Applied Biosystems (ABI) has started its early access program for
its next-generation DNA sequencing system, SOLiD, as well as
starting to take customer orders.
The apparent inability of current analytical techniques to fully
characterise complex biological drugs still stands in the way of
easy approval pathways for 'biogenerics' or copies of off-patent
brand name biologics.
In a bid to push manufacturers to reduce their greenhouse gas
emissions, the UK government last week unveiled a proposal that
could pave the way for "carbon footprint" labels on products.
Thermo Fisher Scientific has introduced a range of powerful new
mass spectroscopy products at the 55th ASMS Conference on Mass
Spectrometry currently being held in Indianapolis, US.
The European Commission has released figures showing that there has
been a dramatic and concerning increase in pharmaceutical
counterfeiting, with seizures in Europe hitting an all time high of
over 2.5m items.
Ineos Films is expanding capabilities at its flagship US plant to
try and grab a slice of the PVC blister film market from the
dominant figure Klockner.
ADInstruments has launched its Neuro Amp EX to improve neurological
data collection from animals and humans during drug candidate
testing by reducing noise and improving ease of use.
A fund to promote biotech collaborations between Australia and New
Zealand has awarded a lump sum to two Antipodean firms which will
result in a new good manufacturing practice (GMP) compliant peptide
manufacturing plant in the under-served...
Danish firm Novozymes has launched its first range of animal-free
recombinant cell culture ingredients from its new business unit in
the UK, offering biopharmaceutical firms an alternative to
traditional serum-based production methods.
The fine chemicals division of Japanese contract manufacturer Daiso
has taken out a license to a highly-selective technology used to
synthesise chiral molecules.
Biopharma firm Vivalis has announced several licence agreements for
its proprietary cell line technology, adding to the list of
companies applying the technology to develop and commercialise new
human influenza vaccines.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has
issued its first ever reference material to improve the performance
and reliability of proteomics research.
UK biotech firm Acambis has decided to bring the manufacturing of
its soon to be approved smallpox vaccine in-house while its
agreement with contract manufacturer Baxter comes to an end.
The latest Advances in Microarray Technology (AMT) conference, held
in conjunction with the Lab-on-a-Chip World Congress highlighted
the movement of the fields from the research lab into diagnostics.
Albany Molecular Research (AMRI) has followed up its push into new
markets for its drug discovery operations by tapping into the
well-established trend for sourcing contract pharmaceutical
manufacturing from the lower-cost Asian region.
Thailand is the first recipient of six major grants the World
Health Organization (WHO) is distributing to developing countries
to establish in-country manufacturing capacity for influenza
vaccine.
Canada-based Draxis Health has passed a US Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) inspection with flying colours after
contracting out its manufacturing services to two new clients.
Arrayjet's new Sprint benchtop inkjet microarray spotter promises
to allow researchers the ability to design and print their own
microarrays and array-based biosensors.
Thermo Fisher Scientific has released a series of modules for its
Nicolet 8700 FT-IR spectrometer to allow researchers to study fast
reaction processes, chiral molecules and molecular films.
A firm specialising in disposable equipment for the
biopharmaceutical industry has introduced a new revamped bioreactor
to its catalogue, dispensing with the traditional rocking and
rolling mechanisms used in many bioreactors.
The significance of the aborted deal between GlaxoSmithKline and
Cobra has been exaggerated due to GSK's high profile and is not the
end of the world, the British contract manufacturer said.
Advanced Research Technologies (ART) has launched a new imaging
system for studying molecular events in small living animals to
further our understanding of disease and treatment mechanisms.
Siemens is offering software support for the implementation of
Process Analytical Technology (PAT) in the pharmaceutical industry
with the launch of its Sipat package.
Swiss contract manufacturer Lonza has decided to merge its US
microbial biopharma business activities in a single location, three
months after buying Cambrex's biopharma unit.
Thermo Fisher Scientific and Sartorius have signed a supply
agreement continuing the relationship between Sartorius and
Thermo's recently acquired TC Tech.
US contract manufacturer Albemarle has announced it will move
operations of its pilot plant in Ohio to its recently acquired
manufacturing facility in Michigan.
Bacterially derived nanocells that can deliver chemotherapeutic
drugs directly to cancer cells without the shortcomings of
liposomal or viral carriers could be in clinical trials by the end
of this year, an Australian biotechnology...
Contract manufacturer Granules India is moving towards vertical
integration, with a new tabletting facility scheduled to come
onstream this August at the company's Gagillapur site near
Hyderabad in India.
US-based firm Goodwin Biotechnology said it is about to complete
the expansion of its biomanufacturing facility as the number of
contracts with biotech companies has jumped in the past two years.
After months of speculation and bartering following Merck KGaA's
decision to put its generics arm up for sale, the winning bid has
finally been announced, with US firm Mylan Laboratories emerging
victorious beating off the competition...
Lonza is betting on the growth of antibody-drug conjugates as the
way-of-the-future cancer treatments by moving to large scale
production of the emerging drug class by 2008.
Swiss-firm Biotool has released a new Bunsen burner, the LabFlame,
that features a safety control system as well as automatic ignition
and gas cut off.
As single-use technologies become more and more popular for use in
biopharmaceutical manufacturing, Pall is following market demands
bolstering its product line by adding a number of disposable
products to its portfolio.
Clariant has cut its ties with the life sciences industry and will
no longer offer custom manufacturing services in this arena after
the sale of the last piece of its Lifesciences division.
The ongoing intellectual property tussle between Pall and Entegris
continues with Pall claiming Entegris' Impact filter cartridge line
infringes four Pall patents.
An online database detailing information on all manufacturing and
importation certificates and authorisations issued within the
European medicines network has been launched by the European
Medicines Agency (EMEA).
Indian biopharmaceutical company Wockhardt Limited has continued
its push into Europe with the all-cash acquisition of France's
Negma Laboratories (Negma-Lerads) for $265m (€195.4m).
The Biologics division of UK company Avecia has launched pAVEway, a
new microbial system for producing high yields of a wide range of
therapeutically active protein, such as vaccines, cytokines and
growth factors.
Solvay Pharmaceuticals has sold two of its manufacturing facilities
that it no longer considers as core. The new owners will now act as
a contract manufacturer for Solvay, the company announced today.
VWR's parent company has signed a definitive agreement to sell the
world's second largest laboratory supplier after its recent period
of significant growth and profitability.
