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China plant implicated in heparin scare "never" inspected by FDA

14-Feb-2008 - Questions are hanging over the role of a Chinese manufacturing facility in the Baxter heparin scare after it has emerged that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has never inspected the facility.

FDA falling down on device inspections, says GAO

14-Feb-2008 - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has once again been accused of failing in its duty to protect the American public.

Germany shows special facility in FOYA category awards

07-Feb-2008 - Germany put in a strong showing as category winners were announced for the fourth annual Facility of the Year Awards (FOYA) recognising innovation in pharmaceutical manufacturing projects.

Russian laser aids in defining nanoparticles

07-Feb-2008 - Russian scientists have created a device that determines micro- and nano-particle size using a laser technology that claims to be more accurate than methods currently used in the laboratory and could find a role in pharmaceutical quality control.

GE strengthens healthcare with $718m Whatman buy

05-Feb-2008 - GE Healthcare has agreed to purchase UK laboratory equipment maker Whatman for £363m ($718m) in a move aimed at advancing GE's life sciences business.

Radiant shunning the China stereotype

05-Feb-2008 - Chinese outsourcing firm Radiant Pharma & Tech is blasting through the stereotypes being pinned on companies operating in low-cost economies, with the relatively young firm hoping to give companies in established markets a run for their money.

SOCMA members slate emerging markets

04-Feb-2008 - Members of the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association (SOCMA) have slammed competitors from emerging markets, claiming poor quality goods and lack of technological competence in regions such as China, India and Eastern Europe.

Novartis warned as facility fails inspection

04-Feb-2008 - Novartis has been given a warning by US regulators detailing significant failures in its investigation into tracking down the source of contamination in some of its vaccines.

Taking hormones out of the water

30-Jan-2008 - US researchers have developed a method of treating waste water that is effective in stripping out hormonal compounds thought to arise from the use and manufacturing of contraceptives and other pharmaceutical and industrial products.

Real time tablet testing OK for continuous processing

30-Jan-2008 - A non-destructive method of carrying out a series of tests on solid dosage forms, developed by UK firm Teraview, can be carried out in real time on the production line and could be used in continuous processing systems, according to a new study.

RedEye Patch keeps oxygen covered

30-Jan-2008 - A new, non-invasive device for monitoring oxygen content in packaging and other enclosed containers has been launched by US optical sensing specialist Ocean Optics.

SOS: save our solvent!

29-Jan-2008 - In any laboratory, or indeed in any pharmaceutical manufacturing facility, one of the major expenses will be solvents. And just like the price of petrol and diesel it just keeps going up and up. Huw Kidwell examines how a new recycling approach could keep costs down and help protect the environment to boot.

Funding shot for cell-based vaccines

14-Jan-2008 - A major grant has been awarded to a UK consortium working to develop predictive manufacturing tools for cell-based cancer vaccines.

bioMerieux shifts to France

10-Jan-2008 - Diagnostics firm bioMérieux has announced plans to shift activities at its facility in the Netherlands to France, shutting down the Dutch site as it continues to haemorrhage cash.

Millipore promises pure biologics

08-Jan-2008 - Millipore has announced the first fruit of its collaboration with testing specialist Gen-Probe, with the launch of a new contaminant detection system for biopharmaceutical manufacturers.

William Ransom & Son's future profitability questionable

19-Dec-2007 - UK-based William Ransom & Son has a shaky future ahead following a disappointing and unacceptable six-month financial report, compounded by a suspension of the companys manufacturing license.

Pharmaceutical manufacturing: people on the move

19-Dec-2007 - Eli Lilly, Shire, Pregis, and Eisai have all had people on the move in the world of pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Double whammy as Merck kids' vaccines recalled and suspended

14-Dec-2007 - Merck has been hit with a contamination threat prompting the recall of a million of its childhood Hib vaccines across the US, right alongside the Canadian suspension of its MMR vaccine.

William Ransom & Son recall false contaminated products

07-Dec-2007 - UK-based William Ransom & Son has been advised to voluntarily recall certain products following a false contamination scare at its Witham, Essex, facility.

Combo products need guidelines

05-Dec-2007 - The combination products market is zooming ahead, requiring the need to address regulatory challenges, an author of a white paper says.

Pharmaceutical manufacturing: news in brief

30-Nov-2007 - In-PharmaTechnologist.com brings you a selection of recent headlines from around the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry.

Weekly Comment

Paediatric drugs and testing highlighted

26-Nov-2007 - The importance of paediatric drug formulations and clinical trials in children was highlighted at this month's American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) conference in San Diego.

MHRA launches new action plan to combat UK counterfeit hub

26-Nov-2007 - The UK has become an unlikely hub for drug counterfeiters, with the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) last week launching its new three-year action plan to tackle the recent surge in drug fakes head on.

Practice run for pharma RFID

13-Nov-2007 - IBM has teamed up with RFID specialist Tagsys to offer pharmaceutical manufacturers a chance to have a practice run implementing their RFID track and trace technology ahead of new legal requirements coming into force in 2009.

Japan's Tamiflu supply halved

05-Nov-2007 - Japan will only be receiving 50 per cent of its usual supply of the blockbuster flu drug Tamiflu (oseltamivir) this year, thanks to significantly reduced demand following reports of suicidal behaviour in adolescents taking the medication.

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