Breaking News on Pharmaceutical Technology
All news articles > February 2008
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28-Feb-2008
PolyTherics and CPDS sign R&D accord
The spiraling cost of developing a new drug, which organisations such as the USA-based Tufts Centre for the Study of Drug Development estimate to be between $800m and $1.2bn, means that companies wishing to create innovative medications face ever growing financial risk.
AMRI stuck with stagnant sales
AMRI edged back into the red during the fourth quarter of 2007 after stagnant sales growth and higher costs, a scenario that is expected to continue.
Glide injection system to be assessed by 'major' drug firm
UK specialty pharmaceutical company Glide Pharma has signed a deal with a "leading" pharmaceutical company, under which the as yet unidentified firm will evaluate Glide's Solid Dose Injection system for the administration of one of it range of branded peptide therapeutics.
Operation Jupiter rains on fake antimalarials
A multinational, multidisciplinary initiative involving scientists, public health workers, police and government officials could provide a cogent model for rooting out and stamping out counterfeiting of essential and lifesaving drugs.
27-Feb-2008
Improved gene expression accelerates biologic drug production
Bayer Healthcare is to deploy a new technique, developed by Millipore, for genetically engineering cells to produce pharmaceutically useful proteins that could both increase the yield and accelerate drug production.
Novartis vaccines institute sets sights on developing world diseases
Novartis has lent impetus to the growing trend towards philanthropic R&D in the pharmaceutical industry by opening a new research institute in Siena, Italy "with a non-profit mission to exclusively focus on the development of vaccines for diseases of the developing world".
Bosch to lay out new filling and packaging wares at Interpack
Bosch Packaging Technology will be rolling out a range of new and recently launched processing and packaging solutions at the Interpack 2008 exhibition in Düsseldorf, Germany this April, including a new line for high-potency compounds.
West reports profit slump on higher production costs
West Pharmaceutical Services has reported sales of over $1bn in 2007 and is optimistic about 2008, despite a small drop in the consolidated gross profit margin large in Q4.
26-Feb-2008
H&R Wasag stays positive as oil prices bite in pharma
Oil price fluctuations had the expected impact of dampening profits in H&R Wasag's key chemical-pharmaceutical raw materials business during 2007.
Investigation fingers Cambrex for safety breach after plant explosion
An investigation in the aftermath of a fire and explosion at one of Cambrex' US plants last year has found the firm in breach of several safety regulations and the company will be fined accordingly.
India's largest CRAMS firm gathers momentum
Jubilant Organosys, India's largest custom research and manufacturing services (CRAMS) provider, has scored new contracts to the tune of $92m for the year thus far as its business continues to gather momentum.
Gerresheimer sees benefit of plastic push in Q4
Packaging giant Gerresheimer crowned its first year as a public company with a leap in profits for the fourth quarter of 2007, helped by its acquisition of plastic specialist Wilden Group.
25-Feb-2008
BASF sees hefty chemicals growth in 2007
Earnings growth from its pharma solutions business helped push BASF's operating income (EBITDA) from fine chemicals up by 56.5 per cent to €288m in 2007.
Contract manufacturing news in brief
Dextra Laboratories, Akorn, Metrics and Xcelience have all recently announced new contract manufacturing news.
Genmab slakes capacity thirst with PDL facility purchase
Genmab, the Danish antibody specialist with three product candidates in Phase III clinical trials, is taking control of its manufacturing requirements with the agreed acquisition of an antibody facility in Minnesota, US for $240m in cash.
Accu-Break goes for gold with Midas tie-up for Europe
Accu-Break Pharmaceuticals (ABP), the US company with a suite of tableting technologies for creating divisible dosage forms, has signed a co-operation agreement with Germany's Midas Pharma that should open new avenues for technology licensing and ABP products in Europe.
21-Feb-2008
pSivida gets first Pfizer cash for eye delivery tech
Australian bio-nanotech company pSivida has received the first R&D payment of $500,000 from pharmaceutical giants Pfizer for pSivida's controlled drug delivery technologies in ophthalmic applications.
Novozymes, Upperton move nanoparticles towards commercialisation
Denmark's Novozymes has renewed and extended its collaboration with UK-based biotech Upperton Limited on a drug delivery system that exploits the natural binding properties of recombinant protein nanoparticles to improve compound targeting and bioavailability.
New device uses spectroscopy to speed up particle ID
Germany's rap.ID Particle Systems has launched a new lab-ready particle identification device capable of identifying around 400 particles an hour from 5µm and up. The company says the device is suited for development and quality assurance in the pharmaceutical industry.
20-Feb-2008
Warning for Vintage generic drugmaker
Generic drug manufacturer Vintage Pharmaceuticals has fallen foul of the regulatory authorities in the US once again for failing to meet quality standards.
UK team to use nanoparticles to improve brain drug delivery
A nanoparticle-based delivery system is being developed in the UK as a potential means of bypassing the blood brain barrier and improve the treatment of central nervous system diseases such as brain cancer.
Cambrex cost cutting beginning to pay
Cambrex' cost cutting resolve is starting to pay off for the firm, who achieved an improved profitability in the fourth quarter of 2007, although sales are still stagnant.
FDA mix-up caused failure to inspect Baxter's Chinese supplier
More details have emerged over the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) failure to vet the Chinese manufacturing plant implicated in the Baxter heparin scare - the agency mistook it for an already-inspected plant, it turns out.
Pig liver esterase makes a comeback in biocatalysis
A new recombinant pig liver esterase (PLE) biocatalyst that sidesteps concerns about the safety of animal-derived versions has been launched by DSM Pharma Chemicals.
Fentanyl patches recalled over leakage risk
Concerns have been building across North America about the safety of transdermal patches for delivering the highly potent narcotic analgesic fentanyl.
19-Feb-2008
Targeted nanoparticles open up cartilage to drug delivery
A novel delivery system that converts the structure of cartilage "from a barrier into a reservoir" could provide an answer to the challenge of administering and maintaining drugs in avascular tissue.
West Pharmaceutical and Nektar formerly sever Exubera ties
West Pharmaceutical Services has formally announced the end of its Exubera relationship with the product's developers Nektar Therapeutics.
Aceto makes determined pitch for Japanese intermediates
Aceto, the US-based distributor and marketer of fine and industrial chemicals, is making a determined pitch for the pharmaceutical intermediates sector in Japan.
North American water treatment market on a growth track
With 40-60 per cent of a global drug manufacturing industry worth more than $380bn captured by the North American marketplace, the region offers sustained opportunities for suppliers of pharmaceutical water and wastewater treatment solutions to increase their revenues while improving market share and brand recognition.
18-Feb-2008
Novo Nordisk, Merck eyeing India
Novo Nordisk and Merck & Co have both indicated they have their eye on expanding their drug discovery and manufacturing presence in India and forging new research partnerships among companies in the country.
IMA positive about 2008 prospects despite slight 4th-qtr decline
Fourth quarter operating profit at Italian packaging automation firm IMA SpA fell some 8.5 per cent to €27m, while its revenue for the period declined 4.2 per cent to €147m, although pharma sales, buoyed by acquisitions, kept its full-year figures in positive territory.
FDA starts inspecting stalled Watson facility
An end may be in sight to the long-running problems with the Florida manufacturing facility acquired by US brand and generic company Watson Pharmaceuticals with Andrx Corporation in November 2006.
EU white paper urges competitive spirit in research
A leading medical research council has called for increased funding within the European medical research community to maintain high standards and attract and retain the brightest young researchers.
EMEA filing for first vaccine using Soluvia microinjection system
The first European approval application for a vaccine delivered via a new intradermal (ID) microinjection system developed by BD (Becton, Dickinson & Company) has been filed by Sanofi-Pasteur, the vaccines division of the Sanofi-Aventis group.
14-Feb-2008
FDA falling down on device inspections, says GAO
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has once again been accused of failing in its duty to protect the American public.
China plant implicated in heparin scare "never" inspected by FDA
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.
Dr Reddy's eyeing SkyePharma delivery system
UK drug delivery specialist SkyePharma has signed an agreement with India's Dr Reddy's Laboratories for a feasibility study of an unnamed product using two of SkyePharma's proprietary drug delivery systems.
Copapharm raises Spanish profile with new member Nekar
Copapharm Europe, the pan-European alliance of pharmaceutical packagers, has significantly raised its game in the Spanish market with a new member, Artes Graficas Nekar.
Polyplus gene delivery tool poised for Phase II
A Phase II clinical trial using French company Polyplus-transfection's innovative gene delivery tool, in vivo-jetPEI, is set to go ahead this month in Europe and the US.
13-Feb-2008
Smart pillbox takes on TB
In the fight against tuberculosis in Africa a group from Massachusetts Institute of Technology has invented a smart electromechanical pill box designed to help patients comply with their treatment.
Contract manufacturing news in brief
DSM, Althea, Laureate Pharma, Albemarle and Patheon have all recently announced new contract manufacturing news.
Pfizer expands in inhaled drugs as Nektar cuts back
Pfizer's announcement of plans to create a new €130m inhaled medicines unit at its facility in Amboise, France suggests that the firm is still intent on investing in inhalation technology, despite its disappointment with Exubera.
Baxter suspends production of heparin after deaths
Baxter International has suspended the production of its blood-thinning drug heparin in multi-dose vials, following the deaths of four patients in the USA who were given the drug in high doses.
Tablet demand helps lift FMC BioPolymer in Q4
Continued strong global demand for oral tablet formulations helped drive a robust performance by FMC BioPolymer in the fourth quarter of 2007.
12-Feb-2008
Four Indian vaccine makers have license suspended after failing GMP
Four of India's biggest vaccine manufacturers have had their licenses suspended by the Indian government after failing to meet good manufacturing practise (GMP) requirements, according to local media reports.
Green tea extract's Janus Effect on stomach health: study
The green tea polyphenol (-)-epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG) may slash the risk of gastric cancer among women by 75 per cent, suggests a new study from Japan.
Microneedles could expand transdermal delivery of drugs
A new study has demonstrated for the first that microneedle technology is able to overcome some of the barriers preventing the transdermal administration of drugs with low bioavailability.
11-Feb-2008
AMRI builds upon Indian operations
New York-based AMRI has added to its Indian operations, following the acquisition of another manufacturing plant in the country.
HLDAH enzyme helps cut waste in 'profen synthesis
A new process for synthesising anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen could offer an environmentally friendly means of avoiding the 50 per cent waste seen with current methods of synthesis.
Tattooing trumps intramuscular delivery for DNA vaccination
A tattoo you may not end up regretting could be one that provides a more efficient means of delivering DNA vaccines through the skin.
FDAs proposed rule on labelling touches pre-emption nerve
A proposed rule on labelling changes published by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has re-ignited the reliably inflammable debate over the role of pre-emption in US product liability cases.
Contract manufacturing facility updates
Several contract manufacturers have recently made announcements regarding updates to their facilities.
07-Feb-2008
Russian laser aids in defining nanoparticles
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.
UK universities take aim at processing challenges
A new £2m chemical engineering laboratory at the University of Strathclyde in the UK will spearhead an expansion of its activities in biomolecular engineering, with a particular focus on human health, nutrition and finding new ways to generate energy.
Alpharma pockets $395m for API biz
Alpharma has signed a definitive agreement with private equity group 3i for the sale of its active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) business, pocketing $395m in the deal to reinvest in its pharmaceutical and animal health divisions.
Germany shows special facility in FOYA category awards
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.
Major bio expansion for Cook
Cook Pharmica has announced an $80m expansion to its biopharmaceutical facility in Bloomington, Indiana.
06-Feb-2008
Pharmaceutical manufacturing: people on the move
Q Chip, Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Richman Chemical, Nastech and Altus Pharmaceuticals have all had people on the move in the world of pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Cellexus extends rental plan for disposable bioreactor
Cellexus Biosystems, the UK company that designs, manufactures and sells disposable cell growth technology for the biopharmaceutical industry, is extending the rental plan offered on its CellMaker Lite2 single-use bioreactor in response to significant demand since the plan was introduced last September.
Gerresheimer flashes the plastic with Allplas acquisition
German pharmaceutical packaging group Gerresheimer has once again extended its reach in the plastic packaging space, this time acquiring Allplas Embalagens, the market leader for pharmaceutical plastic packaging in Brazil.
Spirax Sarco acquires Flexicon aseptic filling business
Spirax Sarco Engineering, the UK-based group focused on systems for the use and control of steam and industrial fluids, is boosting its activities in the biopharmaceuticals sector through the acquisition of Denmark's Flexicon A/S for DKK 141m (€18.9m).
Synthesis stumbling blocks in pharma licensing
With increasing pressures on pharma pipelines leading to greater interest in compound licensing, firms can be caught out by failing to give scalability issues due attention, according to Joseph D'Antuono speaking at last week's Informex trade show in New Orleans.
05-Feb-2008
Gene therapy speeds transgenic animal production
Researchers can now reduce the cost and time taken to breed goats that can produce therapeutic proteins using gene therapy. Experts say these transgenic animals could cut the cost of insulin and other cancer-fighting proteins.
GE strengthens healthcare with $718m Whatman buy
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.
Midatech gets exclusivity on noble metal nanoparticles
The Spanish subsidiary of UK-based biological nanoparticles specialist Midatech Group has signed a licence agreement giving it new leeway to exploit the therapeutic potential of noble metal nanoparticles.
SAFC trying to beat pharma fallout
Chemicals firm SAFC plans to avoid the backlash that could be on its way as the pharma industry continues to struggle in an ever-challenging environment, reducing its reliance on sector in a bid to maintain its position in the market.
Radiant shunning the China stereotype
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.
04-Feb-2008
Scotland - vying to be the chemicals hub of the future
A delegation from the Scotland's chemicals industry descended on the recent Informex trade show in New Orleans, determined to convince the assembled industry representatives that the country should be at the top of the list for firms seeking out a competitive location for their business.
Novartis warned as facility fails inspection
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.
ESA safety concerns cited as Neose pulls plug on NE-180
US biotech Neose Technologies has dropped its lead compound, NE-180, a PEGylated form of erythropoietin, from development, saying concerns over the safety of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) have blunted not only the drug's commercial potential but also the prospects of finding a partner to help steer it through Phase II and III clinical trials.
Shasun expands process development with US facility
India's Shasun Chemicals and Drugs is setting up a process development plant in Piscataway, New Jersey, its first ever facility in the North American market.
SOCMA members slate emerging markets
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.
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