An Israeli drug delivery firm is developing a new vaginal drug
delivery system, making use of bio-adhesive foams to offer a more
convenient and effective treatment option for women with
gynaecological complaints.
A novel technology set to overcome the challenges of the blood
brain barrier is being developed in a bid to open the gates to
previously unusable compounds for the treatment of central nervous
system (CNS) disorders.
US researchers have developed a microfluidic device for purifying
and concentrating DNA directly from blood samples that could speed
up the use of genomics in clinical trials.
A new generation of therapeutic protein products has entered the
biopharma scene and are proving more efficient than antibodies when
using the same drug delivery systems.
A new fluorescent chemical sensor can detect citric acid at low
concentrations more rapidly and cheaply than current optical
sensors, its developer claims.
Indian pharmaceutical manufacturing company Shasun Chemicals and
Drugs has now got its eye fully on the US market after recent
approval of its new formulation facility in Puducherry.
Indian contract manufacturing organisation (CMO) Dishman
Pharmaceuticals has announced its plans to buy Solvay
Pharmaceuticals' fine chemicals and vitamin businesses for an
undisclosed sum.
AstraZeneca is planning to gradually withdraw from making its own
active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and will use China as the
pinnacle of its new outsourcing plans.
Aussie drug delivery firm Acrux has reported positive results from
trials of its novel transdermal spray, tested for the first time
with a combination contraceptive formulation.
Italian firm Cosmo Pharmaceuticals has announced positive
preliminary results from trials testing out a new formulation of an
antibioticfor traveller's diarrhoea that makes use of the
company's innovative MMX technology.
A novel antifungal treatment developed by French firm BioAlliance
has attracted a US partner, bringing $65m (€48m) to the company
only months after announcing a multi-million deal in Europe.
A new and improved extended-release treatment for schizophrenia has
been granted marketing authorisation by the European
Commission. Invega (paliperidone) is a once-daily formulation
that will be marketed by J&J subsidiary, Janssen-Cilag.
Procter & Gamble (P&G) has announced its intention to
outsource the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) R&D and
manufacturing work undertaken at one of its US factories, with
resultant closure of the site and job losses.
Orphan drug Soliris (eculizumab) has been approved by the European
Commission and marks the first therapy for a rare and
life-threatening blood disease.
SkyePharma's novel controlled-release sleep therapeutic has been
licensed by Somnus Therapeutics in an exclusive worldwide
development and commercialisation deal.
With a number of companies competing in the race to develop the
first oral treatment option for multiple sclerosis, UCB and Biogen
Idec's oral version of the infamous Tysabri has entered Phase II
trials.
Eli Lilly's once-daily version of its erectile dysfunction
treatment Cialis (tadalafil) has been granted approval by the
European Commission, giving it a head-start over other ED
treatments that are taken on an as-required basis.
Bioxel Pharma is the latest company to submit a Drug Master File
(DMF) to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for docetaxel in
the lead up to the patent expiring on Sanofi-Aventis' version of
the cytotoxic chemical at the...
Genzyme has put pen to paper on a licensing deal for Ceregene's
Parkinson's drug, as a rival gene therapy for the same disease
shows promise in initial clinical trials.
Shire Pharmaceuticals has acquired exclusive development rights to
a new transdermal patch product for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD), adding a further novel product to its ADHD
portfolio.
Novartis' has received US approval for its single-tablet
combination of the world's two most popular hypertension drugs,
taking advantage of rival patent expiries and shoring up its
portfolio.
A novel super adjuvant is to be put to the test as a new seasonal
flu vaccine enters Phase I trials, and is expected to offer
enhanced immunity and broader protection than other vaccines on the
market.
Patheon is teaming up with formulation development services firm
Senopsys to offer pharma companies combined services to test and
improve drug flavour.
In a bid to maintain its position in the human growth hormone (hGH)
market and offer new solutions to patients, Merck-Serono has teamed
up with a US firm to develop a novel growth hormone product that
could offer significant dosing...
Cosmo Pharmaceuticals is cementing its place in the inflammatory
bowel disease (IBD) drug market with eight new drugs in various
stages of reformulation using the company's cutting-edge MMX
technology, the company announced recently.
Dutch ingredients firm DSM has announced plans to carve out its
anti-infectives business and boost its presence in Asian markets
following a review of the active ingredient unit.
Researchers have developed a new way to deliver drugs into the
brains of mice, which could herald a new dawn for the sufferers of
brain diseases such as Alzheimer's.
Several major manufacturers have pledged millions of doses of H5N1
vaccine to go towards a global stockpiling scheme initiated by the
World Health Organization to protect against the threat of an avian
flu pandemic.
German researchers have developed a microfluidic device that
greatly increases the efficiency of measuring the melting
temperature of DNA double strands.
Solvay today announced plans to increase production of ultra-pure
soda ash at it Dombasle, France, site to meet the growing demand in
the pharmaceutical industry.
Critical Therapeutics is developing a new injectable formulation
for the treatment of asthma, and is the latest company to use
Captisol technology to achieve it.
Lonza is building a new plant in its home country to become the
only contract manufacturer with large-scale capacity for making
highly potent active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).
JRS Pharma has entered into a collaboration with US firm CoreRX to
develop co-processed active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) using
JRS's high functionality excipient technology, Prosolv
Schering-Plough and Kurve Technology have signed a new agreement
involving Kurve's nasal drug delivery device, which follows on the
heals of a partnership formed between the two companies last year.
Histological evidence of tumour destruction has confirmed the
promise of Epeius Biotechnologies' Rexin-G as an effective targeted
gene therapy platform for metastatic cancer.
Ipsen has cancelled its Phase III trial of its sustained-release
formulation of triptorelin while it attempts to fine-tune the
manufacturing process of the hormone therapy drug.
The first ever non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) to be
delivered via the nose has been developed, and its makers are
heralding it as "an important breakthrough in treating
pain".
A joint effort to develop a winning oral formulation for the
treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) has taken another step towards
the finish line with initiation of Phase III trials for the novel
laquinimod compound.
An Italian firm specialising in novel drug delivery technologies is
due to receive a lump sum of €1m following the successful
development of a new formulation of a GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) drug.
Scientists have successfully used ribozymes - considered by some to
be the 'living fossils' of a time when life was based on RNA - to
prevent the spread of HIV in the body.
Just weeks after announcing intentions to snap up biologics firm
MedImmune, AstraZeneca has acquired DSM's old biologics
manufacturing facility in Montreal, Canada, a site that's been
gathering dust since it was mothballed...
DeltaDOT has been given a government grant to commercially develop
a new tool to allow researchers to reduce dramatically the time it
takes to weed out unsuitable drug candidates.
Germany's Capsulution Nanoscience is tapping into Qiagen's
molecular diagnostics expertise in a collaboration that will
explore new diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities for cancer and
other diseases.
