Research focuses on Parkinson's disease genetic model

31-Jul-2006 - Researchers have taken a special interest in mechanisms they have identified as an explanation for the causes of Parkinson's disease, which they say, may facilitate research aimed at finding novel...

Clued-up diabetics driving European diabetes market growth

31-Jul-2006 - The insulin market is set to explode over the next five years as uptake of insulin therapy is likely to increase with sufferers benefiting from heightened awareness and knowledge as...

Striking the right drug delivery partnership

31-Jul-2006 - Partnerships in drug delivery need to fairly reflect the risk all parties take but there must also be a champion to drive the project forward, according to Pfizer's director of...

GSK hails breakthrough bird flu vaccine

31-Jul-2006 - GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) said it has developed a vaccine against the H5N1 bird flu strain that can trigger an immune response at a much lower dose than other vaccines in development....

First steps forward in electronic ordering of controlled substances

31-Jul-2006 - Purdue Pharma is the first drug manufacturer to implement a new software program that allows firms to order all Schedule I & II controlled substance purchases on a single electronic...

FDA revamps its clinical trials monitoring approach

28-Jul-2006 - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a series of new policy and regulatory developments to modernise the way it monitors clinical trials and bioresearch.

Nano Probe gains new insights into cell activity

28-Jul-2006 - US researchers have created a nanoscale probe that can capture the topography of biological objects in their normal environment, which paves the way for the discovery of new biomarkers leading...

New formulation increases peptide stability

27-Jul-2006 - Aegis Therapeutics has unveiled a new formulation technology employing non-toxic excipients that maintain the physical stability and physiological activity of protein and peptide therapeutics while reducing immunogenicity.

New paper demonstrates power of laboratory mass spectrometers

27-Jul-2006 - Mass spectroscopy as an analytical laboratory technique proved it's worth again recently after Cerno Bioscience and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals jointly produced a paper that demonstrates the high mass accuracy that can...

FDA allows controversial new pigment to make drugs sparkle

27-Jul-2006 - In a controversial move, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the final nod of approval to pharma companies who want to add colourful pearlescent pigments to their...

Anderson acquisition signals another contract packaging expansion

27-Jul-2006 - Anderson Packaging has bought 12 acres of land next to its existing US headquarters and now plans to build another new facility to expand its contract pharma packaging capacity by...

BASF boosts ingredient release

26-Jul-2006 - BASF has unveiled new pharmaceutical auxiliaries which release active ingredients more quickly, particularly when it comes to small tablets.

UK R&D firms urged to help solve China's endangered animal crisis

26-Jul-2006 - UK and Chinese R&D firms are this week being urged to band together to develop alternatives to the practice of using endangered animal parts to feed the vast traditional Chinese...

Omnia Biologics seals TB vaccine production deal

26-Jul-2006 - Omnia Biologics has sealed a deal to help the Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation in its quest to make quantities of a new TB Vaccine that will "fulfil all the...

Japanese firm to make modified Tamiflu dry syrup

25-Jul-2006 - Chugai Pharmaceutical has decided to manufacture a modified version of Roche's Tamiflu (oseltamivir) in a dry syrup formulation which can be stored at room temperature after the bottle is opened,...

New white paper assists labs to maintain standards

25-Jul-2006 - A new white paper has been made available to laboratories worldwide, which aims to minimise the risk of infection through focused biosafety reviews and further reinforce the required level of...

New specialty chemicals company is born

25-Jul-2006 - A new specialty chemicals company, Vertellus Specialties, has been created in the US to make high-growth and high-value pharmaceuticals.

Kamada holds transferrin supply monopoly

25-Jul-2006 - Israeli biopharma firm Kamada will manufacture transferrin for an undisclosed European pharma firm embarking on the first ever clinical trials of a drug that includes the substance.

Rentschler steps up contract antibody capacity

24-Jul-2006 - Rentschler Biotechnologie has heralded the start of a €50m expansion to increase its capacity to produce antibodies and mammalian cell culture-derived proteins on a commercial scale.

Fake Lipitor lingers in supply chain

24-Jul-2006 - Pfizer has issued another recall for packs of its blockbuster cholesterol drug Lipitor after UK regulators found evidence of more counterfeit product in the legitimate supply chain from a batch...

Scientists crack the code for DNA organisation in nucleus

24-Jul-2006 - The discovery of a genetic code for DNA organisation within a cell's nucleus has significant implications in future drug discovery processes as cracking the genetic code that determines nucleosome location...

First vaccine for deadly ricin toxin moves closer

24-Jul-2006 - Dor BioPharma has reached the first stage in manufacturing what could be the world's first vaccine for the deadly ricin toxin.

Pharmagraphics Guy the same good Guy

20-Jul-2006 - Irish pharmaceutical specialist Guy & Co has been strengthened by the recent acquisition of leading US-based pharmaceutical packaging specialist Pharmagraphics according to its parent company and will now be known...

In-PharmaTechnologist Excipient GMP Series

Cognis becomes first excipient producer to obtain GMP compliance

20-Jul-2006 - Specialty chemicals firm Cognis has received good manufacturing practice (GMP) certification for its production of pharmaceutical excipients in Germany, the first chemical company in the world to do so but...

FDA warning letter reveals neglect at Watson's plant

20-Jul-2006 - As it consolidates its manufacturing operations in the US, Watson Pharmaceuticals has received a warning letter from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accusing it of using the wrong...

North Carolina lands $600m Novartis vaccine plan

20-Jul-2006 - After a ruthless battle between US states, Novartis has selected Holly Springs in North Carolina for its vaccine manufacturing plant which will use novel cell culture technology to dramatically speed...

Garden of Eden begins biomanufacturing bloom

20-Jul-2006 - Momentum is growing at the UK's new National Biomanufacturing Centre (NBC) as its operator Eden Biodesign inked a second contract at the centre - set up to establish England's Northwest...

Prostate cancer double discovery for EU researchers

20-Jul-2006 - European researchers have not only devised a new diagnostic lab tool for prostate cancer but have also identified a new molecular marker that makes the identification of the disease much...

New non-invasive monitor for disposable bioreactors

19-Jul-2006 - A new non-invasive optical method of monitoring oxygen concentration and pH levels in disposable bioreactors is now available from UK firm Cellexus Biosystems.

Hard times for Wyeth's manufacturing operations

19-Jul-2006 - With its manufacturing practices in Puerto Rico censured and marketing approval of its new oral contraceptive delayed because of its packaging, Wyeth has announced a plan to address its manufacturing...

Advanced Dynamics labels packs with the special touch

19-Jul-2006 - Labelling and packaging equipment company Advanced Dynamics has unveiled a new machine to label the outer packaging of pharmaceutical products in Braille, allowing companies to comply with EU regulations.

Fine chemicals firm makes leap from India to US

19-Jul-2006 - Indian custom chemical synthesis firm Denisco has opened up shop in the US to capitalise on the growing demand in North America for high-quality, low-cost complex organic molecules.

Biosimilar or generic?

19-Jul-2006 - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has turned down Nastech's generic version of the nasal spray Miacalcin for the treatment of osteoporosis because of the possibility of an interaction...

Bio-Rad and IDT in deal to develop RNAi tools

18-Jul-2006 - Bio-Rad Labs and Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT), have announced a collaboration to develop RNA interference (RNAi) tools sets for life science researchers.

Wrong tablets in azathioprine bottle trigger recall

18-Jul-2006 - In an incident Roxane Laboratories warns could have life-threatening consequences, a manufacturing lot of azathioprine tablets has been recalled in the US and Puerto Rico following the discovery of methotrexate...

Lonza sighs in relief after Alexion buys manufacturing facility

18-Jul-2006 - Biotechnology firm Alexion has acquired a Dow biomanufacturing facility in Rhode Island as it gears up for the commercialisation of its blood disorder drug Soliris, yet the move does not...

Syntaxin bags 1.2m bioprocessing grant

18-Jul-2006 - Newly formed UK biopharma firm Synexin has bagged a £1.2m (€0.9m) bioprocessing grant as part of a nationwide push to excel in the emerging field of biopharmaceuticals.

Pharma sales focus sharpens; India and generics remain hot

18-Jul-2006 - Sales, sales, sales has been the focus of drug manufacturers so far this year, while interest continues to remain high on the topics of India and generics.

Lab instrumentation firm takeover makes PharmEng wiser

18-Jul-2006 - Looking to expand its laboratory testing and consulting services, PharmEng has acquired Rootlink Tecknic, a laboratory instrumentation automated solution sales and service company based in Toronto.

AstraZeneca chooses Werum to keep an eye on packaging

17-Jul-2006 - AstraZeneca will be using Werum's PAS-X system at its two German production sites to collect operating data from its packaging lines and define and evaluate key performance indicators (KPI), improving...

Archemix allies with Elan to develop aptamers

17-Jul-2006 - Archemix has announced the formation of a strategic alliance with Elan to discover and develop first-in-class aptamer therapeutics to treat autoimmune disease.

Nektar opts for payout to avoid court showdown over PEGylation

17-Jul-2006 - Biopharmaceutical firm Nektar has agreed to fork out $25m (€20m) to settle a patent lawsuit by the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) concerning the company's PEGylation delivery technology currently...

Sugar and olive oil break free from the kitchen

17-Jul-2006 - US scientists have discovered that sugar and olive oil do not just belong in the kitchen - but could potentially be used to develop naturally-derived nanomaterials for drug delivery systems...

China still choking India's drug making industry

17-Jul-2006 - Although India's star continues to rise, it pales in comparison to China as a destination of choice for low-cost drug manufacturing - for now.

GSK's thirst for adjuvants grows

17-Jul-2006 - GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has asked vaccine developing firm Antigenics to supply it with more of its QS-21 adjuvant as its vaccines progress in the pipeline, while at the same the British...

Malvern buys NIR chemical imaging firm

13-Jul-2006 - Malvern Instruments has acquired Spectral Dimensions, a provider of near infrared (NIR) chemical imaging instrumentation and software, seeking products that can enhance pharmaceutical formulation and manufacturing processes.

Asia closing in on European API market

13-Jul-2006 - Active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturers in Europe are struggling to differentiate their capabilities and compete in an outsourcing market suffering from overcapacity, diminishing profitability and threats from Asia.

PANalytical introduces slick approach to oil analysis

13-Jul-2006 - Analytical X-ray specialists, PANalytical has launched its solution to enables X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis of fuel, oil and oil derivatives. The package attempts to overcome the traditional challenges associated with...

Northfield Labs buys manufacturing facility

13-Jul-2006 - Northfield Laboratories, a company specialising in the development of human hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers, has splashed out $6.7m (€5.2m) to buy a plant it previously leased in Illinois, as it edges...

MedImmune cleared to offer Flumist the reverse genetics treatment

13-Jul-2006 - In a landmark decision that will speed up the manufacturing of influenza vaccines, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of reverse genetics technology in the...

Axway, Cyclone and McKesson join to fight fake drugs

13-Jul-2006 - French-owned software firms Axway and Cyclone Commerce have joined forces with US drug distribution firm McKesson to develop new and cost-effective IT to support the pharma industry in its venture...

Isopak unveils new tablet check weigher

12-Jul-2006 - Isopak is flaunting a new automatic check weigher for capsules and tablets, promising more accuracy than ever before.

Maryland fails to seduce Novartis

12-Jul-2006 - Maryland is no longer in the running for a $500m (€392m) vaccine manufacturing plant Novartis is seeking to build in the US, as speculation about which state will host America's...

End in sight for Discovery's manufacturing nightmare?

12-Jul-2006 - Discovery Laboratories is claiming progress in its struggle to correct manufacturing problems related to Surfaxin, its experimental respiratory treatment for infants, yet the goal of overcoming the process validation issues...

Cardinal joins Roche's 'bird flu crew'

12-Jul-2006 - Cardinal Health is the latest firm to benefit from Roche's global recruitment drive for manufacturers to help boost its supplies of the bird flu drug coveted by governments across the...

Spherics helps the medicine go down

12-Jul-2006 - Takeda Pharmaceutical has jumped at the chance to use a new technology that its developer, Spherics, claims can improve the efficacy of a drug while reducing side effects, providing more...

Videojet simplifies coding operations

11-Jul-2006 - The Videojet 1310 ink jet printer from Videojet Technologies is now available in North America with a simpler user interface, similar to its popular Videojet Excel ink jet printer.

Altana opens manufacturing plant in Ireland

11-Jul-2006 - Despite the uncertainty about its direction, German pharmaceutical company Altana has opened a new tablet production facility in Cork as it tries to cope with demand for Pantoprazole, its blockbuster...

New lab-based kit offers superior drug response prediction

11-Jul-2006 - A recent paper has emerged, which details results of a clinical laboratory test and its ability to accurately predict drug response in lung cancer. The test gives way to the...

New manufacturing process can double HIV vaccine production

11-Jul-2006 - The Immune Response Corporation (IRC) claims it has developed a cell culture medium that can double viral antigen yields in HIV vaccine development.

Kaletra enters Europe with non-freeze tablet formulation

11-Jul-2006 - Abbott's Kaletra, the biggest-selling drug of a class of HIV medications known as protease inhibitors, has won the thumbs up from the European Commission with a melt extrusion formulation which...

Althea Technologies inks DNA bird flu vaccine deal

11-Jul-2006 - UK firm PowderMed has contracted US firm Althea Technologies to manufacture clinical supplies of its flu vaccine that can significantly speed up production.

Green Lipitor building block synthesis wins kudos for Codexis

10-Jul-2006 - An enzyme-based process operated by Lonza for the production of the major chiral building block for Pfizer's Lipitor, the world's best selling drug, has won its designer Codexis a top...

Generic pie to grow bigger but also carved up into smaller pieces

10-Jul-2006 - Although patent expirations are set to increase the size of the generic drug market, the impact of greater scrutiny from healthcare policymakers means that generic manufacturers may make more drugs...

Abbott ordains Elan to marry Tricor and Crestor

10-Jul-2006 - In the face of generic competition, Abbott has asked Irish biotechnology firm Elan to use its NanoCrystal technology to develop an "all in one" oral dose formulation combining two cholesterol...

SR Pharma contracts its way forward in siRNA production

10-Jul-2006 - SR Pharma has recruited Genzyme, BioSpring and OctoPlus to formulate and manufacture its lead RNAi therapeutic product Atu027 to good manufacturing practice (GMP) standards, as its liposomal drug delivry system...

Symyx takes Autodose on board

10-Jul-2006 - Technology firm Symyx has acquired Autodose, a maker of precision powder-dispensing equipment, as it seeks to develop the next generation of high-throughput benchtop automation systems.

SGS joins China's pharma QC testing goldrush

06-Jul-2006 - Inspection and certification group SGS has officially launched a laboratory in Shanghai dedicated to quality control testing of pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals and medical devices, as China's appetite for contract analytical services...

UK firm producing AIDS drug enhancing technology

06-Jul-2006 - UK biopharma firm Adjuvantix has developed a new technology that it claims can increase the effectiveness of vaccines as well as drugs for cancer, inflammatory diseases and infectious diseases such...

Genevac shows off its evaporators for lab research

06-Jul-2006 - Genevac have developed a Fast Lyophilisation Process that aims to provide the ultimate solution to the problems encountered by lab technicians when handling HPLC solvents.

New Tate and Lyle excipient bypasses wet granulation

06-Jul-2006 - Tate and Lyle has announced the launch of Meritab - a new direct compressible dextrose - that allows pharma tablet manufacturers to stop using wet granulation processes, and so offers...

Blunder at Merck's biggest production site pollutes creek

06-Jul-2006 - In an incident that state and federal environmental regulators are treating as "serious," Merck released 25 gallons of a cyanide-containing chemical from its West Point facility in Pennsylvania to the...

New generation bar codes adopted by 2010

06-Jul-2006 - GS1, the global not-profit organisation, that designs and implements barcode standards, has announced a global adoption date of 1 January 2010 for a new bar code with Reduced Space Symbology...

Cambrex completes first bioreactor project

05-Jul-2006 - Cambrex Bio Science has successfully completed its first monoclonal antibody project in the company's new cell culture bioreactor, as well as its first small-large molecule conjugation project.

Clariant's former pharma unit braces for battle

05-Jul-2006 - The sale of Clariant's Pharmaceutical Fine Chemicals (PFC) to equity firm Towerbrook for around SFr110m (€70m) has been completed and the unit, now called Archimica, is determined to dominate the...

FDA report sheds light on Chiron's problems

05-Jul-2006 - As America desperately waited for its influenza vaccines, Chiron had to deal with major quality control issues between July and October 2005 at its troubled vaccine manufacturing plant in Liverpool...

Copapharm's grip of Europe's pharma packaging sector strengthens

05-Jul-2006 - Copapharm Europe, the alliance of specialist packaging companies, has announced "healthy" sales figures for 2005, as its one-stop pan-European approach to the supply of pharmaceutical packaging equipment is becoming more...

Dry powder bird flu vaccine takes flight

05-Jul-2006 - A dry powder nasal flu vacccine is being hailed by its developers at DelSite Biotechnologies as a unique storage solution, providing delivery advantages over traditional flu vaccines in the event...

NBS launches new laboratory shaker range

04-Jul-2006 - New Brunswick Scientific (NBS) has introduced two new benchtop incubator shakers, the first in a range of eight new models replacing the original C-Line. The shakers have been designed to...

New APIs call for new dissolution testing methods

04-Jul-2006 - A new generation of drugs that target specific areas of the body has created new challenges for dissolution testing, as many recent active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are poorly soluble in...

FDA hits sanofi pasteur with warning letter

04-Jul-2006 - Sanofi pasteur's vaccine manufacturing plant in Pennsylvania, where half of America's influenza vaccines are made, has been served with a warning letter by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA),...

India introduces new rules on device manufacturing

04-Jul-2006 - New guidelines for the import and manufacture of medical devices in India have now come into effect, aimed at increasing world confidence in medical devices made in the region.

New toolkit to assist drug quality assurance

04-Jul-2006 - Best Practices Research and Consulting have put together a toolkit to help pharma companies improve manufacturing quality assurance and efficiency.

Frost & Sullivan crowns Cytogenix king of DNA production

04-Jul-2006 - Frost & Sullivan has awarded biopharmaceutical firm Cytogenix with its 2006 award for innovation in biotechnology processing for its cell-free manufacturing method that enables generation of large quantities of high-purity...

Ecolab buys UK pharmaceutical cleanroom firm

03-Jul-2006 - Shield Medicare, a British supplier of alcohols, disinfectants and consumables to pharmaceutical cleanrooms, has been taken over by US cleaning products provider Ecolab, seeking to capture more of the European...

FDA's enforcement arm 'tied behind its back'

03-Jul-2006 - A report on the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) enforcement record by US Democratic lawmakers has highlighted a plunge in the number of warning letters the agency has sent...

Degussa unveils new excipient for poorly-flowing powders

03-Jul-2006 - Specialty chemicals firm Degussa has launched a new hydrophobic silica excipient which is particularly suitable for very hygroscopic and cohesive powders as it can significantly improve powder flow.

BioPartners' biosimilar drug knocked back in Europe

03-Jul-2006 - BioPartners has failed to bring its second biosimilar product into Europe after the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA) issued a negative opinion on its hepatitis C...

Israeli firm gearing up to make 'supergenerics'

03-Jul-2006 - Intec Pharma has enlisted two North American dosage form manufacturers to make "supergenerics" using its new method of oral drug delivery that can transform existing drugs into more powerful therapies....