The UK suspension preventing Chiron's export of Fluvirin took
another twist yesterday after the biotech company became the
subject of a US federal investigation over its reporting of the
problems with the flu vaccine.
Software manufacturers The Wercs has announced the launch of an
automated approval process module to streamline formal chemical
requests and approvals for manufacturers using and storing
chemicals.
A new study has shown that near-infrared sprectroscopy (NIR) can be
used to check the active pharmaceutical ingredient content of
tablets - even if they are present in very low quantities -
supporting its use in process analytical...
GEA, a subsidiary of mg technologies, today announced that it has
acquired the business of Messo-Chemietechnik, which specialises in
crystallisation technologies for the biotechnology, pharmachem and
food industries.
UK optical recognition company Absolute Vision - a pioneer in the
use of two-dimensional data matrix codes used in laboratories - has
set up a new brand which signals a decision to ramp up its in-house
marketing efforts.
The US Food and Drug Administration has published its long-awaiting
guidance on process analytical technology (PAT), aimed at
encouraging its use and raise the standard of manufacturing in the
pharmaceutical industry.
Scientists have reworked the mechanism of how enzymes work, forcing
the pharmaceutical industry to rethink its views on the design of
biological catalysts and new drugs.
From the 1st January 2005, industrial carbon dioxide (CO2)
emissions will come under regulation through the introduction of
the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS).
Chiron has had to cease production at a UK plant making influenza
vaccines, exacerbating an existing shortage of the jab ahead of
this year's flu season.
Cancer treatment to kill tumours could be made more effective by a
revolutionary approach to angiogenesis which takes the unusual
approach of opening up the tumour blood supply allowing better
access for cancer drugs and more effective...
Drug maker Samaritan Pharmaceuticals, has entered into a
collaboration with Pharmaplaz to produce and supply Samiritan's
lead compound and pipeline of drugs that includes treatments for
AIDS, Alzheimer's, cancer and cardiovascular...
Germany's BASF has entered into a collaboration with Solvias of
Switzerland that will see the two companies combine their expertise
in the development and manufacture of chiral intermediates for the
life science industry.
What happens to medicines after their work is done, and they end up
in the wastewater stream? This remains a big unanswered question
that needs to be answered to gauge the impact of drugs on the
environment, according to presentations...
Bayer has boosted its presence in the developing microtechnology
market with the acquisition of Ehrfeld Mikrotechnik, a specialist
in the manufacture of tiny reactors for chemical processes.
Filtration separation specialist Pall has introduced a new filter
technology that improves the effectiveness of bioburden reduction
in pharmaceutical production and cuts costs.
In the UK, The Health Protection Agency is planning to revamp the
Food, Dairy, Water and Environmental (FDWE) laboratory service
network from this November to deal with new outbreaks and
emergencies.
France-based ProSim has introduced a comprehensive database of the
thermo-physicial properties of close to 2,000 pure compounds that
should be valuable for researchers working in process simulation.
The US subsidiary of Germany's Dr Hielscher has introduced a new
ultrasound device for the formation of aerosols that could have a
role in sample processing and quality control.
Dutch biotech firm Qiagen has announced the acquisition of key
assets of Molecular Staging (MSI), which includes the Whole Genome
Amplification (WGA) technology, designed to eliminate limitations
created by scarce quantities of DNA...
Austrian company Inte:Ligand, which specializes in the development
of new drugs by computer simulation has launched a new software
package for modern drug design, which will provide pharma companies
with a tool to speed up the entire...
Denmark's DakoCytomation has started shipping a new flow cytometry
instrument for use in the analysis of cells in disease research
that is smaller than any other product in the class, and is claimed
to be the fastest system on...
Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center, using GE
Healthcare's CodeLink microarrays, have identified key changes in
gene expression that provide an improved understanding of the
malfunction and death of the...
In contrast to conventional wisdom, stirring a mix of granular
ingredients faster or longer in the manufacturing of
pharmaceuticals is not the key to getting a smooth blend.
Curvaceous Software will showcase its recently launched process
analytical technology (PAT) package at next week's World Pharma IT
congress in London, UK.
An experimental drug that block signals promoting uncontrolled
growth of blood cells, characteristic of Myeloproliferative Disease
(MPD) reported improvement in a sufferer's symptoms raising the
possibility of an effective cancer...
Solvay subsidiary Peptisyntha is boosting its capacity to make
peptides at its facilities in California, US, in anticipation of
increasing numbers of drugs in this class coming through to market.
Kyowa Hakko Kogyo has developed a new process for manufacturing
amino acid dimers - also known as di-peptides - that could increase
their use as components in infusions and enteral nutrition
products.
Freeman Technology is gearing up to launch the first in a new range
of accessories for its FT4 powder rheometer that are designed to
bring it into the age of industrial automation.
Drug major Roche has licensed a technology developed by Glycart
Biotechnology that makes antibody-based drugs more effective by
making them resemble natural human antibodies more closely.
Rhodia Pharma Solutions is reducing the workforce at its Dudley
site in the UK by up to 85 jobs in a continuing shake-up of the
company's custom manufacturing and intermediates business.
Hoerbiger-Origa of Germany, which specialises in automation systems
of industrial applications, has launched a new modular belt-driven
linear actuator for heavy-duty applications that will compete with
rack and pinion drives.
Agilent has released a new module for its ChemStation Plus CDS
(chromatography data plus) software that falls into compliance with
internationally agreed guidelines on short- and long-term stability
studies.
The first molecular-scale images of DNA binding to an adenovirus
enzyme, a crucial step for a virus to cause infection, have been
produced, which shows how binding to DNA may stimulate the enzyme,
aiding to the design of new antiviral...
Japan's Showa Denko says it has developed a new catalyst for
synthesising alpha-tetralone, an important intermediate in the
production of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, which could reduce
wastage.
Researchers in the UK and US have made a breakthrough by using
supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) as a reaction medium for the
preparation of molecules of interest to the pharmaceutical
industry. The result could be cleaner, greener...
Analytical instruments company Thermo Electron has completed the
acquisition of InnaPhase, a supplier of Laboratory Information
Management Systems (LIMS) for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology
markets, for approximately $65 million...
A newly-organised conference on building sustainability into
processing industries - focusing on improving environmental
performance without raising costs - will take place next year in
Delft, the Netherlands.
Proliant Biologicals has launched a new cell culture medium that
can be used for the production of monoclonal antibodies and other
proteins but is claimed to be more economical than a rival product.
Lloyd's Register Serentec has formed a new practice group to
provide process analytical technology (PAT) services to
pharmaceutical manufacturing clients worldwide.
Separation and filtration specialist Millipore has launched an
automated system for the rapid detection, response and resolution
of microbial contamination in manufacturing processes.
ELGA Process Water has announced a new addition to its ORION range
of packaged water purification systems for pharmaceutical and
cosmetics manufacturing, healthcare and biotechnology
Purification and filtration systems manufacturer Pall has reported
flat fiscal fourth-quarter earnings that missed analysts'
expectations, although group sales grew by 7 per cent to $504.5
million (€418m).
Scientists behind a three-year EU-funded project to create a remote
monitoring system for production machinery claims that the
technology is ready to be put into practice.
BASF says it has entered into a multi-million pound management
buyout deal for its specialist pharmaceutical ingredients
manufacturing business at Cramlington in Northumberland, UK.
BiODE has launched a new viscometer that can carry out
instantaneous sample and/or continuous in-process viscosity
measurements - all in real time - for process control in the
pharmaceutical and other industries.
Unichem Laboratories of India, a major supplier of active
pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and finished pharmaceuticals in
the country, has entered into an alliance that could see it
supplying generics into the US market.
As of next year, electronics manufacturers in Europe will be
required to take back and partially recycle old equipment.
Beginning in 2006, electronics must be completely lead-free. An
industry conference starting in Berlin, Germany...
Affymetrix, a specialist in chip-based laboratory tools, has
launched what it claims is the world's first microarray instrument
system for clinical diagnostics.
Germany's Vivascience has expanded its product range for
researchers working in the area of proteomics. In addition to its
existing products for 2D-PAGE (two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel
electrophoresis) sample preparation,...