Originates increases pharma gelatin capacity

30-Jun-2009 -  US raw materials supplier Originates has boosted its pharmaceutical bovine hide gelatin manufacturing capacity with the addition of two new ISO 9000/9001 certified, GMP-standard production facilities in South America.

TFC forms JV to boost DMSO output

30-Jun-2009 -  Rising demand in China has led to Toray Fine Chemicals (TFC) establishing a joint venture to produce dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), a reaction solvent in pharma production.

Mylan partners to create FOBs

30-Jun-2009 -  Mylan has followed Teva’s lead by partnering to develop follow-on biologics (FOB), with the Indian generic maker regarding Biocon as the “ideal partner” to help it enter the market. ...

Caraco products seized by FDA

29-Jun-2009 -  US Marshals have seized products from Caraco’s facilities in Michigan because of concerns over cGMP compliance, which has led to Sun Pharma withdrawing its financial guidance.

Nanoparticles used to stabilise proteins

29-Jun-2009 -  Researchers have used nanoparticles to stabilise membrane proteins, allowing for detailed analysis of their structure and molecular functions that could help drug discovery.

Pressure to cut jobs feeds demand for more efficient equipment

26-Jun-2009 - Equipment that enables cosmetics and pharmaceutical companies to reduce headcount and save floor space is in high demand as pressure to cut costs mounts.

OctoPlus’ trial materials plant open for business

25-Jun-2009 -  Dutch biopharmaceuticals producer OctoPlus has begun manufacturing operations at its new facility in Leiden, the Netherlands.

KV completes investigation; admits deficiencies

25-Jun-2009 -  KV Pharmaceutical found deficiencies and instances of noncompliance during its internal investigation, which was launched in response to issues with the FDA and allegations of management misconduct.

Pharma: people on the move

25-Jun-2009 -  in-PharmaTechnologist presents its latest round up of appointments in the pharmaceutical sector, including Lilly’s CEO taking a role at Nike and Takeda’s illustrious global advisory board.

Sanyo claims H202 steralised incubator is industry first

25-Jun-2009 -  Sanyo Biomedical and Environmental Solutions claims the H202 steralisation approach used by its Steisonic CxP MCO-19AIC(UVH) cell incubator system is an industry first and effective replacement for ethylene oxide (EtO)....

News in brief

Solvay loses out on Dutch H1N1 vacc contract

24-Jun-2009 -  Belgian drug and chemicals giant Solvay has lost out on a contract to supply the Dutch government with an H1N1 vaccine after it said it could not meet the production...

Azopharma expands cytotoxics capacity

24-Jun-2009 -  US contractor Azopharma has added new GMP quality cytotoxics and high-potency manufacturing capacity at its facility in Hollywood, South Florida in a bid to strengthen its position in the trial...

Biologics shift packaging growth areas

24-Jun-2009 -  The world pharma packaging market is predicted to rise 5.3 per cent to more than $47bn (€33.3bn) in 2013, with increased use of biologics driving change.

FDA launches focus on transparency

24-Jun-2009 - Regulatory agencies are putting increased emphasis on transparency, with the FDA holding its first public meeting on the topic and the EMEA seeking feedback from citizens on its draft policy.

Helsinn plans for HPAPI manufacture

23-Jun-2009 -  Swiss drugmaker Helsinn has unveiled plans to add high-potency API R&D and manufacturing capacity to its facility in Biasca in the south of the country.

Sigpack says rotational toploader a revolution for vial handling

23-Jun-2009 -  Sigpack Systems, a subsidiary of Bosch Packaging Technology, claims its new toploader unit will both improve the efficiency and cut the cost of handling delicate pharmaceutical packaging.

Emisphere partners for oral delivery

23-Jun-2009 -  Emisphere has entered into a research agreement with Syracuse University, which will combine their respective oral drug delivery technologies to enhance absorption of an appetite-suppressing hormone.

Strong growth predicted for Chinese vaccine market

22-Jun-2009 -  The growth of the Chinese vaccine market is set to outstrip the country’s pharma sector, according to a Frost & Sullivan (F&S) report that predicts 14-15 per cent CAGR. ...

Millipore’s Massachusetts Mobius plant open for business

22-Jun-2009 -  Millipore has ramped up capacity for its Mobius range of single use bio-processing and manufacturing technologies with a new purpose built production facility in Danvers, Massachusetts.

NJ pharma employment down in ‘08

22-Jun-2009 -  The number of pharma employees in New Jersey, US fell by 1,400 in 2008, with R&D expenditure, capital investment and product trials also declining, according to a report.

Bio drugs to dominate top ten list by 2014

18-Jun-2009 - Seven of the top ten drugs will be biopharmaceuticals by 2014 according to sector analysts Evaluate Pharma.

Vetter expands secondary packaging capacity

18-Jun-2009 - German aseptic filling specialist Vetter has boosted packaging operations at its new facility in Ravensburg to meet growing demand for cost-effective secondary packaging services

Automation market to reach $3bn by 2012

18-Jun-2009 -  Automation expenditures in pharma manufacturing are predicted to reach $3bn (€2.15bn) by 2012 because companies must invest in the current “adapt or die” environment, according to a report.

Watson to acquire Arrow for $1.75bn

18-Jun-2009 -  Watson Pharmaceuticals is to acquire Arrow Group for $1.75bn (€1.26bn), adding to the company’s manufacturing network and providing it with the expertise needed to enter the biogenerics market.

Mega deals not ‘mega’ for Big Pharma R&D long term, says F&S

17-Jun-2009 - As rumours of a failed Sanofi Aventis’ bid for a US rival circulate, F&S’ analysis of M&As is well timed, even if its conclusions will be difficult reading for a...

Large pharmas turning to 3PL to cut costs

17-Jun-2009 -  Large pharma companies will increase the level of supply chain activities they outsource in the next few years but smaller businesses are predicted to keep them in-house, according to a...

News in brief

PSS expanding cGMP storage facility

17-Jun-2009 -  Precision Stability Storage (PSS) is expanding its cGMP storage facility in Wilson, North Carolina, doubling its size and adding a room for bulk powder and liquid sampling and dispensing.

Pharma: people on the move

17-Jun-2009 -  in-PharmaTechnologist presents its latest round up of appointments in the pharmaceutical sector, including a former mayor joining Eli Lilly and new CEOs at three companies.

Lonza’s GS system wins Elusys anthrax Ab contract

16-Jun-2009 -  Swiss life sciences solutions firm Lonza has been contracted by US biotechnology group Elusys Therapeutics to produce Anthim, its late stage Ab candidate treatment for anthrax infection.

News in brief

RSSL rolls out Responsible Persons training programme

16-Jun-2009 -  UK group RSSL has launched a Responsible Persons (RP) programme to help meet growing demand for EC directive 2001/83/EC trained staff.

Nanotech deal to boost oral bioavailability

16-Jun-2009 -  Yissum is collaborating with Aurum, Ventures MKI to develop a nanotechnology controlled release delivery platform, which is designed to increase the bioavailability of orally administered lipophilic drugs.

GAVI’s AMC hopes to stimulate vaccine dev

16-Jun-2009 - The GAVI Alliance has launched an advance market commitment (AMC), which is using a $1.5bn (€1.1bn) fund to ensure the supply of pneumococcal vaccine to developing countries at affordable prices.

Pfizer concealing reboxetine data, says IQWiG

15-Jun-2009 - Germany’s IQWiG has accused US drugmaker Pfizer of “concealing data on the effect of a drug Edronax for the treatment of depression.”

Sanofi uses SCM for radiolabelled production

15-Jun-2009 -  Sanofi-Aventis is using SCM Pharma’s aseptic fill/finish service for radiolabelled compounds to manufacture an oncology product that is in clinical trials.

UAE makes big efforts to attract pharma

15-Jun-2009 -  The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is looking to establish itself as a prime location for pharmaceutical companies, with “massive amounts of money and huge incentives” being used to attract business....

News in brief

Vaccine market predicted to double by 2013

15-Jun-2009 - The world vaccine market will more than double by 2013, according to a report by Kalorama Information, with growth driven by a strong pipeline and rising usage of current products.

Cell culture H1N1 vacc could be ready in 3 months

15-Jun-2009 -  Industry response to the H1N1 pandemic suggests that cell culture vaccine production is about to come of age with two firms that use the technique, Novartis and Baxter, claiming it...

Alfa hopes to make industrial chemistry an ART

11-Jun-2009 -  Sweden’s Alfa Laval says ART PR49, its combined chemical reactor and heat transfer plate, improves the efficiency of chemical production and helps reduce energy costs.

FTC calls for biogenerics path and end of “pay for delay” deals

11-Jun-2009 -  The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) believes that an effective FOB approval pathway and laws preventing “pay-for-delay” deals are the only ways of reducing the cost of biologic drugs.

SA API importer accused of fraud

11-Jun-2009 -  A South African importer of APIs that claimed to have deals with Pfizer, Teva and Merck & Co is accused of fraud, with investigators likening the case to Bernard Madoff’s...

News in brief

Spanish Police say seized Viagra pills made in China and India

11-Jun-2009 -  The 9,000 counterfeit Viagra tablets seized by Spanish police earlier this week at three properties in Alicante were imported from India and China, according to various media reports.

3M rolls out plasma coating and face seal tech for pMDIs

10-Jun-2009 - 3M’s drug delivery unit believes its new plasma coating and face seal valve pMDI technologies help protect APIs and will mean that more drugs can be delivered via inhalation.

GSK grows in Asia vacc market

10-Jun-2009 - UK drug major GSK has had a busy week in the Asia, signing an influenza vaccine manufacturing deal with China’s Shenzhen Neptunus Interlong Bio-Technique just days after it opened a...

FDA revises ICH Q8 guidance

10-Jun-2009 - The FDA has revised its guidance on ICH Q8, adding an annex that clarifies the original document and adds the principles of quality by design (QbD).

News in brief

Mettler-Toledo launches checkweigher; installs tech at AZ

10-Jun-2009 - Mettler-Toledo Hi-Speed has launched an “economically priced” checkweigher for use in mild to moderate washdown operations and installed two other machines at an AstraZeneca (AZ) facility.

Sanofi swoops for Pfizer insulin plant, scuppering MannKind's bid

09-Jun-2009 -  Sanofi Aventis will pay Pfizer €30m ($41m) for a former Exubera manufacturing plant in Frankfurt-Höchst, Germany that was due to be bought by inhaled insulin specialist MannKind.

Syntagon “cuts out middlemen” with China office

09-Jun-2009 -  Swedish CRO Syntagon has set up an office in Shanghai, China to forge stronger links with a broader range of local raw materials suppliers, saving its customers time and money....

Kemwell & Boehringer collaborate on biologics

09-Jun-2009 -  CMO Kemwell is receiving technical assistance from Boehringer Ingelheim for the construction of its new biotech facility, which is designed to marry European technology with Indian low cost manufacturing.

Pharma: people on the move

09-Jun-2009 -  in-PharmaTechnologist presents its latest round up of appointments in the pharmaceutical sector, including media reports of a new CEO at Proctor & Gamble.

News in brief

Big Pharma greener than most

09-Jun-2009 -  Big Pharma has performed well in Climate Counts’ survey of companies’ environmental measures, with most regarded as having made good efforts but Wyeth and Amgen lagged behind.

Corden cuts manufacturing in Cork

08-Jun-2009 -  Ireland’s API manufacturing sector suffered a blow on Friday with Corden Pharmachem’s announcement that it is phasing-out manufacturing at its facility in Little Island, Cork.

News in brief

EC stops preparing excipient GMP directive

08-Jun-2009 -  Following public consultation the European Commission (EC) has stopped the preparation of a directive on good manufacturing practices (GMP) for certain excipients.

Jordanian pharma targets GMP compliance

08-Jun-2009 -  JAPM and SABEQ have launched initiatives to help companies in Jordan bring their pharma packaging and manufacturing practices inline with established markets.

RXi presents RNA delivery data

08-Jun-2009 -  At TIDES 2009 RXi Pharmaceuticals presented preclinical data on its RNA technologies, including research into sdRNA that is delivered without a vehicle and undergoes spontaneous cellular uptake.

Mocon launches Pac Check 650 EC for small headspace analysis

04-Jun-2009 - US Instrument specialist Mocon has launched Pac Check 650 EC, a packaging headspace analyser that, it says, can help pharma manufacturers find the right oxygen/carbon dioxide balance to support shelf...

3M’s Taper DPI system makes lactose carrier redundant

04-Jun-2009 - 3M Drug Delivery Technologies has expanded its respiratory drug delivery system offering with its Taper DPI which, it claims, makes carrier compounds unnecessary and will help drug formulators save millions.

News in brief

Mylan calls for end of generic exclusivity “abuse”

04-Jun-2009 -  Heather Bresch, Mylan’s chief operating officer, has called for an end of the “abuse” of the 180 day generic exclusivity period by brand manufactures that launch a competitor during this...

Synthetech profits rise but uncertainty lies ahead

04-Jun-2009 -  Synthetech posted a $1.3m (€0.9m) operating profit in fiscal 2009, compared with a $1.1m (€770,000) loss the previous year, but warned that some biotechs and even major pharmas were cutting back.

ICH publishes Q&A on Q8, Q9 and Q10

03-Jun-2009 - The ICH has published a question and answer (Q&A) document to clarify some of the common issues encountered by pharma companies implementing Q8, Q9 and Q10 guidelines.

Cambridge Theranostics makes bioavailable lycopene pill

03-Jun-2009 -  UK researchers have boosted the bioavailability of the tomato skin extract lycopene and produced a pill that they claim can reduce “bad” LDL cholesterol by more than 90 per cent. ...

Genomatica forwards sustainable BDO

03-Jun-2009 -  Genomatica claims it can process 1,4-butanediol (BDO), a precursor in pharmaceutical production, with 99 per cent purity from renewable feedstocks, removing the need to rely on crude oil.

GE unveils modular approach to facility validation

03-Jun-2009 -  GE Healthcare hopes its new modular validation platform (MVP) will change the way drugmakers think about how they create new plants and bring existing manufacturing facilities up to code. ...

News in brief

FDA transparency committee set up under Obama openness pledge

03-Jun-2009 -  New US FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg has created a transparency taskforce to better explain the agency’s decision making processes.

Researchers target siRNA delivery

02-Jun-2009 -  The latest work on siRNA delivery is focused on in a special edition of Molecular Pharmaceutics, which details the techniques researchers are using to target cells and make more effective...

Sparta brings pharma quality management to Asia

02-Jun-2009 -  Sparta Systems is establishing operations in Hong Kong as part of efforts to expand in Asia-Pacific (APAC), where it believes there is a growing market for quality and compliance management....

SAFC partners to improve pharma raw material supply

02-Jun-2009 -  SAFC is seeking to improve its large-scale supply of pharma raw materials through a partnership with Cherokee Pharmaceuticals, which will use its expertise to ensure the products meet cGMP standards....

in-PharmaTechnologist.com acquired by William Reed Business Media

01-Jun-2009 - Decision News Media, publisher of in-PharmaTechnologist.com, outsourcing-pharma.com and 15 other websites serving the international food, nutrition, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries, has been acquired by the leading UK business-to-business publisher William...

Chocks away for nano prop delivery research?

01-Jun-2009 -  US scientists at Harvard University’s Rowland Institute have described a way of making large numbers of controllable nano-propellers that, despite being at an early stage of development, may one day...

News in brief

GSK may move for 51% of Shantha

01-Jun-2009 -  UK drug major GSK is considering a bid for a 51 per cent share of India’s Shantha Biotech after European rival Sanofi Aventis pulled out of an acquisition deal last...

Gerresheimer opens new primary packaging plant in China

01-Jun-2009 -  German glass making giant Gerresheimer has opened a new packaging plant in Danyang, China, further indicating its plans to grow in the world’s fifth largest pharmaceutical market. 

Pharma: people on the move

01-Jun-2009 -  in-PharmaTechnologist presents its latest round up of movements in the pharmaceutical sector, including job changes at Mylan and Elan.