Manufacturing contracts update

Angel Biotechnology has inked a new deal with Novolytics , under which it will manufacture and supply materials for the latter's clinical trials.

The materials will be compliant with good manufacturing practices and used by Novolytics in its bacteriophage-based MRSA prophylactic treatment, which is due to enter Phase I/II clinical trials in 2009.

Angel's facilities at Edinburgh will be used for the production, which is due to run for seven months.

Gordon Sherriff, Angel's chief operating officer, said: " This is a significant project for Angel.

The specialist nature of the work draws on Angel's core expertise in finding GMP solutions for such projects.

The project fits well with Angel's strategic direction and will further enhance our reputation in this new and exciting field ."

Canadian contract manufacturer and consultancy firm PharmEng says that its wholly-owned Keata Pharma subsidiary is relocating from its current base in Perth, Ontario to a new site in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

The 46,000 square foot Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) facility will house PharmEng's pharmaceutical consulting division, formulation development laboratories and production rooms capable of conducting high-shear mixing and container blending.

In addition, the site provides equipment for the production of drugs that have modified release technologies.

Keatat's goal in the long term is to use the site to produce drugs in a variety of dosage forms ranging from medical suppositories to topical and injectable products.

PharmaForm , a subsidiary of US-based Akela Pharma , has been awarded a contract for the development and manufacture of a generic version of a commercial product.

The production is being undertaken on behalf of an unnamed pharmaceutical company at PharmaForm's facility in Austin, USA.

It is anticipated that the contract will generate revenues of $1.5m to $2m over the next 12 to 18 months.

Included in the contract is the transfer of technical support for GMP manufacturing, process validation, quality release testing and stability characterization.

PharmForm is expecting to sign additional contracts with the client, to assist with the manufacturing of clinical supplies and commercial products.

Dr Michael Crowley, vice president, business development of PharmaForm, said: " We are extremely proud to have been awarded this important contract.

This contract along with steady interest in our commercial manufacturing services and expansion in our drug product development services validates our growth strategy ."