PRA International has bought its first company in India - contract
research organisation (CRO) Sterling Synergy Systems - joining the
growing list of top CROs who have set up operations in this fertile
market.
Thermo Electron is set to become the biggest supplier of laboratory
equipment and services after it paid $10.6bn to acquire Fisher
Scientific International in a deal that extends Thermo's presence
in the life, laboratory and...
Cardinal Health has implemented a series of business reshuffles and
cost cutting measures in the hope of pulling itself out of poor
profitability after disappointing third quarter results.
Animal rights activists have continued their campaign of
intimidation after it was revealed the GlaxoSmithkline (GSK)
shareholders were sent letters demanding they sell any shares held
within the company.
A new genetic research method has revealed interesting insights
into drug metabolism, which could lead to a better understanding
drug selection and dosing regimens in humans.
The global smart packaging market will grow to $4.8bn (€3.8bn) in
2011 and reach $14.1bn in 2013, presenting big opportunities in the
pharma sector - the second largest growth market behind food and
beverage, according to a new report.
German chemicals giant BASF saw its profits surge in the first
quarter of 2006 on the back of high oil and gas prices, yet its
fine chemicals unit was hit by the increased cost of raw materials
and energy, making further price increases...
The US government has awarded five-year contracts totaling $1bn
(€780m) to five drug companies to develop and produce cell-based
vaccines to fight influenza, in preparation for a possible bird flu
pandemic.
A new initiative that could see the world's major pharmaceutical
and biotechnology companies team up with a major cancer
organisation to research and develop new anti-cancer drugs has been
unveiled.
The first all-in-one SERS toolkit designed for trace level
molecular analysis has debuted at Analytica, which provides
analytical chemists with an affordable, all-in-one solution for the
development of trace level analysis applications.
Biopharmaceuticals manufacturer Cobra will provide process
development and manufacturing of two HIV vaccine candidates for
evaluation in clinical trials under an agreement with the
International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and...
A new method being developed to deliver chemotherapy to cancer
patients without incurring side effects could also reduce patient
numbers who die from the effects of chemotherapy caused by the high
doses to tackle the cancer.
In its second acquisition in less than a month, Millipore has
acquired bioprocessing products firm Serologicals for around $1.4bn
(€1bn) in cash, as it tries to boost its growth by expanding in
potentially lucrative market segments.
Italian packaging and processing machinery company IMA Group has
booked more than 1,100 square metres of space at this year's
Achema, determined to push its products ranging from solid dose
processing to labelling and tube filling.
A large-scale process, which focuses on highly purified and high
viral titer vectors, may facilitate the fast track development of
Adenovirus and AAV-based recombinant DNA vaccines for diseases such
as the Avian Flu.
The world's first laser microtome was unveiled at the Analytica
show in Munich in a launch that heralds the use of superior laser
technology in the preparation and dissection of laboratory
materials.
An oral adhesive disc inserted in the cheek could provide a
breakthrough for pain sufferers as the technology does not require
removal upon completion of the drug delivery, having been designed
to disintegrate in the mouth leaving...
DataLase has launched a revolutionary new label replacement
solution that it claims will greatly improve the logistics of
secondary pharma packaging as well as slash costs.
CyBio presents its new liquid handling platform and pipetting
system at Analytica in Munich, which aims to meet customer needs in
drug discovery processes that require precision and accuracy when
handling fluid materials.
Scientists believe they have made a major breakthrough in a
potential cure for diabetes after animal experiments using a
combinatorial treatment approach reversed onset type 1 diabetes.
A new study holds much promise for a new approach to drug therapy
after researchers have revealed details of a mechanism that
actually modifies the effect of a major drug class.
Celesio has bought a 30 per cent stake in Pharmexx, the number two
contract sales organisation in Europe, in a bid to get a foothold
in this market segment and diversify its business.
US-based Nabi Biopharmaceuticals has secured an exclusive supply
and contract manufacturing deal with French-based vaccines giant
Sanofi Pasteur to streamline the production of its rabies vaccine.
Outsourcing-Pharma focus on: Phase IIIB-IV research
The US Food & Drug Administration's (FDA) drive to clear the
mounting backlog of post-marketing (Phase IV) drug trials signals
good news for the clinical research organisations (CROs) who are
poised to benefit.
PPD has announced it has signed an agreement with PDL BioPharma in
which the contract research organisation is to perform
comprehensive molecular profiling to discover biomarkers.
Researchers at Michigan State University have found that
second-generation taxols, which currently rely on assembly by
semisynthetic organic chemistry approaches, can be produced in a
cheap and environmentally friendly fashion using...
After failing to reverse falling sales at its Pharmaceutical Fine
Chemicals (PFC) division, Clariant has decided to sell the unit to
private equity firm Towerbrook for around SFr110m (€70m).
Bosch Packaging Technology will be launching new packaging and
processing technologies for pharmaceutical applications at Achema,
with products that cover pharmaceutical production, validation, and
packaging.
Leica Microsystems were active at the recent Analytica show in
Germany as it presented its microscopy and imaging system solutions
for research and industry.
Ferring has opened a new production plant in Switzerland as it
tries to cut costs by centralising its manufacturing network.
In-PharmaTechnologist.com visited the site to see how the drugmaker
is streamlining its supply chain.
Greiner Bio-One presents its cell culture AutoFlask at the
Analytica show, which uses a robot accessible entry septum that
prevents coring by pipette tips and ensures sterility of the flask
contents throughout solution exchanges.
Bruker BioSpin has launched the world's highest field actively
shielded NMR magnet at 950 MHz, which allows higher sensitivity and
unrivalled spectral dispersion whilst maintaining same size
cryostat and identical cryogenic performance...
Covance has made a major expansion in its US Phase I/IIa drug
development capabilities, buying eight early-phase clinical
development sites from Radiant Research, who now plans to focus on
its Phase II-IV business.
Perbio Science took the opportunity to provide a company update at
this year's Analytica show in Munich with details of new product
launches for drug discovery.
Outsourcing-Pharma focus on: Phase IIIB-IV research
The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating ways
of boosting the completion rate of new drug post marketing
commitment studies in the wake of ongoing controversy over the
agency's lack of enforcement. The answer,...
Ilypsa has completed the first stage of its novel phosphate-binding
agent designed to treat hyperphosphatemia, as the company plough
forward with its pioneering research into next-generation
nonabsorbed polymeric drugs for renal and...
Contract manufacturer Dalton has announced the completion of its
oligonucleotide (oligos) manufacturing facility, in a $500,000
(€400,000) investment drive to dominate pilot and large-scale DNA
and RNA oligo synthesis.
Speciality pharma company Bioprogress has launched new anti-snoring
and caffeine products based on its edible film drug delivery
technology, offering an effective alternative to conventional
formulations.
The UK's chemical industry has given a cautious welcome to the
government's national allocation plan (NAP) for Phase 2 of the EU
Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), warning pharma could see a rise in
the price of active pharmaceutical...
Drug giant Merck & Co has seen flat sales and a rise in
operating costs in the first quarter of 2006, as its restructuring
initiative, which contract manufacturers welcomed, takes its toll
on the company.
Surface technology firm CSMA has developed the only commercially
available way of seeing the differences between drug tablets of the
same composition that have been manufactured by two different
routes.
China-based Natural Pharmatech has formed its first research
contract with a Japanese company, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical -
another step forward in Natural Pharmatech's plans to bring its
botanical R&D services to the global...
The number of new drug submissions has halved since 1995, while at
the same time, pharma companies are spending three times as much
money on R&D - a hole this industry needs to dig itself out of,
and fast.
A deal has been finalised making MDS Pharma Services the preferred
contract research organization (CRO) of the Multiple Myeloma
Research Consortium (MMRC) in the US, with further opportunities in
Europe to follow.
Chronic diseases account for 70 per cent of the healthcare budget
in the UK alone. New drugs in unment chronic disease areas offer
real blockbuster potential for companies willing to take on the
challenge.
Bespak is now ramping up manufacturing of Chiesi Farmaceutici's new
dry powder inhaler (DPI), in preparation for clinical trials of the
device in patients with asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease).
Materials science firm Datalase has announced it has expanded its
UK facility, targeting the pharmaceutical industry by applying its
colour change technology in secondary packaging and on-product
tablet marking.
