D3T aims to clean up in verification testing market

29-Jan-2009 -  D3 Technology hopes its new SERS-based cleaning verification test, that follows FDA guidelines, will prove attractive to drugmakers looking to expedite the cleaning process and cut downtime between production runs.  ...

M&A fever sweeps drug industry in wake of Pfizer-Wyeth deal

29-Jan-2009 -  Pfizer’s $68bn swoop for Wyeth looks set to start an epidemic of merger madness according to comments by Frost & Sullivan (F&S) analyst Shabeer Hussain.

Evolution of Thermo Fisher’s Darwin LIMS

29-Jan-2009 -  Thermo Fisher Scientific hopes that the web functionality offered by the latest generation of its Darwin LIMS system will help it become the natural selection for drug makers seeking an...

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.

News in brief

Stimulus package fuels pharma job cuts

29-Jan-2009 -  Some of the biggest recipients from the US governments Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) have loaned Pfizer $22.5bn to fund its takeover of Wyeth.

WHO delays “counterfeit” redefinition plan

28-Jan-2009 -  The WHO has delayed its controversial EB 124/14 amendment that would, according to some groups, broaden the organisation’s definition of “counterfeit” from its current focus on patient health to include...

Track & trace viable today; EU backed pilot study

28-Jan-2009 -  GS1 UK has released positive preliminary results from a track and trace pilot study, which used bar codes and EPC/RFID tags to follow drugs from manufacturing plants to a hospital....

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.

KV suspends manufacture; finances hurt

27-Jan-2009 -  KV Pharmaceutical has voluntarily suspended the manufacture and distribution of its products and hired a third-party consultancy in an attempt to resolve its problems with the FDA.

Pfizer axes 5 facilities as profits tumble

27-Jan-2009 -  Pfizer’s fourth quarter results saw net income plummet by 90 per cent and revealed that the company is to close five manufacturing facilities, laying-off 10 per cent of its workforce.

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.

News in brief

EC opens public consultation on blood derived products

26-Jan-2009 -  The European Commission’s latest guidelines on the manufacture of medicinal products derived from human blood or plasma has been opened up to public consultation.

Pfizer to acquire Wyeth in $68bn deal

26-Jan-2009 -  Pfizer has confirmed it has entered into an agreement to buy Wyeth in a deal worth $68bn, which it hopes will strengthen its position in anticipation of a challenging few...

Deal struck for vector drug delivery to treat ALS

26-Jan-2009 -  ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) and Asklepios BioPharmaceutical have entered into a collaboration to develop viral vectors for drug delivery.

Formulation developed to stop vaccine freeze damage

26-Jan-2009 -  Health charity PATH has developed a formulation to stop vaccines suffering from freeze damage, which it believes will help ensure products are fully potent when they reach their destination.

Valois targets compliance with equadel add-ons

22-Jan-2009 - Valois Pharma has informed in-PharmaTechnologist that it is developing a range of add-ons for its equadel nasal drug delivery device, which the company believes will help improve patient compliance.

CEE could gain from Asia’s reputation for fakes

22-Jan-2009 -  A new report suggests the large numbers of fake drugs produced in China could drive CMO customers away and see Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) emerge as a contract manufacturing...

Preterm babies could face toxic excipient levels

22-Jan-2009 -  Preterm infants are routinely exposed to pharmaceutical excipients at levels which could potentially be toxic, according to researchers at Leicester Royal Infirmary in the UK.

FDA outlines ‘best practice’ for importers

21-Jan-2009 -  The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a draft guidance on the measures pharmaceutical and other manufacturers should take to make sure imported FDA-regulated products are in line...

Merrion to develop oral GLP-1 drug for Novo

21-Jan-2009 -  Ireland’s Merrion Pharmaceuticals’ GIPET oral delivery technology platform has won the firm its second licensing agreement with Danish insulin giant Novo Nordisk. 

FDA wants standardised drug pack numbering

20-Jan-2009 - The FDA is calling for all drugs to be labelled using a standardised numerical identifier (SNI) similar to the one suggested in the delayed California e-Pedigree guidelines in a bid...

Teva and Lonza JV targets biosimilars

20-Jan-2009 -  Teva has made a big push into the biosimilars market through a joint venture with Lonza, which will give the generics giant expertise in biologics manufacture.

Jail and fine for faker whose drugs turned up in UK trials

20-Jan-2009 -  A Chinese citizen has been fined more than $1.2m and sentenced to over six years in a US prison for distributing counterfeit drugs that appeared “identical to authentic pharmaceuticals”.

Novartis gets $487m for US cell culture flu vac plant

19-Jan-2009 -  Novartis will receive a further $487m (€366m) from the US HHS for its cell-culture flu vaccine plant in Holly Springs, North Carolina.

News in brief

Drug CEOs hope to kickstart economy at April summit

19-Jan-2009 - CEOs from Pfizer, GSK and Abbott Laboratories are among those who will meet in to discuss the new business practices that must be put in place to adapt to the...

Sanofi to sell liquid drugs plant to Unither

19-Jan-2009 -  Sanofi-Aventis is to sell its liquid drug manufacturing plant in Colomiers, southwest France, to industry specialist Unither for an as yet undisclosed sum. 

XOMA cuts manufacturing jobs as demand dips

19-Jan-2009 -  XOMA has dramatically cut back on its manufacturing staff as part of restructuring that will lay off 42 per cent of the company’s total employees.

50% of Canadian biotechs face collapse in ‘09

19-Jan-2009 -  BIOTECanada has warned the Canadian government that unless it supports biotechs 50 per cent could run out of money this year, resulting in thousands of people being made redundant.

FDA launches global supply chain pilot scheme

15-Jan-2009 -   In the latest part of its “beyond our borders” scheme, the US FDA is asking drugmakers to volunteer supply chain information for drugs and APIs sourced outside the USA....

Asian pack machine demand a boon US and EU industry

15-Jan-2009 -  The market for packaging machinery is set to grow 5 per cent a year and be worth $40bn (€30.3bn) by 2012, driven partly by a hike in demand for drug...

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.

Süd-Chemie claims it has a cheaper, greener desiccant

15-Jan-2009 -  Süd-Chemie Performance Packaging has expanded its range of bentonite desiccants, which it claims are cheaper and less environmentally damaging than silica gel alternatives.

Mettler hopes FreeWeigh is road to pharma quality

14-Jan-2009 - With big pharma continually seeking greater efficiency, improving QA/QC to reduce wastage and avoid costly recalls has become increasingly important, a fact that Mettler Toledo hopes will win the latest...

Teamwork future of GMP inspections, says EMEA

14-Jan-2009 -  Despite criticism in certain quarters, joint GMP inspections represent the best use of resources in an increasingly globalised market, according to the EMEA.

News in brief

Pfizer to shed 800 R&D staff in 2009

14-Jan-2009 -  Pfizer, the “world’s largest research-based drug company,” will cut 800 R&D jobs at facilities in Groton, Connecticut, St. Louis, Missouri, La Jolla, California, US and Sandwich, UK by the end...

News in brief

HHS/FDA set to open Indian offices

14-Jan-2009 -  Two new HHS/FDA food and drug safety offices in Dehli and Mumbai, India are the latest outpost of the US regulators “beyond our borders” campaign that has already seen it...

VC boost for oral drug delivery tech

14-Jan-2009 -  Chiasma has raised $11m to further the development of its oral formulation technology despite the difficulties facing companies seeking venture capital in the current market.

Schering-Plough selects ixPressa software for blister printing

13-Jan-2009 -  Schering-Plough has signed up to use software developed by UK-based specialist ixPressia to improve the quality of its blister printing operations.

News in brief

Torti appointed as acting FDA Commissioner

13-Jan-2009 -  Frank Torti will become the acting Commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when Andrew von Eschenbach steps down next week.

Wyeth partners with Santaris on RNA development

13-Jan-2009 -  Wyeth Pharmaceuticals is continuing efforts to improve its capabilities in the formulation and delivery of RNA through a strategic partnership with Santaris Pharma.

EC publishes packaging guidelines; details for the blind

13-Jan-2009 -  The European Commission (EC) has published its revised guidance on the readability of medicinal labels and accompanying leaflets, which will come into force in June.

Adventrx cuts its workforce again

13-Jan-2009 -  US drugmaker Adventrx Pharmaceuticals is reducing its workforce to just 14 employees in a bid to preserve cash and refocus efforts on bioequivalence programmes for its lead candidates. 

McKesson and Burgopak focused on improving patient compliance

12-Jan-2009 - December's packaging deal between McKesson and Burgopak is further evidence of drug industry's determination to improve patient compliance. in-PharmaTechnologist asked Burgopak's global head of automation Mark Symonds for further details...

News in brief

Cuban prostate cancer vac sees clinical progress.

12-Jan-2009 -  Heberprovac, a prostate cancer vaccine being developed at the Camaguey Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Centre has completed the initial phases of a clinical trial, according to the Cuban News Agency. ...

GSK’s high-tech vaccines packaging plant plan

12-Jan-2009 -  An open house at GSK’s plant in Pennsylvania, US gave the world its first glimpse of the facility that the firm hopes will become the global hub of its vaccine...

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.

Pharma manufacturing: People on the move

12-Jan-2009 -  in-PharmaTechnologist presents its latest round up of personnel moves in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Orion tightens its belt with 205 job cuts

08-Jan-2009 -  Finnish drugmaker Orion is to follow through on plans to cut its R&D workforce and shed 205 employees to sure up operations as generic pressure mounts on its leading Parkinson’s...

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...

FDA enters Costa Rica on global safety mission

08-Jan-2009 -  The FDA has established its first permanent presence in Latin America by opening an office in Costa Rica as part of “Beyond Our Borders Initiative”, which has also seen the...

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.

Abbott PRINT’s map to siRNA delivery

08-Jan-2009 -  Abbott Laboratories has licensed Liquidia Technologies’ PRINT nanoparticle technology for the delivery of siRNA-based therapeutics, which have the potential to improve the company’s cancer portfolio.

Indian Govt. to re-open vaccine plants in face of shortfall

07-Jan-2009 -  India’s health authorities may invest RPS5bn ($102m) to re-open three state run vaccine manufacturing firms in a bid to combat current shortages, according to reports in the country’s media. ...

Halo snaps up Abbott facility; saves 80 New Jersey jobs

07-Jan-2009 -  Halo Pharmaceuticals hopes that its acquisition of Abbott Laboratories’ 200,000 sq ft formulation, manufacturing and warehousing facility in Whippany, New Jersey will help it blossom into a CMO and development...

Biotech numbers predicted to tumble as M&A ramps up

07-Jan-2009 -  The number of public biotechs will plummet in 2009 to 250 as difficulties in securing funding results in mergers, acquisitions and bankruptcies, according to the CEO of a life science...

Night time release pill gains EU approval

07-Jan-2009 -  Nitec has received approval in Europe for its rheumatoid arthritis treatment Lodotra making it the first product using SkyePharma’s propriety drug delivery technology Geoclock to come to market.

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.

News in brief

Taro accuses Sun of PR posturing

06-Jan-2009 -  Taro chairman Barrie Levitt says Sun’s publication of details of incomplete settlement talks designed to address the parties’ long running acquisition battle violates confidentiality agreements and presents a one-sided view...

Europe’s last paracetamol plant closes its doors

06-Jan-2009 -  As 2008 drew to a close and people the world over welcomed the New Year, few would have noticed the passing of Europe’s paracetamol industry as Rhodia closed the doors...

LyondellBasell struggling with debt and global slump

06-Jan-2009 -  LyondellBasell, the world’s third largest petrochemicals firm and a major supplier to the drug industry, is close to bankruptcy according to widespread media reports as it struggles under the weight...

News in brief

Facility opening continues Vietnam’s growth

06-Jan-2009 -  A 2,000 sq m good manufacturing practice (GMP) compliant production facility has been inaugurated in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Actavis Totowa stops production at out-of-code US plants

06-Jan-2009 -  Actavis Totowa, part of Icelandic generics group Actavis, has agreed to stop selling drugs made at its facilities in New Jersey, US until the plants are made fully compliant with...

Endo enters new markets with $370m deal

06-Jan-2009 -  This year’s M&A activity is underway with Endo’s agreement to acquire Indevus for an initial $370m as it looks to expand beyond the competitive pain market and gain drug delivery...

Residents fume about waste drug processing plant

05-Jan-2009 -  Residents in the Indiana town of Anderson, US are up in arms about Peat International’s plans to build a waste drug vaporizing plant. 

Discovery could make protein manufacture more efficient

05-Jan-2009 -  US researchers have found a way to improve the yield of biopharmaceutical production by freeing up protein trapped in bacterial stores known as inclusion bodies. 

Synthesis of aromatic polyketides in E. coli solved

05-Jan-2009 -  US researchers have for the first time synthesised an important class of drug compounds - the aromatic polyketides - in Escherichia coli, a bacteria widely used in microbial production. ...

$10bn savings from follow-on biologics; CBO report

05-Jan-2009 -  Implementation of an abbreviated approval pathway for follow-on biologics could result in savings of almost $10bn over a decade, according to a report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).