US contractor MeadWestvaco (MWV) claims the latest addition to its Shellpack range, the Shellpak-170, offers drugmakers more options for adherence promotion blister packaging.
Companies seeking research services in India and China will now be able to use a single contact following an alliance between GVK BIO and Excel, which the companies claim is the first to span the two nations.
The drive to license needle-free delivery methods continues with Zealand Pharma signing a deal to use its peptide optimisation technology with Vyteris’ controlled transdermal patch.
Although the downturn has slowed Big Pharma’s investment in China, the country’s wide ranging healthcare reforms and changing economic landscape still provide considerable opportunities says PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
Germany’s XClinical says 2008 was a successful year with a 20 per cent hike in revenues for its electronic data capture (EDC) and clinical data/trial management (CDM/CTM) software.
Pfizer is the latest company to seek greater control of its Indian subsidiary, falling into step with Swiss drug major Novartis which made a similar move late last month.
PharmEng has filed a notice of intent (NOI) to make a proposal under the Canadian Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act in an attempt to “regain the company's financial footing”.
Asahi Kasei has added to its range of excipients through the launch of Ceolus UF-711, which it claims is the first high-compactable microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) that makes tablets smaller.
Art Levinson is to step down from his role as Genentech’s CEO but will play “an active role” at the company as part of Roche’s attempts to integrate and retain the biotech’s key staff.
The US contract manufacturing sector is strong enough to bounce back from any short-term slow down caused by the credit crisis, according to a new report by Frost & Sullivan (F&S).
The Association of Southeast Asia Nations’ (ASEAN) member states will recognise each others GMP certificates as part of a programme intended to raise standards and eliminate trade barriers.
Almac claims it can bring drugs to trial faster using an automated approach to compliance that cuts the time taken to validate manufacturing processes by several months.
Cincinnati, US site management organisation (SMO) Radiant Research says that growing industry demand for trials outside the US is the key motivation for the link up with India’s Spectrum Clinical Research.
The annual sales growth of the top 20 pharma companies will fall below two per cent over the next five years, according to Datamonitor, and the stimulus packages are predicted to offer little direct aid.
Ampac Flexibles has expanded its range of Flexi-Free overwrap packaging with the launch of its child resistant product, which can be customised by the client to meet their needs.
Phylogica is developing formulations of its Phylomer peptides using Aegis Therapeutics’ Intravail absorption enhancers, which enable transmucosal drug delivery.
Troubled Canadian contract manufacturing firm PharmEng International, faced with a serious cash flow crisis, has announced the departure of chief financial officer Brian Fielding and two other senior executives.
The past few days have seen a string of announcements from contract research organisations (CROs) which indicate that their appetite for international expansion and development remains unsated.
SAFC Biosciences has launched a service for clients undertaking CHO media screening optimisation projects, speeding up an aspect of the development process.
The new chairman of US trade body the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) – AstraZeneca CEO David Brennan – has laid out his vision for reforming the “broken” healthcare system.
Pfizer has outlined its post-Wyeth takeover operating structure, which it believes will ensure the mega-merger boosts R&D and create the “world's premier biopharmaceutical” company.
Researchers have developed a pH-responsive formulation that could be used to deliver a polyoxometalate (POM), which have broad spectrum anticancer and antiviral properties, to the colon.
Genentech has withdrawn its psoriasis drug Raptiva (efalizumab) from US shelves on continuing concerns about its link to the brain disease progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).
Biopharmaceuticals firm Shire will cease manufacture at its plant in Owings Mills, Maryland, US with the loss of 260 jobs in the latest stage of its plan to wind up the in-house production of small molecule drugs.
The FDA has provided a model for implementing the ICH Q10 quality control system in its final guidance, which is intended help manufacturers adapt processes throughout a product’s lifecycle.
The USP and Roszdravnadzor, a Russian public health body, are collaborating in an attempt to improve the standards of ingredients and finished products and reduce the availability of counterfeits.
Just weeks after expanding its relationship with AstraZeneca, Chinese CRO BioDuro has been asked by Swiss drug major Roche to help with its discovery phase R&D programme.
Companies are maintaining their spending on quality control measures despite the challenging operating environment, according to Matthew Kopecky, product manager at Sparta Systems.
US company CardioNet, which specialises in mobile cardiac monitoring devices, has made a foray into the contract research sector with a $14m offer to acquire cardiovascular research firm Biotel.
Clinical Data is to sell Cogenics division, which provides services including sequencing and gene expression, to Beckman Coulter’s Agencourt Biosciences' business for $17m.
MDRNA is selling its manufacturing business to US generics firm Par Pharmaceuticals in a bid to boost its coffers and complete its transformation into a purely RNAi focused organisation.
MRSA could be treated through a combination of an antimicrobial drug, a peptide and light, according to researchers who have hailed the treatment as a “magic bullet”.
Pfizer has become the first drugmaker to win accreditation for protecting the human rights of subjects enrolled into early-stage clinical trials under a scheme operated by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP).
PTI Packaging Systems chose this year's Interphex show to introduce its new unit dose, or "stick pack," production machine to the North American packaging sector.
Tom Beil, SAFC’s VP of Quality and Regulatory affairs, whose talk on fine chemicals supply was a highlight of last month's DCAT week, spoke with in-PharmaTechnologist about the benefits and risks of working with global suppliers.
OctoPlus has inked a deal with a European biotech that will see it evaluate the feasibility of a controlled release formulation using its proprietary drug delivery technology.
ReSearch Pharmaceutical Services has expanded its activities into the Asian market via the purchase of Chinese contract research organisation (CRO) Paramax International.
Contract research organisation PPD has boosted its compound partnering programme with the purchase of dermatology specialist Magen BioSciences, and divested its presclinical research subsidiary Pedmont Research Centre.
Piramal Healthcare is switching its UK API making operations to Morpeth, Nothumberland after a downturn in the Indian CMO’s international business cut capacity utilisation at its former base in Huddersfield to just 35 per cent.
Pfizer will pay an out of court settlement to resolve a long-running case alleging that it carried out an illegal trial of its meningitis drug Trovan (trovafloxacin) in Nigeria that resulted in the death of 11 children.
United Drug’s contract packaging business is expected to report a significant dip in profits but strong performance in the sales division helped push up its share price.
The use of intelligent sorbents to improve product stability can save companies six to 12 months of development and boost revenues, according to Adrian Possumato, global director at Multisorb.
Falling sales to hospitals are forcing Cardinal Health to cut 1,300 jobs from the clinical and medical products units that it plans to float under the CareFusion banner later this year.
The search for more convenient diabetes treatments continues, with Altea Therapeutics reaching a $46m agreement with Eli Lilly and Amylin to develop a transdermal patch administering Byetta.