Breaking News on Pharmaceutical Technology

Cardinal pioneers first-of-its-kind RFID pilot

Cardinal Health is about to embark on a first-of-its-kind radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag pilot that tests the viability of the new technology across the entire supply chain, from item throughout to case and pallet level.

Unique sterile manufacturing facility opens in Kentucky

The University of Kentucky has unveiled the state's largest sterile pharmaceutical manufacturing site which is unique among others worldwide as it is the first to produce cytotoxic and non-cytotoxic drugs in the same room at the same time.

New particle counter 'longest lasting available'

Particle Measuring Systems have fitted its portable airborne-particle counter with what it claims is the longest lasting laser on the market, as well as new features that allow it to calculate and create reports for EC GMP Annex #1, ISO 14644-1, and FS-209E testing.

Sigma-Aldrich introduces signal transduction protein array

Sigma-Aldrich introduces its signal transduction protein array for high-throughput functional screening, which is set to play a major role in identifying proteins that are involved in cellular processes including proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis.

Engelhard set to fall in BASF's hands

The stage is ready for the biggest acquisition in BASF's 140-year history after Engelhard's management agreed to recommend their shareholders accept the German chemical group's $5bn (€3.8bn) takeover bid.

Regulatory affairs just got easier

Those in the regulatory affairs profession can now breathe a sigh of relief as the industry-recognised accreditation process just got a whole lot easier.

MDS Pharma's formulation branch jumps ship

The Tampa-based formulation development laboratory of MDS Pharma Services has split from its parent company and formed a new firm with the technology to get active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) directly into capsules.

Malvern streamlines French contract testing biz

UK-based Malvern Instruments has been busy streamlining its particle characterisation contract testing services at its global locations, with the latest reshuffle taking place in France.

Solutia sells pharma services biz to Indian firm

India's Dishman Pharmaceuticals & Chemicals has snapped up the Swiss-based pharmaceutical services business, Carbogen and Amcis, of financially-troubled US chemical firm Solutia for the sum of $74.5m (€58m).

MFIC's fortunes recover on the back of strong sales

MFIC Corporation, whose Microfluidics Division manufactures industrial submicron processing equipment, has returned to profitability in the first quarter of 2006 after big losses in first quarter of last year, buoyed by increased demand from drugmakers who are scaling up their production for clinical trials and commercialisation.

BASF to showcase new intermediates at ChemSpec

BASF is targeting the pharma industry at ChemSpec this June with new intermediates, catalysts and raw materials that promise to make customers' syntheses less complex and time-consuming as well as more cost-effective.

New drug screening technique to benefit pharma

A new drug discovery approach, which essentially reverses the process of drug compound screening promises a increased efficiency in drug discovery whilst keeping costs down to a minimum.

BioProgress and Uluru join films

Bioprogress has signed a development agreement with emerging speciality pharmaceutical company Uluru to combine their film technologies in order to create an edible film which allows sustained release of active ingredients.

Biophan files new nanoprocessing patent

Biophan has filed the first patent to come out of its newly-formed relationship with NaturalNano to develop new and improved ways of controlled-release drug delivery.

Cambrex to biomanufacture for Merrimack

Life sciences firm Cambrex has agreed a contract for the production of clinical trial quantities of Merrimack Pharmaceuticals' recombinant immunomodulatory serum protein, as its experience in the downstream purification of proteins pays off.

Ranbaxy gathers momentum in novel drug delivery

India's Ranbaxy Laboratories has stepped up its efforts to dominate the domestic novel drug delivery system (NDDS) market, in-licensing two new drugs from Europe in as many weeks.

Phosphagenics facility could lead to more deals

Phosphagenics is constructing a new tocopheryl phosphates manufacturing plant in Melbourne, Australia - a project that paves the way for future licensing agreements and could encourage the use of its technology in more of the company's pharmaceutical products.

New controlled-release polymer shows promise

A new polymer drug delivery technology developed by Dutch firm OctoPlus has cleared Phase I trials for the first time, showing promise in a new controlled release treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

Wasag hints at price hikes despite profits quadrupling

Specialty chemicals group H&R Wasag witnessed tremendous growth in the first quarter of 2006, as stable crude oil prices allowed it to increase prices and volumes in the pharmaceutical raw materials it sells.

Novasep zeroes in on the chromatography market

French separations specialist Novasep has launched two new chromatography systems, promising new levels of efficency in preparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Child friendly packaging made cost friendly too

Amcor Flexibles has launched a new tear open feature for foil drug packaging that it claims is both child resistant and senior friendly and cheaper to make than current methods.

EMEA approves vaccine containing Delta's recombinant human albumin

The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has given Sanofi Pasteur the green light to market a childhood vaccine containing Delta's Recombumin, a recombinant human albumin which offers the world's first and only animal-free alternative to human serum albumin (HSA).

Shortage of contractors for advanced drug delivery manufacturing

The boom in advanced drug delivery devices is creating demand for specialist manufacturers that can rise to the challenge of making these complicated devices, although such companies are currently thin on the ground.

FDA clears Lonza for Orencia production

Lonza has been authorised by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to produce Bristol-Myers Squibb's arthritis drug Orencia (abatacept), in what is shaping up to be a major manufacturing deal for the Swiss company.

Boehringer Ingelheim seeks new formulation and delivery

German biopharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim has clinched a licencing deal for XstalBio's formulation and stabilisation technology which can be applied to the delivery of biomolecules via a number of routes, including pulmonary, as well as the preparation of high concentration suspensions.

Large-scale DNA production made cost-effective

Vandalia Research has launched a new DNA amplification service that it claims will speed up the mass production of high-quality DNA sequences with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), while at the same time reducing the risk of contamination.

Skyepharma finds long-awaited partner for asthma device

Skyepharma has finally found a partner to license and market its new asthma drug delivery product after over a year of searching and one big-pharma partnership that went belly up in 2005 - giving the company new hope of revamping falling profits.

Codexis gains patents to make drugs faster

Private US biosciences company Codexis has acquired the assets of private Dutch company Enzis. Included in the deal are the patents to several new classes of enzymes that Codexis will use to develop cheaper and faster drug manufacturing processes.

Team exploration investigates marine-derived drug possibility

A team of drug researchers are exploring the possibility of extracting chemical compounds from marine organisms that live in deep-sea reefs, which have the potential to treat human diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's.

Flamel's losses soar as it gears up for Coreg

As it prepares for the launch of GlaxoSmithKline's beta-blocker Coreg (carvedilol) with a controlled release formulation, drug delivery company Flamel saw its bottom line, in the absence of new partners, shift deep into the red in the first quarter of 2006.

MeadWestvaco carries Saint-Gobain Calmar

Global packaging giant MeadWestvaco has acquired Saint-Gobain Calmar, a manufacturer of plastic dispensing and spraying systems, looking to establish a solid footing in primary packaging.

Laureate Pharma crowned with Seattles Genetics contract

Contract biomanufacturing firm Laureate has won a contract to produce Seattle Genetics' humanised monoclonal antibody product candidates for clinical trial, adding to its experience in monoclonal antibody development.

New method for manufacturing complex peptides receives funding

Biopharmaceutical firm Oragenics has received funding from a US government agency for a technology which promises cost-effective production of commercially important bioactive peptides with unusual structures.

Pfizer opens new manufacturing chapter in Puerto Rico

Pfizer has sold a large manufacturing plant in Puerto Rico to biopharmaceutical firm Abraxis for $32.5m (€25.4m), as it continues to consolidate its manufacturing operations.

New cold-chain logistics provider takes on pharma

Sentry Logistic Solutions has debuted on the pharma scene, launching a new range of services dedicated soley to the cold-chain logistics, storage and packing of bulk pharmaceutical and biotechnology components and finished products.

Cardinal gives best bang for the buck

Cardinal Health has taken the contract manufacturing crown after being honoured with a prestigious award from Frost & Sullivan in recognition of its ability to provide biopharma firms with a high quality service, while still remaining extremely competitively priced.

Researchers find new routes to boost Tamiflu supply

Scientists seeking new ways to produce Roche's flu drug Tamiflu (oseltamivir) have published two new syntheses based on cheaper starting materials than the conventional method.

IMA recovery points to stronger pharma perfomance

Following disappointing financial results in 2005, Italian packaging group IMA has swung into profit in the first quarter of 2006 from a loss in the first quarter of 2005, buoyed by an upswing in orders from the pharmaceutical industry.

Pliva seeks direction after lost royalties

Pliva, Eastern Europe's biggest drug maker by sales, saw its profits take a massive dive in the first quarter of 2006, as a huge loss of royalties could not be offset by the relatively small growth in its generics business.

ISPE focus on science-based manufacturing

Registration is now open for this year's International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) European Congress. The topic of focus is science-based manufacturing for the next decade.

Thermo finds match in CAMO

Analytical instrument maker Thermo has announced it will promote compatibility between its RESULT software and CAMO's Unscrambler software, bringing together the most powerful near infrared (NIR) analysers in the industry.

Avecia given grant to grow new skin

UK firm Avecia Biotechnology has been given a £1m (€1.5m) grant to lead a three year project to establish a faster and cheaper bioprocessing technology for advanced tissue engineering, primarily to develop new skin to heal burns victims.

Genentech asks ImmunoGen to devise scale-up

Genentech has entered into a collaboration with biopharmaceutical firm Immunogen to develop a commercial manufacturing process for its anticancer drug trastuzumab (Herceptin) using its tumour-activated prodrug (TAP) technology.

GlycoFi proves too sweet for Merck to resist

Looking to make protein-based drugs faster and cheaper, Merck & Co has acquired biotechnology company GlycoFi for approximately $400m (€312m) in cash.

Aspen to get lion's share in African Tamiflu production

Under pressure to ensure cheap supplies of its flu drug in Africa in preparation for a possible avian influenza, Roche has asked contract manufacturer Aspen Pharmacare to produce finished doses of Tamiflu (oseltamivir) in Africa.

Bespak adds new asthma inhaler to its belt

Bang & Olufsen Medicom has joined with specialist device manufacturer Bespak to co-develop and co-market a new single increment dose counting inhaler for the expanding asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) market.

Top honours for In-PharmaTechnologist's sister site

In-PharmaTechnologist's sister site which covers the nutraceuticals industry, NutraIngredients.com, has been named Website of the Year in the prestigious 2006 Business Food and Drink Journalism Awards.

Greenhouse gas trading data show pharma overall within limits

Preliminary data from the first year of the EU's greenhouse gas trading scheme has highlighted disparities in the allocation of plant outputs and in the tracking of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, yet, all in all, pharma has stayed within its allowances.

Iomai's dry patch vaccine 'more effective than wet patch'

Vaccine developer Iomai has announced results of a clinical trial showing its new dry patch formulation for travelers' diarrhea can trigger a stronger immune response than its wet patch, promising a vaccine that is easier to administer and tolerate.

In-PharmaTechnologist insulin series

Exubera manufacturing deal sweetens Tech Group

The Tech Group has experienced a quarter of explosive growth as it ramps up production for the launch of Exubera - Pfizer's newly-approved and much-anticipated needle-free insulin.

SAFC launches insulin alternative to biomanufacturing

SAFC Biosciences has unveiled an analogue of insulin specifically designed for the large-scale manufacturing of recombitant biopharmaceuticals, promising security of supply and product consistency.

New findings strengthen RNAi cancer fight

Scientists at Atugen, a German-based firm, have successfully used a new RNA interference (RNAi) technology to reduce tumour growth and spread, according to new research published.

HIV And SARS reveal their secrets to drug researchers

European researchers have unlocked more secrets of how the HIV and SARS virus operates, which if exploited could be the starting point for a host of effective antiviral drugs that combat the virus' mechanism of action.

SurModics obtains new biodegradable polymers

Surface modification firm SurModics has acquired Intralytix's polyester-amide (PEA) biodegradable polymers, boosting the company's capacity for specific drug delivery, a capability in high demand by its customers.

DSM's cost cuts pay off

Chemicals and nutrition group DSM has reported strong profits for the first quarter in 2006, including in its pharma business, as higher prices and lower costs have helped it overcome the increase in raw material costs.

FDA moves to make prescription drug labelling info more accessible

The move to make pharmaceutical companies more open to scrutiny has taken a new direction as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) moves to adopt a system that will allow the electronic coding of crucial terms used in prescription drug labelling.

Unique pumps improve chemical manufacturing process

A new range of liquid pumps, which feature completely inert pumping heads, are causing waves within the chemical manufacturing industry, with the ability to mimic full scale production plant conditions in a laboratory environment.

Biogeneric race in Europe heats up

Swiss biopharmaceutical firm Biopartners has got the thumbs up from the European Commission for its biosimilar drug Valtropin, making it only the second biogeneric drug to have been approved in Europe after Sandoz's Omnitrope received marketing authorisation last month.

Abbott 'didn't monitor all components' for hazardous air pollutants

Abbott Laboratories has reached a settlement with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after it was found not complying with leak detection and repair (LDAR) requirements for hazardous air pollutants at its manufacturing plant in North Chicago.

Scientists reveal sugar's role in cell communication

A research team think that they have discovered a new mechanism that details the role of sugar in cell communication, which paves the way for the development of drugs for cancer and rheumatism.

India set to overtake Italy in API production

While European producers of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) will see their share of the global market fall in the next few years, Asian markets are growing at phenomenal rates, with India set to supplant Italy as the second largest API manufacturer on a worldwide scale by 2010, according a new report.

SAFC buys Honeywell's Iropharm unit

Targeting the market for enantiomerically pure drugs, SAFC, a custom manufacturing group within Sigma-Aldrich, has acquired Honeywell International's Iropharm unit in Arklow, Ireland.

Promising oligo purification method wins more cash

Biochemical firm Berry & Associates has been awarded $749,000 (€589,079) by the US government to further develop its oligonucleotide (oligo) purification technique which is operationally similar to conventional reverse-phase (RP) methods but offers better yields, selectivity and purity.

New flu vaccine answers supply and storage problems

A new vaccine, which can be distributed without refrigeration and is stable at room temperature for prolonged periods, could ease the threat of supply problems with pandemic influenza vaccines by allowing safe stockpiling of the treatment.

DrugResearcher animal rights series

Animal right extremists target GSK investors

Animal rights activists have continued their campaign of intimidation after it was revealed the GlaxoSmithkline (GSK) shareholders were sent letters demanding they sell any shares held within the company.

Cardinal clawing back at poor performance

Cardinal Health has implemented a series of business reshuffles and cost cutting measures in the hope of pulling itself out of poor profitability after disappointing third quarter results.

BASF warns of price hikes after poor pharma showing

German chemicals giant BASF saw its profits surge in the first quarter of 2006 on the back of high oil and gas prices, yet its fine chemicals unit was hit by the increased cost of raw materials and energy, making further price increases in the short term likely.

New device aims to reduce chemo deaths

A new method being developed to deliver chemotherapy to cancer patients without incurring side effects could also reduce patient numbers who die from the effects of chemotherapy caused by the high doses to tackle the cancer.

Cobra snatches GSK biomanufacturing contract

Biopharmaceuticals manufacturer Cobra will provide process development and manufacturing of two HIV vaccine candidates for evaluation in clinical trials under an agreement with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals (GSK).

Millions to be made in smart pharma packaging

The global smart packaging market will grow to $4.8bn (€3.8bn) in 2011 and reach $14.1bn in 2013, presenting big opportunities in the pharma sector - the second largest growth market behind food and beverage, according to a new report.

Vaccine manufacturers in $1bn bird flu bonanza

The US government has awarded five-year contracts totaling $1bn (€780m) to five drug companies to develop and produce cell-based vaccines to fight influenza, in preparation for a possible bird flu pandemic.

Deal thinks overlooked drug candidates ideal for development

A new initiative that could see the world's major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies team up with a major cancer organisation to research and develop new anti-cancer drugs has been unveiled.

New technology speeds up bird flu vaccine production

A large-scale process, which focuses on highly purified and high viral titer vectors, may facilitate the fast track development of Adenovirus and AAV-based recombinant DNA vaccines for diseases such as the Avian Flu.

BioDelivery's pain drug delivery unit achieves breakthrough

An oral adhesive disc inserted in the cheek could provide a breakthrough for pain sufferers as the technology does not require removal upon completion of the drug delivery, having been designed to disintegrate in the mouth leaving no drug residue.

IMA gears up for Achema

Italian packaging and processing machinery company IMA Group has booked more than 1,100 square metres of space at this year's Achema, determined to push its products ranging from solid dose processing to labelling and tube filling.

Millipore buys its way into new markets

In its second acquisition in less than a month, Millipore has acquired bioprocessing products firm Serologicals for around $1.4bn (€1bn) in cash, as it tries to boost its growth by expanding in potentially lucrative market segments.

Datalase launches labelling 'revolution'

DataLase has launched a revolutionary new label replacement solution that it claims will greatly improve the logistics of secondary pharma packaging as well as slash costs.

Clariant loses faith in pharma

After failing to reverse falling sales at its Pharmaceutical Fine Chemicals (PFC) division, Clariant has decided to sell the unit to private equity firm Towerbrook for around SFr110m (€70m).

Ferring integrates its operations

Ferring has opened a new production plant in Switzerland as it tries to cut costs by centralising its manufacturing network. In-PharmaTechnologist.com visited the site to see how the drugmaker is streamlining its supply chain.

Bosch's presence felt at Achema with new filling technologies

Bosch Packaging Technology will be launching new packaging and processing technologies for pharmaceutical applications at Achema, with products that cover pharmaceutical production, validation, and packaging.

Effective biosynthetic alternative to Taxol production discovered

Researchers at Michigan State University have found that second-generation taxols, which currently rely on assembly by semisynthetic organic chemistry approaches, can be produced in a cheap and environmentally friendly fashion using enzymes in Pacific yew trees.

3M floats new anti-counterfeiting label

Technology firm 3M has unveiled a new anti-counterfeiting label with a floating image that is easy to detect and recognise using just the human eye.