MedImmune recalls sub-potent FluMist H1N1 vacc in US

23-Dec-2009 - MedImmune has recalled unused doses of its intranasal H1N1 vaccine FluMist in the US after checks revealed that some had fallen below the minimum potency threshold in the two months...

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Rio Tinto accepts Amcor offer for Alcan

23-Dec-2009 - Rio Tinto today formally accepted the offer by Amcor to buy Alcan Packaging for US$2.025bn.

Delays, takeover bids and Puerto Rico hurt 09, but Patheon up about 2010

22-Dec-2009 - Patheon says a slowdown in “outsourcing decision making,” manufacturing problems in Puerto Rico and cost related to JLL’s takeover bid hurt it in fiscal 09.

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Sanofi builds in OTCs with Chattem; drops two Ph III drugs

22-Dec-2009 - French drugmaker Sanofi Aventis will pay $1.9bn (€1.3bn) for OTC firm Chattem, according to a statement released yesterday.

People on the move: pharma jobs

22-Dec-2009 - In-Pharmatechnologist presents its latest round up of movements in the pharma sector, including appointments at Merck & Co, MediGene and Medivation, as well as departures at Bristol-Myers Squibb and KV...

Merck & Co to buy Avecia Biologics

21-Dec-2009 - US drug major Merck & Co will buy into the UK's contract biologics manufacturing sector with the acquisition of Tees Valley-based Avecia Biologics.

Hospira to buy injectables biz from India’s Orchid

21-Dec-2009 - Hospira will pay India’s Orchid Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals approximately $400m (€278m) for its generic injectables business.

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India's focus on APIs and generics helped growth in 2009

21-Dec-2009 - The Indian pharmaceutical market was worth $10.8bn (€7.5bn) this year and will more than double in value by 2014 according to a new industry report by Cygnus Business Consulting & Research.

Geron and Novocell set for stem cell tech patent battle

21-Dec-2009 - Geron says the USPTO appeals board granted a request to declare “interference” between a patent application owned by the firm and one issued to Novocell in March.

Recipharm moves for Cobra to boost biologics capacity

17-Dec-2009 - Swedish CDMO Recipharm will buy privately-owned group Cobra Biomanufacturing to build its presence in the expanding biologics sector.

Dishman partners for Saudi API making JV

17-Dec-2009 - Dishman Pharma says its new Saudi Arabian joint venture (JV) will establish the first API production plant in the Middle East.

Flexible artificial blood cells could improve drug delivery, says US group

17-Dec-2009 - Artificial red blood cells (RBC) that mimic “biologically optimised” characteristics could better nanotech drug delivery, say US scientists.

GSK welcomes UK “patent box” 2013 tax plan

16-Dec-2009 - GSK says UK plans to apply a reduced tax rate to all drugs patented after 2013 will encourage investment, provided it is applied to products already being developed.

Sanofi recalls sub-potent H1N1 vaccine batch in US

16-Dec-2009 - Sanofi Pasteur has recalled four lots of its pediatric H1N1 vaccine in the US that were found to have fallen below potency limits despite being be in spec at the...

US PTO approves Isis and Alnylam’s new RNAi claims

16-Dec-2009 - US drugmakers developers Isis and Alnylam say the US PTO has allowed 75 new claims relating to the development of RNAi drugs.

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Lonza wins Femta RA drug manufacturing contract

16-Dec-2009 - Lonza will use its GS (glutamine synthetase) Gene Expression system to produce clinical trial stocks of Femta Pharmaceuticals’ candidate rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment, FM101.

Telangana plans disrupt GSK and Eisai in India

15-Dec-2009 - GSK halted production in Rajahmundry, India and Eisai postponed the opening of a facility in nearby Vizag on Saturday after days of unrest over plans to create a new state,...

Bend makes enhanced HPMCAS DMF available

15-Dec-2009 - US formulation services provider Bend Research says a new safety file for the bioavailability enhancing drug excipient, HPMCAS, can now be referenced by its clients in FDA filings.

Sanofi boosts syringe and vacc capacity at French plant

15-Dec-2009 - Sanofi Aventis has revamped operations at its sterile injectables plant in Le Trait, France, adding three new production units that double syringe making capacity and diversify its vaccine manufacturing capability.

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Taro cites Sun’s “conduct at Caraco” ahead of AGM

15-Dec-2009 - Taro Pharmaceutical Industries has warned shareholders about “Sun’s conduct at Caraco” in its latest effort to block the Indian firm’s takeover bid.

EU clears Amcor takeover of Alcan

15-Dec-2009 - Amcor’s takeover of Alcan has been cleared by the European Commission after the Australian company agreed to sell off two pharmaceutical and food packaging plants in Spain.

People on the move: pharma jobs

14-Dec-2009 - in-PharmaTechnologist presents its latest round up of movements in the pharma sector, including appointments at Genzyme, Amarin and Hard To Treat Diseases.

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Sanofi targets rural India with generics campaign

14-Dec-2009 - Sanofi Aventis plans to launch 15 new generic products in rural India, under its new Prayas marketing initiative being rolled out through its Hoechst brand.

GSK and Intercell team on patch that could make H5N1 vacc go further

14-Dec-2009 - Intercell’s needle-free patch delivery technology has the potential to change the way vaccines are delivered, according to Jean Stephenne, president of GSK Biologicals.

Amcor prepares for life after Alcan takeover

11-Dec-2009 - Amcor has unveiled its proposed management shake up in preparation for the $2.025bn takeover of Alcan – three days before the European Commission is due to deliver its verdict on...

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Teva and H Lundbeck raided in latest EC antitrust probe

10-Dec-2009 - Officials carried out another set of surprise inspections at pharma companies yesterday, in the latest stage of the European Commission's clampdown on anti-competitive practices.

Unigene suspending production and laying off staff

10-Dec-2009 - Unigene Laboratories is laying off one-third of its workforce and temporarily suspending production of some materials in an attempt to cut its operating expenses by up to $10m (€6.8m) in 2010.

Sanofi to supply insulin to Generex

10-Dec-2009 - Sanofi-Aventis will manufacture and supply recombinant human insulin crystals to Generex Biotechnology for use in Oral-lyn commercial production and clinical trials.

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Teva extends Codexis biocatalyst deal

09-Dec-2009 - Teva will continue to use Codexis’ biocatalysis technology for key processing steps in the production of four generic drugs under a revised agreement announced last week.

Ratiopharm race heats up: Sanofi, Teva and Sinopharm in the lead

09-Dec-2009 - Sanofi-Aventis, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Sinopharm lead the pack in the race to acquire German generics firm Ratiopharm.

Merrimack buys drug delivery business Hermes

09-Dec-2009 - Hermes Biosciences has been acquired by Merrimack Pharmaceuticals in a deal which aims to combine the companies’ drug discovery and delivery platforms to develop cancer treatments.

Counterfeiting seizures “exceeded our worst fears”

09-Dec-2009 - The EU industry commissioner has said the scale of pharmaceutical counterfeiting “exceeded our worst fears” and the EPHA has weighed into the debate on the development of the draft directive.

US FDA clears “first-ever” 24hr liquid SR drug

08-Dec-2009 - FDA approval for a 24-hour liquid sustained-release formulation could significantly improve tailored dosing, according to US developer Tris Pharma.

Mandatory overseas API inspections needed; ITRE

08-Dec-2009 - Repeated mandatory inspection of overseas API facilities should be performed to prevent falsified products entering the EU, according to a committee which has published proposed amendments to the draft directive.

Dow forms independent protein production business

08-Dec-2009 - Dow has joined with Signet Healthcare Partners to form a new independent company which will use the chemical company’s Pfenex protein expression technology to accelerate development.

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Ranbaxy sells stake in JV

08-Dec-2009 - Ranbaxy Laboratories is selling its 50 per cent stake in its Japanese joint venture (JV) to its partner Nippon Chemiphar (NC), allowing both companies to independently pursue their generic businesses.

Watson completes Arrow deal, adding generic Lipitor to US portfolio

07-Dec-2009 - Watson Pharmaceuticals gained US rights to market a generic version of Lipitor (atorvastatin) in 2011 with the acquisition of non-branded drugmaker Arrow Group late last week.

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Diurnal receives investment to develop delivery tech

07-Dec-2009 - Diurnal has received a £600,000 ($982,000) investment to further development of products using its drug delivery technology, which uses delayed and sustained release to mimic the body’s circadian rhythm.

Alexion’s Solaris site given positive opinion

07-Dec-2009 - Alexion Pharmaceuticals’ manufacturing facility in Rhode Island, US has received a positive opinion from the CHMP, furthering its efforts to gain in-house capacity to supplement a deal with Lonza.

People on the move: pharma jobs

07-Dec-2009 - in-PharmaTechnologist presents its latest round up movements in the pharma sector, including CytRx bolstering its manufacturing expertise and KV preparing its management as it strives to resume distribution.

Genzyme ships Cerezyme again; Pfizer licenses Protalix’ rival

03-Dec-2009 - Pfizer and Protalix have increased the pressure on Genzyme by signing a new accord to commercialise Uplyso (taliglucerase alfa), a potential rival to its Gaucher’s disease treatment Cerezyme, just days...

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Sterling to buy Canadian drug plant

03-Dec-2009 - Australia’s Sterling Products plans to buy a 4,310 sqm pharmaceutical manufacturing plant from a Canadian drugmaker that has fallen victim to the global economic crisis.

Haupt installs CPHU to cut CO2 emissions

03-Dec-2009 - CDMO Haupt Pharma has invested in a combined heat and power unit (CPHU) for its site in Wolfratshausen, Germany, which is now expected to produce 14 per cent less CO2...

Roche licenses Aegis’ Protek to stop peptide aggregation

03-Dec-2009 - Roche has licensed Aegis Therapeutics’ ProTek stabilisation technology, which uses GRAS excipients to prevent aggregation and therefore improve production of peptide and protein drugs.

Avon gains on US OK for Ranbaxy’s valacyclovir

02-Dec-2009 - Indian API maker Avon Organics’ share price rocketed 10 per cent on the Bombay exchange yesterday after the US launch of a generic herpes treatment by Ranbaxy Laboratories.

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Vivalis to join CAC Small 90 and SBF 250

02-Dec-2009 - Cell culture solutions provider Vivalis will be listed on the French stock exchange’s CAC Small 90 and SBF 250 indices from December 21.

Sartorius launches single-use biomanufacturing range

02-Dec-2009 - Sartorius Stedim Biotech has introduced FlexAct BP, the first product in a range which will be an integrated single-use system for entire biomanufacturing steps in upstream and downstream processing.

People on the move: pharma jobs

02-Dec-2009 - in-PharmaTechnologist presents its latest round up of movements in the pharma sector, including appointments at Takeda, Aquapharm and Cannabis Science.

Generics hot up: Cipla in talks with Big Pharma; Takeda mulls M&As

01-Dec-2009 - India’s Cipla is in talks with a number of global pharma players, including Pfizer, about potential generics supply deals.

Leeds Uni opens £4m process development lab

01-Dec-2009 - Leeds University in the UK has unveiled a new £4m (€4.4m) laboratory designed to make small-scale process development “greener, cheaper and more effective.”

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Pharma faces tax hike, says PwC

01-Dec-2009 - The Pharma sector’s shift away from blockbusters could result in higher taxes according to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

Terapio lands $5m to develop delivery tech

01-Dec-2009 - Terapio has secured $5m (€3.3m) in funding to develop RLIP76, which is being used to counteract radiation and deliver large molecules across cell membranes, such as genetic material across the...