Researchers have uncovered a novel treatment that could prove to be
effective against tuberculosis (TB), a disease that has made a
comeback due to the emergence of resistant strains of the offending
bacterium and the spread of AIDS.
Microfluidics company Nanostream has introduced a new range of
cartridges designed specifically for quantitative applications such
as solubility assessment and dissolution testing using its micro
parallel liquid chromatography (mPLC)...
A report out today cites Novartis' pipeline of drugs to continue
its reputation of producing quality pharmaceuticals, with
treatments for cancer, age-related macular degeneration and
hypertension expected to appear within the...
Scottish drug delivery and encapsulation specialist Encap has
invested approximately £1.2 million (€1.7m)in new premises in order
to boost its manufacturing capacity by 50 per cent.
Molecular Devices Corporation has announced the launch of the first
assay kit that addresses the need for a single step, homogenous in
vitro assay for fatty acid uptake for use in the identification of
potential new drugs via high-throughput...
US sweetener company zuChem will launch its initial mannitol
product in the first quarter of 2005 on the back of the FDA's
recent amendment to its legislation governing the sweetener,
reports Philippa Nuttall.
Genentech is currently evaluating Dutch biotechnology company
Crucell's STAR technology for the production of antibodies and
other proteins, acquired by the latter firm when it bought
ChromaGenics last March.
New treatment guidelines have concluded that there are no
significant differences between the aerosol therapy devices used
for respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD), as long as they are...
US biotechnology start-up Cytovance Biologics has officially opened
for business this month, offering a portfolio of process
development services to support biotechnology companies preparing
to progress products into clinical development.
A new report suggests that recent safety concerns over certain
blockbuster drugs, notably Merck's Vioxx (rofecoxib) and Pfizer's
Celebrex (celecoxib), has placed the COX-2 inhibitor drug class
under intense scrutiny and...
UK cancer specialist Antisoma has entered into an agreement to
acquire Aptamera in an £11.5 million (€16.5 million) deal, which
aims to pioneer a new drug therapy in the emerging new area of
anticancer aptamers.
A hive of activity at Agilent Technologies has trnsformed the
company into a significant player in the competitive microarray
platform market with the expansion of its array-based genomics,
disease research and drug R&D applications.
A dual-stage membrane bioreactor (MBR) for advanced treatment of
industrial wastewater takes up less space and has lower operating
costs than conventional activated sludge processing systems.
Paradigm Therapeutics has announced it has completed the
acquisition of Amedis Pharmaceuticals with the aim of identifying
highly druggable targets and novel compounds for conditions in the
areas of CNS, pain, endocrinology and metabolism.
Germany's Sartorius has decided to call off the initial public
offering of Vivascience, which makes products for the analysis and
purification of proteins.
A widely used drug to treat breast cancer has been significantly
improved by the use of a new technology that binds it to albumin, a
common constituent of human blood.
Ireland's Elan has altered its licensing agreement with Roche to
give the Swiss firm expanded access to a technology designed to
improve the performance of drugs.
NextGen Sciences has licensed a new technology for protein
expression from Oxford Brookes University that reduces expression
timelines for proteins in insect cells by up to 10 days.
Researchers have identified and tested an anti-sense
oligonucleotide sequence that will kill strains of Methicillin
Resistant (MRSA) and Vancomycin-resistant (VRSA) Staphylococcus
aureus, which continue to cause a serious public health...
RNA interference (RNAi) technology took a major leap forward after
Sirna Therapeutics initiated the first program that uses RNAi to
treat asthma, a condition that costs an estimated $13 billion (€9.8
billion) in healthcare costs in...
In response to accusations of a cover up over negative data and
placing patient safety at risk, pharmaceutical companies worldwide
have agreed to reveal the results of clinical trial drug data.
The need for an effective HIV drug became apparent as the US Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Fast Track designation to the
first in a new class of HIV drugs called Maturation Inhibitors.
AstraZeneca's troubles continued to add up after the company
announced the application withdrawal of Iressa after it failed to
show any significant survival benefit for patients with non-small
cell lung cancer. The move places...
A new method to produce paclitaxel, the potent anti-tumour drug
from yew needles has been discovered which provides a solution to
the problem of finding a viable source of the raw material at a
relatively low cost.
Technology used to enhance a mammalian cell based protein in
pharmaceutical production as well as the creation of new production
cell lines is the subject of collaboration between Pfizer and
Sangamo BioSciences.
The first new leukaemia treatment approved specifically for
children in more than a decade was approved as Ash Stevens are to
manufacture Clofarabine, the active ingredient in Clolar, used to
treat acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).
TransPharma Medical has entered into collaboration with Teva
Pharmaceutical to develop transdermal drug delivery systems. The
deal aims to research and develop transdermal delivery of
therapeutic drugs such as high molecular weight...
Pharmaceutical companies are set to face stiff competition, as
generic forms of best-selling biologic drugs will capture a
significant market share. The expiration of drug patents, which
expire within the next few years, opens up...
Drug companies can significantly increase the flow of new
prescription drugs, while maintaining patient safety, if they adopt
more innovative R&D strategies aimed at improving clinical
success rates and lowering clinical study...
The withdrawal of Merck & Co's COX-2 inhibitor Vioxx
(rofecoxib) because of cardiovascular safety issues - and concerns
about the safety of other drugs in the class - have left doctors
with some difficult prescribing decisions...
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are more likely to
cause gastrointestinal side effects than has been thought,
according to the results of a small study, reports Wai Lang
Chu.
Judith Hackitt, director general of the UK Chemical Industries
Association, highlighted the key issues facing the UK sector at a
the group's recent council meeting in London.
The rapid growth in the development and commercialisation of new
biological entities (NBEs) has been one of the major trends in the
pharmaceutical sector over the last few years, but their production
can be said to be more of an art...
Researchers in the US have developed a fluorescent tag for proteins
- based on a fragment of green fluorescent protein (GFP) - that can
penetrate cells and so be used to detect proteins in living cells
and cell lysates.
In keeping with the current trend among contract manufacturing
organisations to tap into niche markets, SAFC has started
construction of a new facility aimed at meeting the demand for
manufacturing of highly potent active pharmaceutical...
Crucell and DSM have announced the expansion of its original
agreement, building on existing work achieved in the PER.C6 Protein
and Monoclonal Antibody Licensing Business.
World demand for packaging machinery is projected to rise over 4
per cent per year (including price increases) through 2008 to over
$31 billion, with developing nations expected to register the
strongest market gains, according to...
Using naturally occurring mutant mice with a defective collagen
gene, scientists at Harvard have identified a signalling molecule
involved in osteoarthritis, one of the most common causes of
disability among the elderly.
US filtration specialist Argonide has introduced what it claims is
a new generation of turbidity filters with a capacity more than 20
times greater than conventional cartridges.
Millipore has launched a new version of its control software for
its separation and purification systems, bringing the package into
line with recent regulatory requirements such as the US Food and
Drug Administration (FDA)'s...
West Pharmaceutical Services is to sell a substantial part of its
drug delivery business to a newly formed company in return for $7.1
million (€5.3m) in cash and a 14 per cent stake in the new firm.
Franklin Miller has launched a shredding system designed for the
efficient destruction of pharmaceutical materials, making it easier
for drug companies, distributors or wholesalers sitting on a pile
of expired medicines to dispose...
US company NanoInk, which has pioneered the dip pen nanolithography
process which can provde nanoscale printing, is reportedly working
with the manufacturer of a blockbuster drug to trial the encoding
of unit doses of the product...
ForHealth Technologies has started production of its flagship
robotic intravenous drug compounding device through contract
manufacturer Delphi Medical Systems.
UK-based separations specialist Whatman has fleshed out its plans
in the wake of the acquisition of Schleicher & Schuell, and
says it plans to cut 13 per cent of its workforce after 2004 sales
disappointed.
Researchers in Sweden have voiced the intriguing notion that a
course of vaccinations in childhood might help protect people from
heart disease later in life.
Contract manufacturing company Patheon has completed its $350m
(€259m)acquisition of Puerto Rican rival Mova Pharmaceuticals,
first announced in November.
