News in brief

WHO says pandemic “imminent” and will distribute samples soon

30-Apr-2009 -  The WHO has upgraded the pandemic warning to “imminent” and is expected to begin distributing reference samples of the H1N1 swine flu viral strain that has spread around the world...

Pfizer eyes FOBs and small to midsized deals

30-Apr-2009 -  Pfizer is monitoring opportunities in follow-on biologics and continuing to look for small to mid-sized deals as it plans for life without Lipitor, global revenues of which fell by 13...

Lilly & Amylin team up to create diabetes pen

30-Apr-2009 -  Eli Lilly and Amylin Pharmaceuticals are jointly developing an exenatide once weekly pen device, which should provide a more convenient way for diabetics to treat themselves.

GEA probe helps companies follow PAT initiatives

29-Apr-2009 -  GEA Pharma Systems’ process equipment is now available with its Lighthouse Probe technology, which uses fibre optics and mirrors to give a clear view of the product when it is...

Sanofi pulls plug on four Ph III drugs

29-Apr-2009 -  Sanofi-Aventis has halted development of four Phase III drugs in a “rigorous” pre-patent loss pipeline review that has also seen it drop four Phase II candidates and six Phase I...

Nanoparticles used to create topical Viagra rival

29-Apr-2009 -  Erectile dysfunction could be treated by a nanoparticle formulation applied directly to the penis, according to research, reducing the side effects that can occur when taking drugs like Viagra.

News in brief

AAFI expands Benecel hypromellose capacity

29-Apr-2009 -  Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients (AAFI) has expanded capacity at its Doel, Belgium facility that produces Benecel hypromellose, a compound used in tablet coating and granulation.

SAFC and Vivalis launch high yield EB66 media

28-Apr-2009 -  SAFC and Vivalis have launched a new media designed to allow the latter’s commonly used virus producing EB66 cell line to grow at higher cell densities and produce higher yields....

Pfizer’s stem cell unit and UCL focus on eye disorders

28-Apr-2009 -  Pfizer’s development deal with stem-cell researchers at University College of London’s (UCL) Institute of Opthalmology, aimed at reversing vision loss in AMD, has drawn a great deal of interest from...

Novozymes begins work on Chinese bHA plant

28-Apr-2009 -  Novozymes Biopharma is building a new Bacillus-based hyaluronic acid (bHA) production facility in China to meet “increasing demand” for the substance that has drug delivery applications.

Xspray grows with demand for manufacturing tech

28-Apr-2009 -  Xspray has doubled its personnel and laboratory space in response to demand for its manufacturing service, which is designed to overcome the drawbacks associated with micronisation.

News in brief

Novavax shares soar 80% as swine flu spreads

28-Apr-2009 -  The spread of swine flu has caused significant rises in the share prices of some vaccine makers, including Novavax, which rose 80 per cent, and BioCryst, which spiked by 76...

Swine flu kills 103 in Mexico; global vacc majors poised to react

27-Apr-2009 - Novartis, Roche, GSK and Sanofi Pasteur are poised to start the months of work required to make a vaccine for the swine flu virus that, according to an AFP interview...

Siemens’ process control tech sought by pack firm Aylward

27-Apr-2009 -  US drug packaging firm Aylward Enterprises has called in Siemens’ energy and automation division to help design the latest generation of its ACT 9000 series bottle filling machine.

News in brief

Three more mega-mergers could happen in 2009

27-Apr-2009 -  More mega-mergers are a possibility in 2009, according to a new report that speculates that three more deals could happen this year, with Bristol-Myers Squibb and Bayer the most likely...

Millipore’s deal to improve influenza vaccine purification

27-Apr-2009 -  Millipore is collaborating with Microbix Biosystems to improve influenza vaccine manufacturing by developing a purification process using novel chromatographic technology.

Hovione shows off Irish API plant

23-Apr-2009 -  API maker Hovione’s manufacturing facility in Cork, Ireland was unveiled at an opening ceremony yesterday just two weeks after the previous owner, global drug giant Pfizer, formally handed over the...

China ramps up stem cell efforts just weeks after US research U-turn

23-Apr-2009 -  Construction of a new stem cell research and processing plant began yesterday in China’s Eastern Jiangsu province as part of a joint project between the Chinese government and Shenzen Beike...

News in brief

EQDM suspends 4 APIs made in China

23-Apr-2009 -  Last week the EDQM suspended the certificates of suitability of four APIs manufactured in China, adding to the one in March that sparked the recall of 14 products in Spain.

Trial of nanoparticle delivered anti-cancer gene progresses

23-Apr-2009 -  Research has been presented on the first Phase I trials of a systemic, non-viral, targeted nanoparticle that delivers a p53 tumour suppressor gene to combat cancer.

Winpak’s Q1 profits soar despite falling sales

23-Apr-2009 -  Winpak appears to have benefited from the current economic turmoil, with lower raw material costs and favourable currency rates helping it post net earnings of $9.7m (€7.4m), up by 62...

News in brief

Follow in-PharmaTechnologist on Twitter

22-Apr-2009 -  Keep up to date with all the latest pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry headlines by following in-PharmaTechnologist’s journalists on Twitter . 

Sinobipharma claims manufacturing first with capsule perindopril

22-Apr-2009 -  Sinobiopharma is seeking a Chinese patent covering the manufacture of capsule forms of the heart drug perindopril, claiming it is the first company in the world to produce the medication...

IntelGenx furthers novel antihypertensive formulation

22-Apr-2009 -  IntelGenx’ clinical pilot study indicates the bioequivalence of a leading antihypertensive and its product, which has been developed using its multilayer Versatab delivery technology.

Pharma: people on the move

22-Apr-2009 -  in-PharmaTechnologist presents its latest round up of appointments in the pharmaceutical industry, including movement at Pfizer, Solvay and Biovail.

News in brief

War of words escalates over possible Amylin-Lilly deal

22-Apr-2009 -  An ill-tempered and public argument between Amylin and Carl Ichan has developed over the possible sale of the company to Eli Lilly.

Aoxing’s pain drug plant gets GMP OK

21-Apr-2009 -  China Aoxing Pharmaceutical, a specialist developer of pain management drugs, has received GMP accreditation for the new tablet production and packaging plant it has set up in Shijiazhuang. 

Sanofi investment targets China’s diabetes market

21-Apr-2009 -  Sanofi-Aventis is investing a further $90m in its Chinese manufacturing facility and performing “the world’s largest diabetes genotyping project” in partnership with the Chinese Diabetes Society.

India assesses if patent laws would violate TRIPS

21-Apr-2009 -  A committee appointed by the Indian government has submitted a report into whether patent issues around microorganisms and NCEs are in compliance with TRIPS.

News in brief

GSK to buy Stiefel for $2.93bn

21-Apr-2009 -  GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) $2.9bn (€1.8bn) cash acquisition of US skin drug specialist Stiefel Laboratories “re-energises” the UK firm’s dermatology range, according to CEO Andrew Witty.

Polestar launches sensor for disposable reactors

20-Apr-2009 -  Polestar Technologies has launched its iDOT single-use pH and dissolved oxygen sensor, which can be welded into the walls of disposable reactors to provide in situ process monitoring.

News in brief

Actavis reintroduces products after FDA inspection

20-Apr-2009 -  Actavis has reintroduced Oxycodone 15 mg and 30 mg tablets to the US market having resolved the manufacturing difficulties discovered by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Domino increases Portuguese footprint with €7m buy

20-Apr-2009 -  Domino Printing is expanding its presence in Portugal through the €7m ($9m) acquisition of Labeljet SA and its subsidiary Marque TDI, which is currently a distributor for the traceability specialist....

FDA approves high titre manufacture of Tysabri

20-Apr-2009 -  The FDA has approved Biogen Idec to manufacture Tysabri using a high titre process but the product’s sales have been “negatively impacted” by the cases of patients developing PML....

News in brief

Supply Chain integrity and anti-counterfeiting focus at ISPE 2009

17-Apr-2009 -  US drug excipient body IPEC Americas will cosponsor a supply chain and anti-counterfeiting focused seminar at the annual meeting of International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) in Washington in June. ...

GSK & Pfizer merge HIV portfolios into shared company

17-Apr-2009 -  In a radical departure from Big Pharma’s traditional business model Pfizer and GSK have formed a jointly controlled company to develop and distribute their combined HIV portfolios and pipelines. ...

bioMerieux launches “groundbreaking” MFT medias

17-Apr-2009 -  French diagnostics and microbiology firm bioMerieux claims its new range of indicator medias will help drugmakers cut testing times and reduce errors during GMP mandated sterility analysis. 

MWV expands blister pack range with Shellpak-170

16-Apr-2009 -  US contractor MeadWestvaco (MWV) claims the latest addition to its Shellpack range, the Shellpak-170, offers drugmakers more options for adherence promotion blister packaging. 

News in brief

Sanofi to spend $500m on BiPar

16-Apr-2009 -  Sanofi Aventis has snapped up US cancer drug specialist BiPar Sciences for around $500m (€379m), continuing the recent spate of deals that has seen it move for South American generics...

Zealand licenses Vyteris’ transdermal patch

16-Apr-2009 -  The drive to license needle-free delivery methods continues with Zealand Pharma signing a deal to use its peptide optimisation technology with Vyteris’ controlled transdermal patch.

China still important for Big Pharma despite M&A slowdown

16-Apr-2009 -  Although the downturn has slowed Big Pharma’s investment in China, the country’s wide ranging healthcare reforms and changing economic landscape still provide considerable opportunities says PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).  ...

MassBIO reflects on difficulties attracting biomanufacturing

16-Apr-2009 -  Massachusetts Biotechnology Council’s (MBC) 2015 strategic plan has outlined the difficulties the state faces in attracting biomanufacturing and called for increased focus on R&D.

Pfizer moves for Indian unit, following Novartis’ lead

15-Apr-2009 -  Pfizer is the latest company to seek greater control of its Indian subsidiary, falling into step with Swiss drug major Novartis which made a similar move late last month.  ...

Sanofi beats Teva in Medley melee

15-Apr-2009 -  Sanofi Aventis has confirmed it is buying Brazil’s Medley for $664m (€500m), to position it as the largest player in South America’s generics market.

News in brief

Asahi launches high-compactable MCC excipient

15-Apr-2009 -  Asahi Kasei has added to its range of excipients through the launch of Ceolus UF-711, which it claims is the first high-compactable microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) that makes tablets smaller.

Levinson replaced as Genentech CEO by Roche employee

15-Apr-2009 -  Art Levinson is to step down from his role as Genentech’s CEO but will play “an active role” at the company as part of Roche’s attempts to integrate and retain...

ASEAN GMP audit sharing a step to EU-like single market

15-Apr-2009 -  The Association of Southeast Asia Nations’ (ASEAN) member states will recognise each others GMP certificates as part of a programme intended to raise standards and eliminate trade barriers.

Stimulus packages won’t drag pharma out of slump; report

14-Apr-2009 -  The annual sales growth of the top 20 pharma companies will fall below two per cent over the next five years, according to Datamonitor, and the stimulus packages are predicted...

News in brief

Pfizer opens St Louis R&D centre

14-Apr-2009 -  Pfizer’s new $200m (€152m) research centre is up and running, bringing to an end the firm’s four year project to amalgamate its existing research facilities in St Louis, Missouri, US....

Ampac expands in child resistant packaging

14-Apr-2009 -  Ampac Flexibles has expanded its range of Flexi-Free overwrap packaging with the launch of its child resistant product, which can be customised by the client to meet their needs.

Phylogica targets intranasal peptide delivery

14-Apr-2009 -  Phylogica is developing formulations of its Phylomer peptides using Aegis Therapeutics’ Intravail absorption enhancers, which enable transmucosal drug delivery.

South Korea pulls 1,000 asbestos tainted drugs from shelves

09-Apr-2009 -  South Korean drug regulators have ordered the recall of 1,222 medical products and pharmaceuticals that may contain asbestos-tainted talcum powder. 

New PhRMA chief says healthcare system is ‘broken’

09-Apr-2009 -  The new chairman of US trade body the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) – AstraZeneca CEO David Brennan – has laid out his vision for reforming the “broken”...

Pfizer unveils post-Wyeth takeover R&D structure

09-Apr-2009 -  Pfizer has outlined its post-Wyeth takeover operating structure, which it believes will ensure the mega-merger boosts R&D and create the “world's premier biopharmaceutical” company.

POM formulation offers pH-responsive targeted colon delivery

09-Apr-2009 -  Researchers have developed a pH-responsive formulation that could be used to deliver a polyoxometalate (POM), which have broad spectrum anticancer and antiviral properties, to the colon.

News in brief

Raptiva finally pulled in US over PML link

09-Apr-2009 -  Genentech has withdrawn its psoriasis drug Raptiva (efalizumab) from US shelves on continuing concerns about its link to the brain disease progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). 

Shire to close Owings Mills Adderall XR plant

08-Apr-2009 -  Biopharmaceuticals firm Shire will cease manufacture at its plant in Owings Mills, Maryland, US with the loss of 260 jobs in the latest stage of its plan to wind up...

News in brief

Aspen software a “step-change” in modelling

08-Apr-2009 -  Aspen Technology has launched an updated version of its aspenONE software, which it claims can accelerate batch process development and cut manufacturing costs.

FDA issues final guidance on ICH Q10

08-Apr-2009 -  The FDA has provided a model for implementing the ICH Q10 quality control system in its final guidance, which is intended help manufacturers adapt processes throughout a product’s lifecycle....

USP effort to raise global standards reaches Russia

08-Apr-2009 -  The USP and Roszdravnadzor, a Russian public health body, are collaborating in an attempt to improve the standards of ingredients and finished products and reduce the availability of counterfeits.

Cash strapped MDRNA sells CMO unit to Par

07-Apr-2009 -  MDRNA is selling its manufacturing business to US generics firm Par Pharmaceuticals in a bid to boost its coffers and complete its transformation into a purely RNAi focused organisation. ...

Asia-Pacific manufacturing growth attracts Werum

07-Apr-2009 -  Werum Software & Systems has set up offices in Japan and Singapore, which will strengthen its position in Asia-Pacific and help it meet the region’s growing demand for tools to...

Researchers shed light on MRSA treatment

07-Apr-2009 -  MRSA could be treated through a combination of an antimicrobial drug, a peptide and light, according to researchers who have hailed the treatment as a “magic bullet”.

Pfizer settles Nigerian Trovan trial case out of court

06-Apr-2009 -  Pfizer will pay an out of court settlement to resolve a long-running case alleging that it carried out an illegal trial of its meningitis drug Trovan (trovafloxacin) in Nigeria that...

News in brief

Is Novartis eyeing Cubist?

06-Apr-2009 -  Biopharmaceutical firm Cubist received a boost last week, as speculation that Swiss drug giant Novartis is considering a $1.6bn acquisition drove a 14 per cent jump in its share price. ...

Alliance launches animal-free culture supplement

06-Apr-2009 -  Novozymes and Millipore have launched an animal-free culture supplement, which has been designed to reduce risk and regulatory pressures in upstream biopharmaceutical processes.

Altea inks deal to use Byetta with PassPort patch

02-Apr-2009 -  The search for more convenient diabetes treatments continues, with Altea Therapeutics reaching a $46m agreement with Eli Lilly and Amylin to develop a transdermal patch administering Byetta.

Cardinal cutting 1,300 jobs ahead of CareFusion spin-off

02-Apr-2009 -  Falling sales to hospitals are forcing Cardinal Health to cut 1,300 jobs from the clinical and medical products units that it plans to float under the CareFusion banner later this...

Pharming economical for HIV microbicide production; study

02-Apr-2009 -  Researchers have used plants from the tobacco family as a large-scale, cost-effective method of producing a HIV inhibitor, which could lead to the creation of a female controlled intervention to...

News in brief

Google’s VC could be boost for biotech

02-Apr-2009 -  Google has set up a venture capital fund that will be used to invest in a range of industries, including biotech and healthcare, and is willing to plough tens of...

Sanofi leads pack in €5bn+ pursuit of Solvay; reports

02-Apr-2009 -  Sanofi-Aventis had a €5bn ($6.6bn) bid for Solvay’s pharma business rejected, according to media reports, but several other companies are believed to be interested in the Belgian firm.

ProMetic sees improvement despite economic climate

01-Apr-2009 -  Protein technology and therapeutic specialist ProMetic managed to increase revenues in 2008, despite the challenging economic climate, but still posted a net loss of CN$20.2m (€12.1m).

Bayer’s engineering affiliate opens up in India

01-Apr-2009 -  Bayer Technology Services GmbH, an affiliate of Germany's Bayer, has opened its first regional office in India, enlarging its presence in the fast-growing Asian markets.  

Nanoparticles created to boost probucol solubility

01-Apr-2009 -  Researchers have created nanoparticles to increase the solubility of probucol, a nearly insoluble drug used to reduce cholesterol, with a technique that could be used for other drugs.

ESS’ Taskmate adds robotics to tube filling and closing

01-Apr-2009 -  ESS Technologies’ says its unique robotic loading system improves the speed, efficiency and accuracy of pharmaceutical manufacturers’ tube filling and closing operations. 

News in brief

Caraco recalls digoxin pills

01-Apr-2009 -  US generic drugmaker Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories has recalled batches of its heart drug digoxin after tests revealed the tablets may vary in size and dosage.