AZ plans 8,000 job cuts by 2014 and will outsource more R&D

29-Jan-2010 - AstraZeneca will cut 8,000 more jobs by 2014 with R&D and supply chain operations being the main focus of the cutbacks.

Lonza hit by lower demand last year; cuts capex in 2010

28-Jan-2010 - Full-year income at the Lonza was hit by falling demand for life science ingredients and custom manufacturing services and only modest gains for its bioscience unit.

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...

Crospon spins out transdermal patch

28-Jan-2010 - Crospon has spun out its transdermal controlled release patch into a distinct company, two years after it licensed the system from HP, using funding from a pharma firm to further...

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Enzon approves pharma biz sale

28-Jan-2010 - Enzon stockholders have approved the sale of its pharmaceutical business, which has four marketed products and a manufacturing facility, to sigma-tau for an initial $300m (€214m).

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.

Environmental sustainability should be built into GMP; MPA

27-Jan-2010 - Environmental certification of production facilities should be introduced to GMP legislation and sustainability risk assessments linked to marketing authorisations, according to a MPA report.

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Copley launches world’s first dissolution tester for inhaled drugs

27-Jan-2010 - Copley Scientific claims new dissolution testing apparatus is first commercially available device specifically designed for inhaled drug formulations.

Merck KGaA to expand inorganic salts capacity 50%

27-Jan-2010 - Merck KGaA has begun work on a new inorganic salts plant in Darmstadt, Germany, citing growing demand as the main motivation for the €30m ($42m) investment.

People on the move: pharma jobs

27-Jan-2010 - in-PharmaTechnologist presents its latest round up of movements in the pharma sector, including Vasella stepping down as CEO of Novartis and appointments at Shionogi Pharma and Antares Pharma.

New network aims to enhance formulation collaboration

26-Jan-2010 - The Formulation Innovation Network has been set up in the North of England as a means of enhancing innovation for all formulation-orientated businesses.

LTS teams up with IntelGenx on VersaFilm

26-Jan-2010 - LTS Lohmann Therapie-Systeme (LTS) signs up as manufacturer of drugs that use IntelGenx’s VersaFilm delivery technology.

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....

Millipore launches Mycoplasma early-detection system

26-Jan-2010 - Detection of Mycoplasma contamination in biologics manufacture can be cut from up to 35 days to four hours using Millipore’s MilliPROBE, according to the company.

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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.

Nanotech safety bill introduced to US Senate

25-Jan-2010 - Nanotechnology safety legislation designed to address potential health and safety risks posed by the technology has been introduced to the US Senate.

Freezer-farm phase of PCT’s cell-therapy plant complete

25-Jan-2010 - Work on “freezer farm” phase of Progenitor Cell Therapy’s (PCTs) new manufacturing facility in Allendale, New Jersey is complete.

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.

SurModics opens 90,000 sq ft site

25-Jan-2010 - SurModics has opened a 90,000 sq ft cGMP manufacturing and development facility in Birmingham, Alabama, US to support its partnerships and shorten time to market.

News in brief

Dr Reddy’s licenses Aegis’ drug delivery tech

25-Jan-2010 - Dr Reddy’s Laboratories is combining some of its products with Aegis Therapeutics’ Intravail drug delivery technology after the companies entered into a partnership.

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Drug industry aid for Haiti earthquake relief efforts

21-Jan-2010 - Emergency relief groups in Haiti can expect to receive continued support from the drug industry, according to the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (IFPMA).

AMRI plant gains SafeBridge HPAPI certification

21-Jan-2010 - AMRI’s plant in Rensselaer, New York gained SafeBridge potent compound certification this week after an effort that spokesperson Andrea Schulz said istestament to the firm's "willingness to go the...

Lupin's Mandideep plant OKed by US FDA

21-Jan-2010 - Indian drugmaker Lupin can start seeking US approval for new drugs made at its API plant in Mandideep, Bhopal after resolving the cGMP deficiencies that earned the facility a US...

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.

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Ocelus gets funding for needle-free tech

20-Jan-2010 - Ocelus’ has received £500,000 from Finance Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government to fund the development of its Microplant Delivery System.

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.

Access’ oral insulin shows preclinical promise

20-Jan-2010 - Access Pharmaceuticals’ insulin diabetes treatment has shown promise in preclinical trials, achieving over 80 per cent oral bioavailability, leading the company to target proof-of-concept studies in humans.

Ranbaxy buys Biovel to strengthen in biologics and vaccines

20-Jan-2010 - Ranbaxy Laboratories has strengthened its vaccine and biologics manufacturing capabilities by acquiring India-based Biovel Lifesciences.

J&J expands US OTC recall on more TBA contamination fears

19-Jan-2010 - Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has expanded its US OTC drug recall after revealing that many more products than first thought may be contaminated by the wood dye, 2,4,6-tribromoanisole (TBA)....

Vaccine makers did not hype H1N1, says EVM

19-Jan-2010 - The EFPIA’s European Vaccine Manufacturers (EVM) group has denied allegations that its members were involved in hyping up the threat of the H1N1 pandemic to boost vaccine sales.

Report criticises incentives offered to Amylin

19-Jan-2010 - The subsidy package used to attract Amylin to Ohio was probably too large and inflated by the biotech’s claim it was considering other locations, according to a report which calls...

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.

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SVF divests stake in Shilpa

18-Jan-2010 - Strategic Ventures Fund (SVF) has divested its stake in API producer Shilpa Medicare after four years invested in the company, during which time it has doubled its manufacturing capacity.

Vaccine market worth $52bn in 2016

18-Jan-2010 - Global vaccine revenues will be $52bn (€36.2bn) in 2016, more than double the total for 2009, driven by new products and indication expansions of established therapies, according to a report.

People on the move: pharma jobs

18-Jan-2010 - in-PharmaTechnologist presents its latest round up of movements in the pharma sector, including Cel-Sci strengthening its manufacturing team and three promotions at Adolor.

Lonza to close Riverside API plant

14-Jan-2010 - Lonza will shut down its API plant in Riverside, Pennsylvania, US by the end of the year as part of a plan to cut costs and shift small-molecule production to...

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Intranasal seasonal flu vaccine begins Phase II

14-Jan-2010 - Avir Green Hills AG has begun Phase II trials of deltaFLU, its intranasal, seasonal influenza vaccine, which it believes is easier to administer and more effective than traditional treatments.

VCI partners for cGMP e-learning

14-Jan-2010 - SyberWorks is collaborating with the Validation and Compliance Institute (VCI) to provide FDA compliance training, including a programme covering cGMP production.

News in brief

Cel-Sci validates manufacturing facility

13-Jan-2010 - Cel-Sci has completed validation of critical utilities and production equipment at its GMP facility which uses cold 4ºC aseptic filling to improve the shelf-life and potency and biologics.

Pall buys MRT for mini MTPD technology

13-Jan-2010 - Pall says its acquisition of MicroReactor Technologies (MRT) broadens its offering in the $1bn (€689m) a year global biopharmaceutical process development market.

Genzyme’s preliminary revenues dip

13-Jan-2010 - Genzyme has reported a small dip in preliminary fourth quarter and full year revenues, driven by declining sales of Cerezyme and Fabrazyme which have been affected by manufacturing problems.

Novavax scales up RSV-F vaccine

13-Jan-2010 - Novavax has completed cGMP scale up of its RSV-F vaccine candidate, with the material being used in preclinical studies, and amended the terms of the H1N1 collaboration with Xcellerex.

Millipore expands virus filtration range with Viresolve Pro

12-Jan-2010 - Millipore wants to help biopharmas address “virus safety challenges” and believes its new Viresolve Pro+ filtration system may provide the solution.

People on the move: pharma jobs

12-Jan-2010 - in-PharmaTechnologist presents its latest round up of movements in the pharma sector, including Genzyme strengthening its quality team and appointments at ISPE and Biogen Idec.

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.

FDA advises on manufacturing MNPs during a pandemic

12-Jan-2010 - Continuing production of medically necessary products (MNPs) in the event of a pandemic will be made easier by developing a contingency plan, according to the FDA which has issued guidance...

FDA will miss Afrezza deadline; One small delay for MannKind?

11-Jan-2010 - US FDA has missed its review deadline for MannKind’s inhaled insulin candidate Afrezza after failing to complete inspection of third-party contract supplier.

Florida Biologix expands bioreactor and fill capacity

11-Jan-2010 - A recently completed manufacturing and filling capacity expansion will help Florida Biologix meet deadlines and win repeat business according to company director Richard Snyder.

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API production starts at Evonik's new plant

11-Jan-2010 - Production has begun at the US API plant German chemicals firm Evonik Industries recently bought from drugmaker Eli Lilly.

Insect cells could cut vaccine production to 10 weeks

11-Jan-2010 - Vaccines could be produced in less than 10 weeks from first isolation of the RNA sequence by using insect cell derived influenza VLPs, according to research which has implications for...

GSK to shift Avodart production to Poland in 2011

11-Jan-2010 - GSK says it will start making its BPH drug Avodart (dutasteride) at its facility in Poznan, Poland when it completes a PLN70m (€17m) capacity upgrade in January next year.

HK drug sector should raise GMP standards, report

07-Jan-2010 - The Hong Kong pharma sector should aim to adopt current World Health Organisation (WHO) GMP standards for drug manufacture within two years, according to a new report.

Luitpold buys PharmaForce for generic injectables

07-Jan-2010 - Daiichi-Sankyo subsidiary Luitpold Pharmaceuticals has acquired PharmaForce, giving it a 40,000 sq ft cGMP compliant sterile manufacturing facility and a 20,000 sq ft API production plant.

News in brief

MHRA proposes 12 year sentences for counterfeit dealing

07-Jan-2010 - The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is planning to strengthen penalties against counterfeiters, making it a specific criminal offence with a maximum sentence of 12 years.

Next step towards generics, Pfizer teams with Strides

07-Jan-2010 - Pfizer will soon sell more generic pharmaceuticals in the US after its agreement with Indian non-branded drugmaker Strides Arcolab.

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.

InNexus developing topical psoriasis treatment

06-Jan-2010 - InNexus Biotechnology believes 2010 is the year for biotechs to differentiate and has begun this process by using its Transmab delivery technology in a product for treating psoriasis.

News in brief

CyDex awarded additional Captisol patent

06-Jan-2010 - The US PTO has granted CyDex new patent for the production of ultra high-purity modified cyclodextrin.

People on the move: pharma jobs

06-Jan-2010 - in-PharmaTechnologist presents its latest round up of movements in the pharma sector, including the retirement of Biogen Idec’s CEO and appointments at Dishman and Noven.

News in brief

NIR can predict matrix pill dissolution; research

05-Jan-2010 - Cost savings and more consistency in the quality of pills could be realised if near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) is used to predict dissolution rates of matrix tablets in the body, according...

Ranbaxy sells China JV and changes strategy

05-Jan-2010 - Ranbaxy Laboratories has sold its Chinese JV, Ranbaxy Guangzhou China Limited (RGCL), as part of a new approach to the country’s rapidly expanding drug market.

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.

Zydus begins H1N1 trials

05-Jan-2010 - Zydus Cadila has become the first Indian pharma company to begin multi-centre clinical trials of a H1N1 vaccine after it received approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI)....

Genzyme outsources to Hospira following in-house problems

05-Jan-2010 - Genzyme is outsourcing fill and finish manufacturing of several major drugs to Hospira in response to in-house difficulties at its Allston Landing facility in Boston, Massachusetts, US.

DMV-Fonterra builds pharma lactose biz with Domo deal

05-Jan-2010 - Ownership of FrieslandCampina Domo’s pharmaceutical lactose business will be transferred to DMV-Fonterra Excipients, the 50/50 JV set up by Domo owner Royal FrieslandCampina and partner Fonterra.

Novartis to acquire Alcon

04-Jan-2010 - Novartis intends to acquire the remaining 75 per cent of Alcon for $39.3bn (€27.3bn), adding to the shares it bought in April 2008 and giving the big pharma control of...

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...

Marksans cleared to hive off API division

04-Jan-2010 - Marksans Pharma will sell or lease its API manufacturing plants in Pune, India in a bid to raise $125m (€87m) and focus

News in brief

McNeil extends Tylenol recall in US

04-Jan-2010 - McNeil Consumer Healthcare has recalled all lots of its Tylenol Arthritis Pain caplet 100 count bottles in the US due to reports of nausea and stomach pain.