Nobex Corporation has been granted two new US patents, which expand
its 'PEGylation' technology of small polyethylene glycols (PEG) for
modifying molecules for improved drug performance.
According to a new report, the number of victims claimed by the
South-East Asian tsunami is likely to rise due to the lack of drugs
in active development for post-tsunami diseases. The report
identified only 87 drugs in active development...
The European monoclonal antibody therapeutics market is set to grow
at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 34.1 per cent to $11.4
billion (€8.7 billion) by 2011. The growth is fuelled by the need
for safe and effective treatment...
The pharmaceutical industry is under pressure from downwards price
pressure, a lack of innovation, and the escalating costs of new
product development, and this is having a knock-on effect for
excipients suppliers. Phil Taylor reports.
Pharmaceutical industry groups today welcomed new government
legislation, which ensures animal extremists who are found guilty
of 'economic damage' to research laboratories will face
imprisonment of five years.
Vitra Bioscience and IDBS have entered into an agreement that
merges IDBS' MathIQ software with Vitra's CellCard System. The
combination of such technologies is an attempt to accelerate the
identification of lead compounds...
Singapore's manufacturing output, which includes pharmaceutical
technology, recorded a 33 per cent growth in 2004, achieving this
target one year ahead of schedule and exceeding projected figures
compiled in 2000.
Genaissance Pharmaceuticals expansion of its genetic testing
service comes after it was revealed there are over 50 approved
drugs which prolong the QT interval potentially causing cardiac
arrythmias and safety concerns amongst effective...
The latest case of the bird flu passing from human-to-human is
likely to be the first of many after researchers concluded a victim
of the virus may have contracted the disease from her daughter.
Danish researchers have come up with a virtual model for catalyst
research that could do away with the need for large, expensive
screening experiments.
GE Healthcare has launched the first in a new family of
chromatography media designed specifically to handle the high
volumes used in the bioprocessing sector.
NOBEX has been granted two new US patents on its polyethylene
glycol (PEG)-based technologies to improve the delivery of drugs
that currently need to be injected.
The long-standing relationship between biotechnology company
Genencor and Danish ingredients firm Danisco is to be cemented via
the merger of the two companies.
Health ingredients firm Acatris has developed a directly
compressible version of its SoyLife brand soy isoflavone
ingredient, designed to remove some of the hurdles for companies
looking to offer isoflavone capsules or tablets.
The UK government has given the national biotechnology industry
trade group £3 million (€4.3m) in funding to support the
development of bioprocessing, continuing a string of projects aimed
at boosting the UK biotech sector.
Merck KGaA is planning to sell its electronic chemicals business to
BASF for €270 million, freeing it up to focus on its
pharmaceutical, chemical and liquid crystal businesses.
A new type of antidepressant drug with a novel mechanism of action,
which acts on a new target, has entered Phase I clinical trials.
The drug could represent a new generation of psycho-active
compounds that are devoid of the problems...
With safety a key issue amongst drug researchers and manufacturers,
Genaissance Pharmaceuticals has expanded its genetic testing
service, which can analyse key cardiac ion channel proteins
involved in drug-induced cardiac arrhythmias.
NMR specialists Bruker Biospin launches the 400 MHz 5mm DCH
CryoProbe, a cryogenically cooled probe that greatly increases
sensitivity and lower detection limits than standard probes.
A new potential diabetes drug from Dia-B Tech, which is based on a
naturally occurring peptide consisting of four amino acids,
promises convenience and fewer side effects over current day
treatments for type 2 diabetes.
Dharmacon and Genentech have entered into a collaboration in which
RNA interference (RNAi) technology is to be used in future drug
discovery and development research. One focus of the deal is gene
silencing, a powerful and increasingly...
A unique three-way-deal between Dendritic Nanotechnologies (DNT),
The Dow Chemical Company and Starpharma Holdings, will provide DNT
and Starpharma with access to dendrimers and nanotechnology for
drug delivery.
Neich Medical has acquired Orbus Medical Technologies in which
Orbus is leading Neich's research and development efforts for drug
eluting stents and other advanced technologies.
The use of chemical imaging as a quality control measure for
mixtures of pharmaceutical ingredients before tabletting has taken
a step forward with the first deployment of a prototype system at
Pfizer that is currently in the process...
Bayer is to collaborate with Nektar on the development of an
inhaled formulation of Cipro (ciprofloxacin) for treating the
common genetic disorder cystic fibrosis.
Swiss chemicals and contract manufacturing concern Lonza reported a
decline in sales but net profit up by more than half in 2004,
although earnings came in at the low end of analysts' forecasts.
Scientists have targeted the alkaloids of the quinolines chemical
family, which have proved effective against visceral leishmaniasis
treating this severe form of the disease with its antiparasitic
properties.
Serologicals company, Upstate Group, has introduced a one-of-a-kind
service, which aims to provide drug development companies with
valuable insights into therapies and efficacy within cells.
Biotechnology company Mergen Limited has announced the launch of a
new service reselling DNA microarrays for gene expression analysis.
The service signals a cost effective approach to providing
custom-built microarrays to the market.
Procognia and Hamilton life sciences have entered into a joint
collaboration, which focuses on the automated growth and handling
of Procognia's functional human protein arrays.
Filtration and separation company Pall has made another acquisition
in the chromatography sector with the purchase of Euroflow (UK) for
an undisclosed amount.
The total global market for Quantum Dots (QD) is expected to exceed
$0.5 billion (€384 million) despite its expense and the novelty of
this technology. The core of this industry drive is expected to
play out in the life sciences and...
Construction of the UK National Biomanufacturing Centre, an
ambitious project aimed at helping biotechnology start-ups get
their product ideas into clinical trials, is progressing on
schedule and should be ready to start production...
Pharming of the Netherlands, which is pioneering the use of
transgenic animals for the production of biologics, has raised €7
million in new funding and will use the proceeds to advance its
portfolio of clinical drug candidates.
Dow Chemical has signed over its entire portfolio of intellectual
property and technology in the area of dendrimers - branched
polymers with applications in targetted drug delivery - to US firm
Dendritic NanoTechnologies and Starpharma...
MIP Technologies, a Swedish firm specialising in polymers with
binding properties, has signed a deal which could take its
technology out of the laboratory sector and into the realms of
large-scale production of pharmaceuticals.
Cargill says it has agreed to acquire The Dow Chemical Company's
interest in Cargill Dow LLC, the 50/50 joint venture formed in 1997
to commercialise polylactic acid biopolymers.
Researchers in the US have shown that nanoparticles can be used to
deliver genetic material into cells safely and effectively,
potentially overcoming the primary obstacle to the development of
gene therapy.
Specialty chemicals company Degussa has developed an put in place
an automated workstation that should speed up process development
and scale-up projects for its clients.
The global market for spectroscopic equipment used in process
monitoring is tipped to grow by 30 per cent between now and 2009,
helped by an increasing focus on process analytical technologies
(PAT) to streamline the drug manufacturing...
Regulatory action on the COX-2 inhibitors was still a possibility
as the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products
for Human Use (CHMP) held hearings with Pfizer, Merck Sharp &
Dohme and Novartis regarding...
Vitra Bioscience has introduced a new nuclear translocation
application, a new method enabling the measurement of
cytoplasm-to-nucleus translocation, a critical indicator of
cellular response to various drug treatments.
US researchers have developed a faster, more efficient way to
produce a wide variety of nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems,
using DNA molecules to bind the particles together.
The European Parliament embarked on a new round of deliberations
over the controversial REACH legislation last week, amid intense
lobbying by groups representing the chemicals industry, animal
rights activists and environmentalists.
US peptide developers Helix BioMedix has entered into collaboration
with Smith & Nephew, which aims to focus on the development of
HB50, the company's lead topical anti-infective peptide.
Allos Theraputics have initiated a phase 1 study of its
investigational drug PDX (pralatrexate) that has so far proved
effective against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This
treatment has the potential to surpass Methotrexate...
Increasing numbers of suppliers are being forced to stop providing
their services to companies and organisations engaged in animal
research, according to the Association of the British
Pharmaceutical Industry.
Figures released by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical
Industry (ABPI) has revealed that the level of intimidation posed
by animal extremists reaches as far as the suppliers who do
business with companies involved with...
