Invitrogen plans to cement its place as one of the world's largest
suppliers of analysis tools and reagents for the life science and
pharmaceutical industries by acquiring Applied Biosystems (ABI).
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is pushing for Congress
to approve the use of more third-party inspectors as the regulatory
body attempts to police a complex global supply chain.
DSM and the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) have
criticised the European Commission's proposals for tackling
counterfeit active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).
A US senator has asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a
probe into outsourcing of production for pharmaceuticals, as well
as ways to make drugmakers accountable for products which fail to
meet quality standards.
Introgen Therapeutics says advances in its biologics manufacturing
and storage technologies have allowed it to broaden the scope of
its contract manufacturing operations and set up a new unit called
Introgen Technical Services (ITS).
A company based in the US and Germany has set up what it describes
as a 'Facebook for scientists', in a move that brings the
phenomenon of social networking firmly into the workplace.
Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) has recruited IBM in its latest round of
outsourcing, granting the IT giant a $324m business process
outsourcing (BPO) contract.
Cambrex, etrials Worldwide, Premier Research, InVentiv Health and
OmniComm Systems have all had people on the move in the world
of pharmaceutical outsourcing.
The new European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) opened its doors in
Helsinki this week, with questions raised immediately about its
ability to handle the thousands of registration requests required
under the controversial REACH legislation.
Canadian contract manufacturer and consultancy firm PharmEng
International has published its 2007 accounts, and says it remains
firmly focused on getting into the black in 2008.
Irish drugmaker Elan is considering a separate stock exchange
listing for its contract services unit, Elan Drug Technology,
according to comments by executives at its recent annual general
meeting.
Michigan-based drugmaker Perrigo and Cobrek Pharmaceuticals, a
newly formed subsidiary of Pentech Pharmaceuticals, are teaming up
to develop a range of topical generic products for the dermatology
sector.
Pharmaceutical manufacturers are now withdrawing from manufacturing
at an unprecedented rate, with four of the top 10 players
announcing major new outsourcing programmes in 2007, says IMS in a
new document which explores the implications...
Germany's Rentschler Biotechnologie and Boehringer Ingelheim have
inked a preferred partnership agreement to jointly offer customers
a more streamlined biopharmaceutical production option.
The European Union's 2007 pharmaceutical counterfeiting data shows
that almost 40 per cent of fake medicines seized by the EU
originated in Switzerland.
SynCo Bio Partners has completed production of AG011 for ActoGenIX,
enabling the latter firm to begin examining it in patients
suffering from ulcerative colitis (UC).
Tongjitang Chinese Medicines, which produces traditional
treatments, has stopped manufacturing operations at its facility in
Guiyang, Guizhou province due to damage caused by the recent
earthquake.
Bushu Pharmaceuticals, Japan's largest dedicated contract
manufacturer, has been going from strength to strength as Japan's
pharma outsourcing industry awakens.
IMS has identified 10 critical developments in 2007 that could have
a fundamental effect on the operating environment for
pharmaceutical companies in the coming years.
2005 marked the real beginning of contract manufacturing in Japan,
which had been held back by an overly-cautious regulatory
environment and significant and unique quality and specification
demands in the marketplace.
Agilent's purchase of DowPharma's Nucleic Acid Medicines business
is the second time in recent years that the US scientific
measurements specialist has ramped-up its nucleic acid
manufacturing capabilities.
Cambrex has experienced a jump in profitability for the first
quarter 2008, despite a decrease in sales, assisted by previous
cost-cutting initiatives.
The decision to end manufacturing operations at its facility in
Morgan Hill, California in the next three years may cost
Hospira up to $35m (€22.7m), according to a document the firm filed
with the US Securities and Exchange Commission...
Although Japan's pharma market sits in firm second position on the
global stage, the country's foothold is slipping as other more
innovative countries grasp for a greater presence.
Pfizer's plans for a new €190m manufacturing plant in Shanbally,
Ireland suggest that the firm is intent on fulfilling its pledge to
become a "top five biologics producer in the next eight
years."
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has announced company-wide reorganisation
plans that will see it place a new focus on emerging markets in a
bid to capitalise on the growing potential they offer.
Swedish authorities have recalled Sanofi Aventis' low molecular
weight injectable blood thinner Lovenox (enoxaparin), known locally
as Klexane, after four batches of the blockbuster drug were found
to contain oversulfated chondroitin...
India's Dr Reddy's Laboratories has just announced the signing of a
definitive agreement to buy the US pharmaceutical contract
manufacturing business of chemicals giant BASF.
Dutch chemical group DSM has acquired Polymer Technology Group
(PTG) and predicted its best financial year to date following
organic sales growth of 14 per cent for the first quarter.
The healthcare logistics industry is currently experiencing a shift
toward globalisation, supply chain simplification and delivery
specialisation, says an industry expert.
IT infrastructure and business process services firm Cognizant has
announced an alliance with CTC Laboratory Systems that aims to
assist Japanese pharmaceutical firms in enhancing efficiencies in
drug discovery and development.
US firms Sepragen and Neugenesis are teaming up to develop a
high-throughput platform for monoclonal antibody and influenza
vaccine production that is rapid, scalable and flexible enough to
respond to a potential pandemic.
The problems facing companies trying to bring 'biosimilar' versions
of biologic drugs to market were thrown into stark relief yesterday
when the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) refused to approve
Genzyme's genetic...
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has revealed it will be
operating on the ground in China imminently, while the Drug
Information Association (DIA) has just planted itself in Asia's
other pharma don, India.