US generic company Alpharma has turned to an Indian company to
supply its finished products and active pharmaceutical ingredients,
saying that this could cut its costs in half, reports Phil
Taylor.
UK dosage form specialist BioProgress gave the first insight into
its much-anticipated strategic review yesterday, just over a month
after the departure of former CEO Graham Hind, reports Phil
Taylor.
Singapore contract biologics manufacturer A-Bio has added another
top pharmaceutical company to its list of customers, just over 18
months after starting operations, reports Phil Taylor.
The European Union is to part-finance the creation of a European
Theoretical Spectroscopy Facility (ETSF) to advance collaboration
across the continent in the field of nanotechnology, reports
Phil Taylor.
NanoLogix unveils its DNA extraction system for the molecular
diagnostics market, which is said to take significantly less time
than standard spin column extraction methods.
Drug delivery specialist SCOLR Pharma has started pilot testing in
Canada of a formulation of the osteoporosis drug raloxifene that
promises to improve the absorption of the drug and, potentially,
hike its efficacy, reports Phil Taylor.
A delivery technology that could allow vaccines to be administered
intranasally and does not require refrigeration has passed its
first clinical hurdle, reports Phil Taylor.
Norbrook Laboratories of Northern Ireland has acquired two
anaesthetic product lines and a production facility from Czech
company Synthesia, part of the Aliachem group, reports Phil
Taylor.
An antifungal product in development at France's BioAlliance Pharma
has been shown to treat a yeast infection in the mouth with similar
efficacy but 10 times less drug than its nearest competitor,
reports Phil Taylor.
Scientists have reported that a molecule previously thought to play
a purely structural and inert role in cells may play a key role in
bringing about multidrug resistance in cancer.
US researchers have developed the first animal model that clearly
defines cancer metastasises in all the same places that human
pancreatic cancer spreads to such as the liver, lungs, diaphragm,
and adrenal glands.
A new understanding of specialised gut hormones may lead to
advances in the treatment and management of type 2 diabetes,
offering patients a viable option in controlling fluctuating blood
glucose levels that is characteristic of the...
A single injection could replace implants for some drugs that
require continuous administration, according to preliminary
experiments with a novel drug delivery technology, reports Phil
Taylor.
Engineers in the US have found a way to modify a plastic so that it
can anchor molecules that promote nerve regeneration, blood vessel
growth or other biological processes.
Fonterra subsidiary Lactose New Zealand will supply GlaxoSmithKline
with half its global requirement for inhalation-grade lactose from
a newly opened plant, reports Phil Taylor.
According to a latest study, which revealed the presence of a
unique genetic biomarker, the quality of life for patients
undergoing treatment for colorectal cancer may be significantly
improved, potentially minimising the unwanted...
Croatian pharmaceutical company Pliva has decided to opt out of the
proprietary medicines business and refocus its business on the
generics and active pharmaceutical ingredients sectors, reports
Phil Taylor.
DSM is to close down production of bulk vitamin C in the US and cut
costs at its plant in Dalry, Scotland, as part of a series of
measures to ease pressure on its vitamin business, reports
Dominique Patton.
US firm Codexis and Shasun Chemicals and Drugs of India have signed
a manufacturing and supply agreement for a pharmaceutical
intermediate for a generic drug.
Researchers in the US have developed a way to make large,
protein-based drugs suitable for oral rather than injectable
delivery by fusing them with a carrier molecule, reports Phil
Taylor.
French chemicals company Rhodia, already facing two separate
investigations for alleged accounting irregularities and insider
trading, has become embroiled in further legal fights just as it
starts to lift itself out of financial...
Medarex has announced the initiation of a phase I clinical trial of
its human monoclonal antibody for the treatment of ulcerative
colitis after the FDA granted the company an Investigational New
Drug (IND) application.
Roquette has introduced pyrogen-free versions of its sodium lactate
and sodium gluconate products for applications in the
pharmaceuticals industry, reports Phil Taylor.
US researchers think they have found promising new molecular
targets and treatment approaches for malignant brain tumours,
suggesting a new therapy for anti-cancer drugs.
A new laboratory technique used by fruit fly geneticists for more
than a decade is now available to scientists studying genes and
diseases in mice. This technique offers a powerful new tool to
study genetics, particularly in disease.
Italy's fine chemicals industry organisation, Afaquim, is
organising a conference in September aimed at coordinating the
efforts of European active pharmaceutical ingredient (API)
suppliers in the face of increasing competition...
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries' active pharmaceutical ingredients
(API) business is on track to become a $1 billion enterprise this
year, although growth in the first quarter of this year was almost
entirely from in-house sales,...
Canadian company Generex Biotechnology has stolen a march on its
larger rivals in the pharmaceutical industry by winning regulatory
approval for the world's first non-injectable insulin formulation,
reports Phil Taylor.
Patients suffering from conditions as diverse as asthma and
diabetes could benefit from research at Cardiff University to
improve the effectiveness of drugs taken through spray inhalers.
UK-based contract researcher Synprotec has been acquired by India's
Dishman Pharmaceuticals & Chemicals in a move that marks a
continuing expansion of the latter firm into foreign markets,
reports Phil Taylor.
Lonza is planning a major exansion of its peptides manufacturing
capacities at Visp, Switzerland, in response to what it said was
'the increased demand for peptide active pharmaceutical ingredients
worldwide'.
German drug development company BioGenerix has earmarked up to
$61.5 million (€48m) to develop a new version of an
already-marketed biologic drug using a pegylation technology
developed by US firm Neose, reports Phil Taylor.
Cytopia has received the green light to trial a promising new drug
that could prove effective in the fight against advanced solid
tumours. In animal studies, the drug candidate has already shown
efficacy in killing cancer cells in...
BioGenex announces the launch of the Xmatrx, a walk-away system
that automates molecular diagnostics and drug target identification
and validation. The system is specifically designed to enable drug
discovery companies to customise...
Antares Pharma has announced that it has completed formulation and
preclinical activities for its first fast melt oral tablet
incorporating a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) using
its Easy Tec fast melt technology.
Bentley Pharmaceuticals has entered into an agreement with Dong
Sung Pharmaceuticals for the development of an intranasal spray
formulation of insulin for the South Korean market with the view of
extending this deal into additional...
A recently-launched project by the European Union is aiming to
demonstrate once and for all whether nanoparticles - which underpin
the emerging discipline of nanotechnology - are safe, reports
Phil Taylor.
Canadian researchers have a developed a new chemical reaction that
could greatly accelerate pharmaceutical production, while also
cutting costs and toxic by-products.
SkyePharma will shortly sign up a marketing partner for its
improved formulation of the local anaesthetic bupivacaine, a
product which the UK-based drug delivery company says is one of the
most important products in its pipeline.
Researchers at Harvard University in the US have developed a new
way of synthesising tetracyclines, potentially opening up avenues
to the development of new drugs in this valuable antibiotic class,
writes Phil Taylor.
Water soluble film specialist MonoSolRx has been granted a process
patent in Ireland covering its edible film strips, an emerging
dosage form for the oral delivery of drugs and nutritonal products.
Solutia has elected to retain its Pharmaceutical Services Division
(PSD) despite suggestions that a spin out or sale of the business
were being considered, reports Phil Taylor.
UK chemicals group Avecia is planning to close its biotechnology
centre at Grangemouth, Scotland, by the end of the summer,
resulting in the loss of 95 jobs, reports Phil Taylor.
Novartis has acquired a global license to a combination drug and
inhaler device for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in
one of the largest deals signed by the UK biotechnology sector,
reports Phil Taylor.
Dutch biotechnology company Crucell has won a €21.4 million
contract to produce a vaccine against Ebola for the US government's
Vaccine Research Centre, reports Phil Taylor.
Scientists have hailed an experimental drug, which fights tumours
linked to two faulty genes in breast cancer, as a breakthrough in
the fight against cancer. Animal tests have shown the drug prevents
the growth of tumours so effectively...
Merrion Pharmaceuticals, formed last year from the drug delivery
business of Ireland's Elan, has been awarded a key European on the
technology underlying one of its delivery systems, reports Phil
Taylor.
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries is to acquire the entire business of
fellow Indian pharmaceutical company MJ Pharmaceuticals in another
example of the consolidation affecting the country's fragmented
pharmaceutical sector, writes...