The world's leading pharmaceutical companies are not doing enough
to help improve the health of countries in the third world. They
will also be completely unprepared to face the increasing demand
for drugs for diseases other...
Cancer therapy specialists, Ziopharm, has announced it has entered
into a licensing agreement for a new class of organic arsenicals
with the intention of developing them for a wide range of cancers
Cellomics has launched a new image analysis software module that
allows scientists performing drug discovery and basic science
research to analyse a broad variety of cell-based assays in as
little as five minutes.
A bitter-blocking ingredient developed by Linguagen has been backed
for use in foods, beverages and oral pharmaceutical dosage forms by
the country's regulatory authorities.
News that B-MS has dropped out of an agreement to develop Basulin,
an improved formulation of insulin which was the subject of a $165
million deal - including $20 million upfront - between the two
companies last year.
A study, which uses immunoglobulins to treat multiple sclerosis,
may also be able to help patients with Alzheimer's. The discovery
seems to point towards an approach, which treats Alzheimer's with
anti-bodies, which are...
Rhodia Pharma Solutions is reducing the workforce at its Dudley
site in the UK by up to 85 jobs in a continuing shake-up of the
company's custom manufacturing and intermediates business.
Austrian biotech company, Austrianova, has received approval from
the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) for its product
Novacaps, a new category of therapeutic for pancreatic cancer.
EMEA's latest decision ensures trial...
New research in the US, focusing on the pharmacological aspects of
smoking marijuana, are closer to understanding how the drugs active
ingredients exert its effects, paving the way for drugs that
selectively bind and block subtypes...
Cellomics has launched a new image analysis software module that
allows scientists performing drug discovery and basic science
research to analyse a broad variety of cell-based assays in as
little as five minutes.
A 'tail' at one end of the Ubc 12 protein has been found to
play a key role in accelerating cell replication. The determination
of its structure and role bodes well for the development of new
types of drugs targeting the...
Hoerbiger-Origa of Germany, which specialises in automation systems
of industrial applications, has launched a new modular belt-driven
linear actuator for heavy-duty applications that will compete with
rack and pinion drives.
The lead agent in a new class of drugs for the treatment of
diabetes - Novartis' LAF-237 - seems to improve glucose control
without the weight gain associated with other orally-active drugs
for this common disease, reports Phil...
Videojet Technologies has developed the Videojet Broadcast System
as a cost effective means of helping suppliers meet tight retailer
mandates on RFID implementation.
The Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA) has urged the US Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) to move forward to accelerate the
approval of affordable generic versions of biopharmaceutical drugs.
Agilent has released a new module for its ChemStation Plus CDS
(chromatography data plus) software that falls into compliance with
internationally agreed guidelines on short- and long-term stability
studies.
Rumours of the demise of Ireland as a hotbed of pharmaceutical
manufacturing may be premature. Pfizer has just unveiled a plan to
spend €240 million to expand its Dun Laoghaire plant in Dublin.
UK drug delivery company SkyePharma has reported net losses down in
the first half of the year, but warned revenues and cash flow will
come under pressure as it moves away from its current
milestone-based revenue model.
The first molecular-scale images of DNA binding to an adenovirus
enzyme, a crucial step for a virus to cause infection, have been
produced, which shows how binding to DNA may stimulate the enzyme,
aiding to the design of new antiviral...
Accelrys has signed a $21.5 million (€17.6 million) agreement to
merge SciTegic with one of its subsidiaries in a deal that will add
additional data analysis and mining software design capabilities to
Accelrys' extensive portfolio...
Cambrex Corporation announces the availability of a method for the
non-cytotoxic delivery of biologically active cargo molecules, such
as proteins, peptides, or small molecules directly into living
cells providing drug R&D with...
GE's security business has begun testing a cost-effective container
security solution for use in maritime shipping. The new product is
designed to detect unauthorised access to a container, and can
monitor the container in transit...
AstraZeneca has been hit by the decision of the US Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) not to approve its oral anticoagulant Exanta
(ximelegatran), despite the fact that it is already on the market
in Europe.
Switzerland's Tecan has introduced the LS Reloaded, a new series of
automation-friendly microarray scanners, which now includes a
three-fold higher sensitivity making it ideal for drug-related
ELISA and focused biomarker arrays...
LGC, the independent analytical laboratory, has set up an
initiative alongside the UK Chemical Industries Association (CIA)
to advise chemical companies how to handle the new REACH
legislation.
Automated packaging developer Bradman Lake is launching its latest
robotic top load cartoner for throughputs of up to 300ppm, an
innovation that the group hopes will build on its international
reputation.
Germany's Boehringer Ingelheim has revealed plans to buy a
microtechnology specialist - STEAG microParts - to get full control
of a novel inhaler for drug delivery into the lungs.
Worldwide efforts to produce a newer, safer antidepressant have
never been more imperative after a US landmark ruling requires all
antidepressant drugs to carry the strongest possible warning,
informing the public of the risks of...
Cardinal Health has entered into a licensing agreement that gives
it access to an electrostatic tablet-coating process and drug
delivery technologies developed by Phoqus Pharmaceuticals of the
UK.
Japan's Showa Denko says it has developed a new catalyst for
synthesising alpha-tetralone, an important intermediate in the
production of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, which could reduce
wastage.
A team of US researchers has developed a new microgel film that
could be used to create implants that release drugs into the body -
on demand - by applying small variations in heat.
A groundbreaking new treatment for psoriasis could be available to
patients in Europe as early as next month, providing the European
Medicines Agency (EMEA) follows the advice of its advisory
committee.
BioProgress has had one of its pending patents granted in Europe,
shoring up its intellectual property in the area of 'foamed films'
used for rapid delivery of drugs into the mouth.
Researchers in the UK and US have made a breakthrough by using
supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) as a reaction medium for the
preparation of molecules of interest to the pharmaceutical
industry. The result could be cleaner, greener...
Analytical instruments company Thermo Electron has completed the
acquisition of InnaPhase, a supplier of Laboratory Information
Management Systems (LIMS) for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology
markets, for approximately $65 million...
A newly-organised conference on building sustainability into
processing industries - focusing on improving environmental
performance without raising costs - will take place next year in
Delft, the Netherlands.
AstraZeneca has installed a new software system to handle its
global packaging and labelling activities in a bid to cut time to
market, maintain regulatory compliance and improve collaboration
and artwork approvals.
Biotechnology Company, Nucleonics, has filed a request with the
Commissioner of Patents in Australia for Re-Examination, which
questions the validity of Benitec's patent concerning
gene-silencing technology claiming ambiguity...
US life science company Serologicals has entered into a €167.6
million merger with cell signallin specialist Upstate, creating a
significant presence in the preclinical drug screening and target
validation market, the fastest growing...
Needle free injector specialist Bioject Medical Technologies has
won a new contract to supply its drug vial adaptor product,
designed to make syringe filling completely needle free.
The chief executive of Akzo Nobel expects to record sales of more
than $1 billion in China within the next five years, more than
double the level at present, and is boosting its presence in the
country in anticipation.
Proliant Biologicals has launched a new cell culture medium that
can be used for the production of monoclonal antibodies and other
proteins but is claimed to be more economical than a rival product.
US chemical company Aceto has reported a healthy rise in sales and
operating income in the year ended 30 June, helped by its recent
entry into the market for biopharmaceuticals.
DSM Nutritional Products has lifted its vitamin E capacity to
25,000 tons - the world's largest - at a new plant that is being
hailed for its production efficiencies, reports Dominique
Patton.
Soaring energy costs are driving up the price of packaging
materials. Anthony Fletcher looks at the state of the market
for polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene.
A whole new generation of drug treatments and therapies for stroke,
migraine, Alzheimer's and other brain disorders could be created
after the discovery of a mechanism for regulating brain blood flow
was made by researchers.
A new method to improve the accuracy and speed of protein
visualization has been developed. The technique, which uses a novel
set of biosensor dyes, promises to dramatically increase the
accuracy and speed of the technique, used in...
US software systems provider, Genedata, has released the latest
version of Screener, a data analysis and management software system
for high throughput screening and compound profiling of
pharmacological properties and chemical structure,...
