Emerson Process Management has formed an alliance with GE
Healthcare aimed at providing faster, simpler and more
cost-efficient solutions for protein purification - the most
critical operation in manufacturing of biotech medicines.
Agilent Technologies has launched what it claims is the industry's
first fully automated, high-throughput 'lab-on-a-chip system' for
basic life science research and drug discovery. The Agilent 5100
Automated provides...
Researchers have used engineered stem cells to zero in on tumours
to become part of the supporting tissue. They can then act as
vehicles for drugs that are pumped into the cancer, sparing normal
tissue.
Dow Chemical has renewed a collaboration with the University of
Texas at Austin (UT Austin) in the US aimed at developing a new
technology to improve the solubility and bioavailability of
candidate drugs.
The budget committee of Italy's Lower House of Parliament has
approved a plan by the opposition to require the national medicines
agency, the AIFA, to draw up a method of establishing 'optimal'
packaging for drugs to...
According to a report, it takes 7-10 years to develop and market a
drug with costs exceeding $800 million (€625 million). This
revelation is set to add to the pressure already facing
pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies which...
The shrink sleeve label is a staple of the food and beverage
industry, but has not been widely adopted for pharmaceutical use.
However, this could change as the technology has child-resistance
properties that could be of value in...
MatriCal has introduced its SonicMan sonication system to the
European compound management market with versions that can handle
384- as well as 96-well microwell plate formats.
A one-dose, microsphere formulation of azithromycin is as effective
as several days' treatment with other drugs for respiratory tract
infections (RTIs), according to new clinical data.
Singapore-based biologics contract manufacturer, A-Bio Pharma has
won its first contract after entering into a process development
and clinical supply service agreement with GlaxoSmithKline's
vaccine division, GlaxoSmithKline...
UK company MicroScience has completed a Phase I study of a new
therapeutic vaccine for patients carrying the hepatitis B virus,
raising the hope of a new approach to tackling this
life-threatening infection.
US drug giant Pfizer, has signed a license agreement to market a
specific class of non-hormonal drugs to treat the hot flushes
associated with menopause. The new drug,currently in development,
is set to become the first of its kind...
A recent exhibitions on anti-infectives means that antibiotics and
other drugs for other infectious diseases feature strongly in
DrugResearcher's periodic round-up of new compounds entering the
clinic.
Charles River Laboratories third quarterly performance in the third
quarter of 2004 reflected the current market climate for products
and services that support the drug discovery and development
process, with notable increases in...
Emulsions are widely used in the formulation of pharmaceuticals,
cosmetics and foods, and researchers are continually striving to
increase the complexity of emulsions as a delivery vehicle.
European companies have announced hefty spending on new
manufacturing facilities this month, suggesting that despite a
difficult operating environment the pharmaceutical sector is still
prepared to make significant capital investments
Animas has entered into a license and development agreement with
Debiotech, which aims to develop the next generation of insulin
pumps and micro needles using Debiotech's Micro Electromechanical
Systems (MEMS) microfluidic technology.
A team at Purdue University in the US is developing a virtual 'data
cave' for scientific discovery that uses high-performance computing
and artificial intelligence software to display information and
interact with researchers.
A new therapeutic technique based on a small molecule working in
tandem with a larger protein has been shown to block accumulation
of the brain-clogging amyloid protein seen in Alzheimer's disease,
raising the possibility of...
Cambrex has recorded a loss in the third quarter of this year after
writing down goodwill in its biopharma division in a move that
paints a pessimistic picture of the market for outsourced
manufacturing of biological drugs.
Invitrogen, which supplies reagents, services and software for the
life science market, has continued its acquisitive streak with the
announcement that it is paying $35 million (€27.5m) for a UK firm -
DNA Research Innovations - specialising...
Qiagen has launched the world's first automated sample preparation
system for viral nucleic acids to aid molecular diagnostics that
conforms to a European Union Directive on in vitro diagnostic
medical devices.
Accelrys has reported a decrease in revenue in the second quarter
of the year. Revenues were slightly down but the company saw a
substantial increase in net loss for this year, which it attributed
to 'change in revenue recognition.'
Bruker Daltonics, has launched a new MALDI-TOF and TOF mass
spectrometer that offers improved sensitivity, resolution and mass
accuracy of TOF/TOF systems for expression proteomics, quantitative
proteomics and biomarker discovery.
Pharmasset of the US could receive funding of $168 million
(€131.8m) in upfront and milestone payments - with the prospect of
receiving more - after licensing its preclinical hepatitis C drug
programme to Swiss drug giant Roche.
Bristol-Myers Squibb has announced the sudden death of James
Palmer, aged 51, the firm's chief scientific officer and
president of the Pharmaceutical Research Institute. His death
occurred after undergoing surgery. Elliot Sigal,...
German contract development and manufacturing company Girindus has
installed a microwave system at its plant in the US, reflecting a
growing trend in the sector to use microwaves to improve reaction
yields.
In the wake of the expansion of the European Union with 10
additional states, attention has been fixed on the development of
the pharmaceutical industry in these and other Eastern European
states. In-Pharmatechnologist.com provides...
A report by the UK's Health and Safety Executive has concluded that
the safety of the tiny particles created by the emerging
nanotechnology industry has not been fully assessed.
Mettler Toledo introduce a set of weighing modules which precision
and speed make it ideal for a variety of industrial applications,
including the chemical and pharmaceutical industry.
Bioalliance Pharma, a pharmaceutical company focused on the field
of drug resistance, revealed results of a study that indicated a
new formulation of miconazole administered as a bioadhesive
extended release buccal tablet was more...
Researchers have identified a protein that protects the brain from
the destructive effects of Alzheimer's disease, protecting brain
cells by blocking another toxic protein that contributes to the
disease process
Cardinal Health reported its long-delayed fourth-quarter financial
results yesterday, revealing a hike in profit and revenues for the
three months to end June, but lowered guidance for the first half
of this fiscal year.
US company Sontra Medical has successfully completed the first
tests of a novel technology that allows vaccines to be applied
topically to the skin, rather than delivered through a needle.
Preliminary data suggest the method is as...
A report focusing on the pharmaceutical and biotechnology markets
in Europe has singled out high throughput screening (HTS) as an
approach that will provide mechanistic insights and new drug leads
with improved efficiency whilst reducing...
Loma Systems unveil a new entry-level X-ray inspection unit suited
for smaller products at a price that allows packagers to enter the
market, with the technology available at a 50 per cent price
reduction over traditional X-ray units.
Germany's MWG Biotech has said it will slash nearly two thirds of
its workforce in a further effort to reduce costs, prompting
speculation about the long-term future of the company in its
present state.
More than half of pharmaceuticals outsourced at least 20 per cent
of their ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and
toxicology) studies in 2003, according to a new market research
report looking at outsourcing in...
OctoPlus, a drug delivery and development company, and InnoCore
Technologies, a supplier of biodegradable polymeric drug delivery
systems, announced a joint collaboration to develop and market a
novel injectable drug delivery platform.
A pilot study organised by Accenture to explore the value of
implementing radiofrequency identification (RFID) and electronic
product code (EPC) technology in the pharmaceutical industry has
concluded that there are numerous benefits.
Researchers in the UK have developed a tabletop DNA test laboratory
that can cut the diagnosis of disease and infection from hours to
30 minutes. This new test laboratory will soon begin trials in UK
hospitals.
Cambrex has signed an exclusive license agreement that allows
access to two novel, quantitative assay technologies for the
detection of contaminants such as pathogens in drugs.
In-Pharmatechnologist.com recently reported on the opening of a new
biomanufacturing facility and laboratory by France's Lemnagene, a
new company specialising in the production of recombinant proteins
in duckweed. But why is...
US life science company Serologicals' decision to enter into a
€167.6 million merger with cell signalling specialist Upstate looks
to have been the right one as its third quarter performance
indicates its increasing presence...
US target discovery company Psychiatric Genomics has shed new light
on the mechanisms behind schizophrenia, pointing to a possible new
cellular target that does not rely on modulating the levels of
neurotransmitters in the brain.
Regen Therapeutics (ReGen) announced it had entered into an
agreement to acquire Guildford Clinical Pharmacology Unit Limited
(GCPUL) confirming its strategy to develop its medical service
revenue generating business and developing...
BioProgress, a developer of film strips and cellulose-based
capsules for drug and vitamin delivery, is increasing its
international presence, signing its first agreement for a line of
products for the Chinese market.
