In an exclusive Q&A, nanoparticle pioneer Kathryn Whitehead wishes industry would invest more in delivery vehicles and predicts Alnylam will be first to commercialise an siRNA therapeutic.
Innovate Pharmaceuticals has launched what it claims is the world’s first shelf-stable liquid aspirin, and says it is on the look-out for a licensing partner for the “$500m” market.
Blocking the neuropeptides that regulate arousal and appetite could lead to a treatment for cocaine addiction, says Heptares which has received an NIH development grant.
Midatech’s gold nanoparticle (GNP) drug conjugate technology and recent acquisitions are helping transfer the firm into a speciality pharma company, an analyst says.
AstraZeneca has licensed Starpharma’s Dendrimer Drug Delivery (DEP) platform to enhance the pharmaceutical properties in candidates in its oncology pipeline.
GLP-1 drugs and oral formulations will not diminish demand for insulin patch-pumps says CeQur, which has raised $100m (€89m) to support production of its PaQ delivery device.
Sanofi wants to expand its inhalable drug production site in Cheshire, UK to increase capacity for both its own brand drug production operations and its contract manufacturing business.
Bristol-Myers Squibb has acquired the rights to buy immunotherapy firm Promedior and could pay up to $1.25bn (€1.1bn) depending on the clinical development of its lead fibrosis product PRM-151.
Novo Nordisk could spend up to $2bn (€1.8bn) on two facilities to support its diabetes portfolio, including an oral long-acting GLP-1 analogue set to enter Phase III trials.
Pharma firms developing inhalable drugs often fail to test that their formulations are compatible with their intended delivery devices early enough according to the Intertek team behind research stressing the benefits of early assessment.
A drug delivery platform which increased the bioavailability of a cannabis-based drug candidate 30% could be used to boost solubility of other APIs, says Echo Pharmaceuticals.
The €3m Afrezza has contributed to Sanofi’s revenues since launch is unlikely to subdue growing concerns from commentators surrounding its partner MannKind which developed the inhalable insulin.
Attaching PEG-chains to biological molecules can increase bioavailability and speed up development of protein-based therapies and biosimilars, says EMD Millipore which has inked a deal with PEGylation firm celares.
Capsugel is doubling the size of a facility in Scotland to support demand for the encapsulating of drugs containing high-potency active pharmaceutical ingredients (HPAPIs).
Demand for West’s wearable injector - which uses the recently-approved Crystal Zenith delivery system - has led to the expansion of a facility in Arizona.
NASA has used a remote control plane and a fleet of drones to deliver drugs in an approach that could help pharma firms get medicines to patients in hard to reach locations.
Celgene has shelled out $7.2bn (€6.6bn) to acquire Receptos which is developing an oral lymphocyte trafficking agent for multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disorder.
Pfizer’s Exubera may have muddied the waters but MannKind is confident a marketing push can help its inhaled insulin product Afrezza succeed after disappointing early sales.
Biocorp has raised €8.9m ($9.8m) through an IPO during what it called a period of “deep macroeconomic uncertainty” and has underlined plans to grow its drug delivery tech business internationally.
Novo Nordisk has ended a development partnership using Zosana Pharma’s microneedle patch system with its GLP-1 analogue semaglutide, currently being investigated in an oral formulation.
Capsugel has pledged to continue investing internally in drug delivery R&D after completing construction of a spray-dried dispersion (SDD) commercial manufacturing site in Oregon.
Juniper Pharma Services has won a contract to manufacture ‘sono-sensitive particles’ used to aid delivery of cancer drugs into solid tumours for OxSonics.
Generic juggernaut Teva Pharmaceuticals has partnered with Microchips Biotech to use its implantable drug delivery device to improve outcomes for patients on chronic drug therapies.
Allergan is set to acquire Kythera Biopharmaceuticals for $2.1bn (€1.9bn) and add the recently approved injectable ‘double-chin’ drug Kybella to its facial aesthetics portfolio.
Ongoing research on two new drug delivery systems could help clinicians more accurately understand how certain tumors react to different treatments, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.
A capsule inspired by the porous structure of seashells has been developed to protect drugs from extreme temperatures and could be used in controlled delivery.
