The use of synthetic DNA formed into crosses can produce
biodegradable and inexpensive hydrogels that have applications in
the controlled release of drugs, new research indicates.
Sterling Biotech has emerged as the world's second largest gelatine
producer after making its first international foray to acquire the
gelatine manufacturing facility of Chinese firm China Gelatin.
Nastech Pharmaceutical Company has received a new $1.9m (€1.5m)
research grant from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) to
further develop its RNAi therapeutics to fight and prevent
bird-flu.
Novexel has announced it is to put forward its novel small molecule
antibiotic into Phase I clinical development representing a new
class of antibacterials to treat hospital-based infections caused
by gram positive pathogens.
Bang & Olufsen Medicom has unveiled a new disposal
breath-actuated inhaler which uses a reservoir technology that
reduces the daily cost of pulmonary drug delivery.
Eager to find a formulation that will give Pfizer's inhalation
device Exubera (insulin rDNA) a run for its money, Nastech is
initiating a Phase I study to compare Exubera to its insulin nasal
spray and to an approved injectable...
Europe's fine chemical suppliers cannot beat their Asian
competitors in their own game and must seek an advantage through
restructuring, innovation and specialisation in niche markets, a
new report by Frost & Sullivan advises.
Chinese researchers may have solved the problem of vaccine shortage
in the event of an avian influenza pandemic after a clinical trial
showed that their formulation containing the whole H5N1 virus
instead of virus particles resulted...
Wyeth has entered into a global agreement that allows it to use
Intracell's synthetic adjuvant IC31 in the formulation of five of
its investigational vaccines, aiming to simply mix it with antigens
without the need for conjugation.
Silicon-based micro-machined devices for the controlled delivery of
oral therapeutics, developed by Tejal Desai from the University of
California, have won first prize at the 2006 Eurand Award
Programme, impressing with their ability...
Britain's manufacturers of tailor-made non-licensed medicines are
working on establishing a unique supply agreement with major drug
firms that could serve as a model worldwide for the production of
drugs that meet the specialised...
Danish biopharmaceutical firm Bavarian Nordic has received approval
from Denmark's government to begin large-scale commercial
production of smallpox vaccine based on its Modified Vaccinia
Ankara (MVA) virus strain which demonstrates...
A new drug class for the treatment of cancer has been hailed as a
breakthrough by researchers in Denmark, who believe that patients
with advanced breast cancer could stand to gain the most benefit
from this new treatment.
Swiss drugmaker Novartis is celebrating the approval of Exjade in
the EU for the treatment of patients with transfusional iron
overload, hoping for a blockbuster as the drug offers an oral
single daily-dose alternative to cumbersome...
Researchers gathered in the south of France to discuss how the
pharmaceutical industry can embrace lipid-based drug delivery as a
viable alternative to traditional formulation approaches.
In an attempt to counter competition in generic active
pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) from Asian manufacturers, BASF
has decided to downscale production at its Minden production site,
implementing a restructuring programme that...
Drug giant Pfizer is claiming victory in defending the world's most
prescribed branded medicine for treating hypertension after a US
court ruled that Dutch drugmaker Synthon's generic copy of Norvasc
(amlodipine besylate)...
Researchers believe that the discovery of enzymes that play a key
role in building membranes of disease-causing bacteria has ended a
25-year mystery and paves the way for new drug development against
certain types of bacteria.
Scientists believe they have discovered a novel way in treating
people suffering from anthrax poisoning, which could overcome the
problem of antibiotic resistance that is becoming increasingly
common in southern and Eastern Europe...
In the first drug master file (DMF) approval of its kind, the US
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the sale of
metformin hydrochloride tablets which are produced by an Indian
company using a pharmaceutical formulation...
Canadian contract manufacturer Patheon has teamed up with specialty
pharmaceutical firm Depomed to offer its clients a controlled
release formulation which can grant their drugs increased
bioavailability and less frequent dosing.
Industrial enzyme maker Novozymes is seeking to strengthen its
presence in the biopharmaceutical market by offering to acquire
Australian biotechnology firm Gropep for AUD83.6m (€49.6m), eager
to become a supplier of recombinant ingredients...
Biopharmaceutical firm Altus has asked contract manufacturer Althea
to produce Phase III quantities of a crystallised formulation of
human growth hormone (hGH) which can be administered subcutaneously
weekly instead of daily.
Researchers have identified a protein that is thought to defend the
intestinal against microbial invaders offering new insights into
how the intestine fends off pathogens and potentially leading to
new inflammatory bowel disease medications.
Strong demand for anti-cancer cytotoxic active pharmaceutical
ingredients (APIs) has led Nicholas Piramal (NPIL) Pharma to
upgrade infrastructure and hire more staff at its high potency
substances (HPS) facility in Grangemouth.
Researchers have demonstrated the effectiveness of a new drug for
treating infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria
representing the first drug of its kind to be FDA approved in two
decades.
Generex has registered a new patent in the US that covers broad
claims for the delivery of macromolecules via the buccal cavity of
the mouth, further safeguarding its RapidMist drug delivery
technology which it uses to spray insulin...
Patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease are one step closer to
receiving Novartis's Exelon as a transdermal patch instead of a
capsule following an international clinical study which showed that
the new delivery method...
Newly-approved pearlescent pigments that can produce sparkly
metallic, satiny and shimmery finishes on drug coatings could be
used as one additional step in the fight against counterfeiting,
say its developers, EMD Chemicals - part...
Dendreon has finished the construction of its New Jersey
manufacturing facility which it will use to produce its
investigational active cellular immunotherapy for advanced prostate
cancer, hoping to be the first to bring it to patients.
Albany Molecular Research (AMRI) has announced a multi-year drug
substance manufacturing agreement with New River Pharmaceuticals,
as its attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medicine
looks set to hit the market.
Biogen has revealed details of a potential new pathway in
rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that could provide unique insights into
the disease process and eventually a new approach to developing RA
therapies.
Researchers have theorised that a peptide found in primates could
halt the HIV-1 virus from infecting blood cells. The discovery
could form the crux of an effective drug therapy, which may
overcome resistance exhibited by current...
While Lonza's biopharmaceutical business has taken off, tough
competition from cheap Asian competitors is eating away at its
exclusive synthesis business - meanwhile, the whole business is
being hit by rising raw material and...
When selecting a pharmaceutical formulation, the conventional
wisdom has been to manipulate a drug delivery platform to make it
compatible with a drug's properties, yet the opposite approach may
have several benefits if enough...
The excipients used in a protein formulation and the method of
production can impact not just the physical and chemical stability
of biologics but also their in vitro and in vivo
performance, cautions Durect's executive director...
In their hunt for DNA that is amplified in cancers, researchers
have discovered a new cancer-promoting role for a gene that has
been shown to transform mammary epithelial cells into cancerous
ones.
Pharmaceutical excipients can have a profound impact on the release
profile of drugs, driving fine chemical companies to raise their
game since they realise their clients see excipients as more than
inactive ingredients.
Nanogen and Fisher Scientific have announced an expansion to their
relationship to include a research and development collaboration in
molecular diagnostics. The collaboration agreement complements
Fisher's equity investment...
Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) has invested $100m to expand its
manufacturing plant in Singapore, bringing the drug giant's
investment in this budding region to over S$1bn (€0.5bn).
CHDI and Edison Pharmaceuticals have entered into alliance that
looks to develop effective therapeutics in targeting Huntingdon's
disease - a disorder that currently has no way to stop or reverse
the its progression.
Even with the most advanced analytical equipment, elucidating the
complete conformational characteristics of proteins still
represents mission impossible, often making their formulation
problematic, yet there are always ways to improve...
Researchers have taken a special interest in mechanisms they have
identified as an explanation for the causes of Parkinson's disease,
which they say, may facilitate research aimed at finding novel
medical treatments and other...
The insulin market is set to explode over the next five years as
uptake of insulin therapy is likely to increase with sufferers
benefiting from heightened awareness and knowledge as well as the
influx of affordable, innovative product...
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) said it has developed a vaccine against the
H5N1 bird flu strain that can trigger an immune response at a much
lower dose than other vaccines in development.
Aegis Therapeutics has unveiled a new formulation technology
employing non-toxic excipients that maintain the physical stability
and physiological activity of protein and peptide therapeutics
while reducing immunogenicity.
In a controversial move, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
has given the final nod of approval to pharma companies who want to
add colourful pearlescent pigments to their drugs to give them that
"special something."
UK and Chinese R&D firms are this week being urged to band
together to develop alternatives to the practice of using
endangered animal parts to feed the vast traditional Chinese
medicine industry.