by Belgian biological testing firm Mach One for $500,000 (€388,746)

GEA selects ACE Indian distribution network

19-Feb-2009 - Indian process technology firm ACE Technologies has won the contract to sell and service GEA Pharma Systems’ range of Courtoy tablet presses to local drug manufacturers as part of the latter company’s Asian expansion plan.

Asahi Kasei gains TechniKrom’s bioprocess business

18-Feb-2009 - Japanese chemicals firm Asahi Kasei has ramped up its bioprocessing operations with the acquisition of US industrial processing specialist TechniKrom’s biopharmaceuticals business.

Green flip-flop solvents cut costs and damage

18-Feb-2009 - Work into solvents that can switch polarity from an ionic to non-ionic form, negating the need to remove them after each step, has won a researcher the John C Polanyi Award.

Funding boost for green catalyst tech

16-Feb-2009 - Research into the development of cheaper, less environmentally damaging catalysts should be furthered by a grant awarded by the ACS Green Chemistry Institute.

Myozyme becomes Lumizyme after biologics scale-up

16-Feb-2009 - Genzyme will launch the same biologic under two different names in the US after the FDA decided the drug produced at 2000L was considerably different to the 160L version.

Checking caps from all angles

12-Feb-2009 - An inspection system for sealing caps developed by Germany’s Vitronic could make the need for rotating pharmaceutical bottles and ampoules on the production line a thing of the past.

Pharma Phacts

Deuteration may help drug development

09-Feb-2009 - New research suggests that deuteration, the replacement of hydrogen atoms with heavier forms, can alter an API's crystallisation properties and help drugmakers make better more effective drugs.

Millipore moves for Guava to boost bioscience

09-Feb-2009 - Millipore hopes its $23m (€18m) swoop for Guava Technologies will draw attention away from the underperformance of its bioprocess division, revenue from which fell 6 per cent in Q4 to $214m (€165m) and 2 per cent for 2008 overall.

DSM hopes microreactor will give big gains

05-Feb-2009 - DSM is evaluating Micronit Microfluidics’ new microreactor, which has been developed to perform industrial scale fluid reactions of fine chemicals in a continuous process.

Pall ups tempo of Allegro campaign

04-Feb-2009 - Industrial processing giant Pall is stepping up global promotion efforts for its Allegro platform as the market for single-use drug manufacturing options, estimated to be worth around $400m (€308m), continues to expand.

ABB launches software for QbD & PAT

29-Jan-2009 - ABB has launched its latest process analytical technology (PAT) software xPAT, which it claims will help companies implement quality by design (QbD) through a products entire lifecycle.

Equateq uses “wizardry” to synthesise DGLA

28-Jan-2009 - Equateq is at Informex 2009 showcasing its synthesised 98 per cent pure omega-6 DGLA, use of which has previously been restricted owing to difficulties obtaining it from natural sources.

SiliCycle launches leach-proof catalysts

27-Jan-2009 - Canada-based SiliCycle is at Informex 2009 launching its heterogeneous leach-proof metal catalysts, which it claims can make green chemistry principles a reality for pharma.

Novavax praises disposable systems at site launch

27-Jan-2009 - Novavax believes its new $5m vaccine facility, which became operational this week, shows the cost and efficiency advantages of manufacturing with disposable, single use systems.

California must act to attract biomanufacturing; report

15-Jan-2009 - BayBio has called on California’s leaders to enact legislation to promote biomanufacturing in response to the aggressive policies pursued by other states.

Microfluidics and Horiba eye synergistic partnership

12-Jan-2009 - Microfluidics has formalised its partnership with Horiba Instruments and the companies will now collaborate on R&D, share lab space and jointly help clients through a single contract.

Should the FDA stare at transgenic goats?

08-Jan-2009 - Positive noises from an FDA panel on GTC Biotherapeutics’ recombinant antithrombin ATryn may further the use of transgenic animals for drug production but should the manufacturing process rather than the drug’s safety be our prime concern?

Wyeth launches $1.35bn bid for Crucell

08-Jan-2009 - Wyeth is in discussions to acquire vaccine manufacturer Crucell, in a deal that media reports suggest could be valued at more than $1.35bn.

Bioreactors may solve platelet shortages

06-Jan-2009 - In the future it may be possible to grow supplies of blood platelets in bioreactors rather than relying on donated supplies, according to US researchers.

EU wholesalers express concern with pharma package

23-Dec-2008 - The European Association of Pharmaceutical Full-line Wholesalers (GIRP) says it has concerns about the anti-counterfeiting proposals contained in the European Commission's recently-released 'pharmaceutical package.'

Exclusive interactive map of employment ups and downs in 2008

18-Dec-2008 - We present a unique concept in pharmaceutical journalism; our interactive map tracking the job losses, facility closures, expansions and openings that took place in the US in 2008. Zoom in, roam around and discover details about each individual event.

Analysis of 2008’s shifting employment patterns

18-Dec-2008 - To accompany the map detailing job losses, which can be viewed here , we have picked out the details and trends from the data, uncovering the state of US pharmaceutical employment in 2008.

News in brief

Aeropharm selects Prosonix for crystallisation

16-Dec-2008 - German inhaled drug specialist Aeropharm will use Prosonix’ sonocrystallisation technology to develop generics in its candidate pipeline.

Quadro aims to make trails in powder processing

11-Dec-2008 - Quadro Engineering has entered into a partnership to distribute Micro-Macinazione’s Jet-Mill products in the Americas, as well as launching its own API sifter.

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