ATMI doubles bioprocess tech manufacturing capacity

29-Jul-2010 - ATMI completes expansion at US bioprocess tech plant days after citing life science business growth as an important part of its second quarter gains.

Solid diabetes sales drive slight Q3 growth at BD Medical

29-Jul-2010 - The medical unit of Becton Dickinson (BD) reported a slight increase in revenues in the third quarter driven by solid sales of diabetes products.

Marina buys Smarticles liposomal delivery system

29-Jul-2010 - Marina Biotech has acquired the intellectual property for the Smarticles liposomal-based delivery system from Novosom AG.

Guest article

Pharma consolidation and the downstream impact on CROs

29-Jul-2010 - Significant biopharm consolidation has played a key role in reshaping the drug development sector. Viq Pervaaz, senior vice president at Aon Consulting, discusses the changes and how they will impact...

News in brief

Hovione grows sales in 09

29-Jul-2010 - Consolidated sales at Hovione increased by 15 per cent to $144m (€110m) in fiscal 2009.

Mylan plans €67m solid-dose packaging plant in Hungary

28-Jul-2010 - Mylan hopes new solid-dose packaging plant in Hungary will help it increase market share in Eastern Europe.

Celleuxs launches “broad cell line” disposable bioreactor

28-Jul-2010 - Cellexus has expanded its disposable bioreactor offering with a unit designed to give biomanufacturers greater flexibility in their choice of cell lines.

News in brief

Mocon moves US HQ to add capacity

28-Jul-2010 - US testing instrument maker Mocon has moved to a bigger HQ and manufacturing centre to help it keep up with what it describes as growing demand for its range of...

Oracle adds ePedigree system to secure supply chain

28-Jul-2010 - Oracle has introduced an integrated mass-serialisation and pedigree application to improve pharma supply chain integrity.

Colorcon builds coating biz with Indian buy

27-Jul-2010 - Colorcon will buy Indian group Pharmaceuitcal Coatings to expand both its tablet film coating business and presence in “rapidly growing” pharmaceutical market.

Grant awarded for non-invasive counterfeit detection

27-Jul-2010 - Research into the use of quadrupole resonance spectroscopy (QR) for non-invasive, non-destructive detection of counterfeits has been boosted by a grant.

People on the move: pharma jobs

27-Jul-2010 - in-PharmaTechnologist presents its latest round up of movements in the pharma sector, including appointments at Phage Pharmaceuticals, the USP and Nycomed.

News in brief

Azelis launches excipients in UK

27-Jul-2010 - Azelis Pharma has launched Syral starch-derived oral excipients in the UK.

News in brief

Becton Dickson plans East coast distribution boost

26-Jul-2010 - Medical Technology group Becton Dickson (BD) will build a $38m warehouse facility in Four Oaks, North Carolina, according to State Governor Bev Perdue.

EU majors reported to be looking at Genzyme

26-Jul-2010 - European drugmakers Sanofi-Aventis and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) are rumoured to be looking at a possible acquisition of US biotechnology group Genzyme.

Ampac response to plant concerns “insufficient,” says FDA

26-Jul-2010 - The US FDA has asked Ampac Fine Chemicals for a more detailed plan to fix cGMP deviations at its API plant in Rancho Cordova, California.

Suspect medicines seized by EU increased again in 2009

26-Jul-2010 - EU seizures of medicines suspected of infringing IP increased in 2009, with a total of almost 11.5m articles being detained.

Sensient invests in pharma coating biz; H1 sales up

26-Jul-2010 - Sensient Technologies hopes investment in pharmaceutical coating capacity will boost its pharmaceutical sector business.

Constantia buys Tobepal from Amcor

22-Jul-2010 - Austria’s Constantia Packaging will pay Amcor €92m ($118m) for its Spanish Tobepal flexible packaging business.

Danish API audit plans criticised; harmonisation called for

22-Jul-2010 - Danish plans to develop its own guidelines for API audit reports have been criticised by a body that is calling for harmonisation across Europe.

Bill giving FDA mandatory recall powers introduced

22-Jul-2010 - Mandatory recalls of drugs posing an imminent threat to human health could be initiated by the US FDA if a bill introduced last week is passed into law.

Terrene plans US growth with gelatin capsule DMF

22-Jul-2010 - Indian contractor Terrene Pharma has filed a DMF for hard gelatin capsules with the US FDA, signalling its intention to expand in the world’s most lucrative drug market.

News in brief

Afrezza approval: one small step away for MannKind?

21-Jul-2010 - The US FDA is set to make a final approval decision on the one remaining inhalable delivery insulin product, MannKind’s Afrezza, by December 29.

Reaxa to lead $1m CP-STAR catalyst project

21-Jul-2010 - Reaxa has received a UK Technology Strategy Board (TSB) award to further development of cleaner catalysts for pharmaceutical manufacturing.

MDCI, CDSS partner to expand geographic reach

21-Jul-2010 - CROs MDCI and CDSS have partnered to expand their geographic reach and drive growth through cooperation.

Pantec raises $19m for laser transdermal IVF therapy

21-Jul-2010 - Pantec Biosolutions AG has secured a CHF20m ($19m) investment to further development of its needle-free in vitro fertilisation (IVF) therapy.

Group claims Irish COE would create 4,800 jobs

20-Jul-2010 - A group of Irish drug firms and banks plan to set up a “global pharmaceutical centre of excellence” (COE) that they believe will create 4,800 research, development and manufacturing jobs.

Emergent boosts Baltimore bio capacity, plans Lancing expansion

20-Jul-2010 - Emergent BioSolutions says additional biomanufacturing space at its Baltimore, Maryland plant could help reduce expenditure through use of new timesaving manufacturing tech.

FDA joins with federal agencies for toxicology research

20-Jul-2010 - The FDA has joined with other US federal agencies to collectively research methods for predicting the toxicity of chemicals.

News in brief

CSL to build $235m manufacturing facility

20-Jul-2010 - Australian vaccine maker CSL says new $235m plant will advance development of its portfolio of biotech cancer drugs, anti-infectives and plasma products.

People on the move: pharma jobs

19-Jul-2010 - in-PharmaTechnologist presents its latest round up of movements in the pharma sector, including a new leader at PhRMA and KV replacing its CFO after three months in the job.

Merck Millipore launched after $7bn takover

19-Jul-2010 - Germany’s Merck KGaA has completed its $7bn (€b5.2n) acquisition of Millipore, unveiling plans to target “high-growth, high-margin” bio-research and bio-production markets.

ViiV opens HIV portfolio to generics firms

19-Jul-2010 - GSK and Pfizer’s ViiV Healthcare JV says it will make its entire drug portfolio available to generics manufacturers and 80 per cent the global HIV-infected population.

Penn & Xcelience partner to offer Xcelodose to Asia, EU

19-Jul-2010 - Penn Pharma and Xcelience have formed an Xcelodose-focused joint venture to meet client demand in Europe and Asia for powder-in-capsule (PIC) services.

Interactive Quiz

EU industry quiz – how much do you know about H1 2010?

16-Jul-2010 - Covering PPD and Pfizer, Sweden and Switzerland our European map-based quiz tests your knowledge of recent biopharm events against colleagues, peers and our community of readers.

Novel drug delivery capsule receives US and EU patent

15-Jul-2010 - Encap has announced its DuoCap capsule delivery system has been granted US and European patents that strengthen the firm’s portfolio in the delivery of pharmaceutical active agents that require controlled...

Mylan buys $550m passport to US injectables market

15-Jul-2010 - Mylan are to acquire Bioniche Pharma’s global injectable pharmaceuticals business for $550m (€430m) in a deal that gives Mylan a significant foothold in meeting product and therapeutic gaps in the...

Bosch Packaging pinpoints Asia as future growth engine

15-Jul-2010 - Bosch Packaging has identified Asia as a key engine for future growth as its chief announced its international presence had helped the firm to “stand our ground in the...

News in brief

Gerresheimer grows operating profit in the second quarter

15-Jul-2010 - Gerresheimer reports its second quarter profit from operations has grown year-on-year from €11.8m ($15.1m) to €24.8m.

ATMI adds 2D and 3D single-use bioprocess vessels

15-Jul-2010 - ATMI Lifesciences has introduced 2D and 3D single-use bioprocess vessels (BPV) which reduce risk and cut costs.

iOWH boosts key ingredient supply in malaria treatments

13-Jul-2010 - The Institute for OneWorld Health (iOWH) has moved one step closer to supplying a key component of a malaria treatment on an industrial scale as it revealed details of its...

Research aims to predict scaled up process performance

13-Jul-2010 - Research has been initiated into the prediction of process performance before scale up to help increase yield and efficiency while cutting costs.

People on the move: pharma jobs

13-Jul-2010 - in-PharmaTechnologist presents its latest round up of movements in the pharma sector, including appointments at GSK, KV Pharmaceutical, ParagonRx, West, Novavax and Unilife.

News in brief

LSD gains ISO cert to raise standards in Philippines

13-Jul-2010 - The LSD of the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken a step towards raising standards by gaining ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accreditation.

Patents no barrier to producing cheaper HPV vaccine

12-Jul-2010 - A new study believes vaccine manufacturers from developing countries may be able to produce a HPV vaccine at a lower cost without infringing on the numerous patents drug makers have...

Prosonix agrees drug delivery deal for respiratory therapies

12-Jul-2010 - Prosonix has entered into an agreement with Trimel Biopharma, in which both companies will combine their respective technologies to deliver improved inhalation performance for respiratory medicines.

Merck to close eight production facilities, eight R&D labs

12-Jul-2010 - Merck & Co is to close or sell eight manufacturing plants and a further eight R&D laboratories as part of efforts to cuts its workforce by 15 per cent.

News in brief

Sandoz recalling leaking Temozolomide capsules

12-Jul-2010 - Sandoz is conducting a UK patient level recall of certain batches of Temozolomide capsules after they were found to be splitting and leaking powder.

Eurofarma expands capacity with Laborátorios Gautier

08-Jul-2010 - Brazilian generics manufacturer Eurofarma has acquired Uruguay counterpart Laboratorios Gautier, further expanding its reach across Latin America.

SurModics licenses sustained release tech to Clinuvel

08-Jul-2010 - SurModics has licensed certain elements of its biodegradable polymer implant technology to Clinuvel for use treating sun-induced skin disorders.

Genzyme inks expanded fill & finish deal with Hospira

08-Jul-2010 - Genzyme has entered into an expanded fill and finish manufacturing deal with Hospira as it works to move operations out of its Allston Landing plant.

News in brief

Millipore extends chromatography offering; Merck takeover cleared by EU

08-Jul-2010 - Millipore is targeting protein manufacturers with a new chromatography resin that, the firm claims, offers flexibility and high throughput with a small manufacturing footprint.

News in brief

FDA approves Sagent heparin using packaging safety features

07-Jul-2010 - Sagent Pharmaceuticals’ heparin sodium injection, USP, which uses packaging and labelling safety features, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Canada should support China vaccine export; report

07-Jul-2010 - China-based companies’ desire to enter the international vaccine market represents an “important opportunity” for Canada, according to a CIC paper.

Pharming inks supply deal with Sanofi Chemie

07-Jul-2010 - Pharming has entered into a toll manufacturing agreement with Sanofi Chemie to boost capacity, secure supply and lower costs of Ruconest (conestat alfa).

Exclusive interview

SAFC outlines Asia strategy; plans to expand manufacturing footprint

07-Jul-2010 - The rapidly evolving Asian drug manufacturing sector represents both an opportunity and a challenge for the fine chemicals and molecules industry, according to SAFC president Gilles Cottier.

News in brief

EyeTechCare raises €7.5m to fund glaucoma treatment

06-Jul-2010 - EyeTechCare has raised €7.5m ($9.4m) to support development of its non-invasive glaucoma treatment.

People on the move: pharma jobs

06-Jul-2010 - in-PharmaTechnologist presents its latest round up of movements in the pharma sector, including appointments at Elan, Inspire Pharmaceuticals, BioVex and Lux Biosciences.

Aesica hopes R5 purchase is formula for successful growth

06-Jul-2010 - UK API maker Aesica has bought formulation firm R5 Pharmaceuticals, continuing the expansion strategy it has employed over the last few years.

BASF Pharma formed to simplify ops

06-Jul-2010 - Chemicals manufacturer BASF reorganises Swiss business to cut active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing site complexity and simplify process operations.

News in brief

Lilly buys Alnara to move into enzyme drugs

05-Jul-2010 - Eli Lilly is moving into the enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) market with the acquisition of US biotechnology firm Alnara Pharmaceuticals.

Sanofi said to be planning $20bn acquisition in US

05-Jul-2010 - Rumour has it that French drug giant Sanofi Aventis is planning to make a $20bn (€16bn) acquisition in the US with speculation that biotechs like Allergan, Biogen Idec and Genzyme...

Aptuit to acquire GSK’s Italian R&D centre

05-Jul-2010 - Aptuit is to acquire GSK’s Italian R&D centre, take on its 500 employees and become part of the big pharma’s CRO network.

Abbott exploring sale of vaccines unit

05-Jul-2010 - Abbott Laboratories has confirmed it is considering the sale of the vaccines unit it gained with the €4.5bn ($6.2bn) acquisition of Solvay Pharmaceuticals in February .

GSK, Singapore to fund research into green production

05-Jul-2010 - GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and the Singapore EDB are to fund eight research projects into green and sustainable production of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals.