Supply chain, logistics

Dispatches from DIA 2014

BioClinica taps risk-based monitoring with Blueprint Clinical acquisition

17-Jun-2014 By Zachary Brennan

CRO BioClinica will acquire Blueprint Clinical, which offers a cloud-based site scoring tool to help pharma address risk-based monitoring strategies for trials.

Complex manufacturing more likely kept in-house, says J&J post Ben Venue

05-Jun-2014 By Dan Stanton

Outsourcing is still a significant part of Janssen’s strategy, the firm says despite suffering shortages due to manufacturing and quality problems at now defunct CMO Ben Venue.

DHL acquires four worldwide logistics depots

03-Jun-2014 By Fiona BARRY

DHL has acquired or partnered with four GMP clinical trials supply depots in the Philippines, Egypt, Belarus and Turkey.

Adopt highest GMP/GDP standards for Asian clinical trials, says Almac

02-Jun-2014 By Dan Stanton

Sponsors trialling drugs in Asia should insist on the highest manufacturing standards and consider local production to successfully navigate the varied and complex regulations that govern research in the region says Almac.

Hikma eyes Ben Venue's assets as part of $300m Bedford Labs acquistion

29-May-2014 By Dan Stanton

Hikma Pharmaceuticals says it is evaluating Ben Venue’s manufacturing facility as an option in its $300m (€220m) acquisition of Bedford Laboratories.

Relypsa selects DSM to manufacture API for hyperkalemia treatment

22-May-2014 By Zachary Brennan

California-based Relypsa has entered into a seven-year commercial manufacturing and supply agreement with DSM Fine Chemicals for the API for patiromer, the company's novel polymer in development for the treatment of hyperkalemia. Financial details...

Dispatches from the Biological Production Forum

Valeant puts head in the Cloud to manage over 800 CMOs

13-May-2014 By Dan Stanton

Managing over 800 CMOs could lead to quality and compliance nightmares but Valeant says it has come up with a unique cloud-based strategy. 

Biopharma turns to outsourcing for more common, simple tasks, survey finds

29-Apr-2014 By Zachary Brennan

Biopharma is ramping up the outsourcing of some of the easier tests while tasks such as downstream process development and QbD services are being outsourced less, according to a new survey.

Orphan drug market offers opportunities for direct-to-patient logistics firms

29-Apr-2014 By Zachary Brennan

As regulators incentivise the development of orphan medicines and high price tags for the drugs continue to rise, logistics specialists are offering new ways to get the drugs to the increasingly small patient populations.

AmerisourceBergen growing global presence; first World Courier, now Proforma

28-Apr-2014 By Dan Stanton

A stake in Brazil-based wholesaler Profarma will increase AmerisourceBergen’ global presence already strengthened by the World Courier acquisition, the firm says as it reports a robust Q2.

Merck & Co. contracts Catalent to make sublingual hayfever drugs

23-Apr-2014 By Dan Stanton

MSD has selected Catalent to manufacture two recently approved sublingual pollen extract drugs using its Zydis formulation platform.

Bristol-Myers Squibb extends deal with DKSH in SE Asia

08-Apr-2014

Bristol-Myers Squibb has extended its partnership with DKSH to provide commercialization and distribution services across Southeast Asia.

Survey: Supply chain execs to up clinical trial logistics spend

07-Apr-2014 By Zachary Brennan

Almost two-thirds of supply chain executives plan to increase their expenditure in clinical trial logistics over the next two years, according to an industry survey conducted by Marken.

Quality and IP issues driving sponsors away from Indian CMOs, experts say

01-Apr-2014 By Dan Stanton

Quality and IP issues are driving firms back to the US and Europe for their contract manufacturing according to experts, but Kemwell says there are still opportunities for Indian CMOs.

AmerisourceBergen to launch $100m distribution JV in Brazil

25-Mar-2014

AmerisourceBergen (ABC) plans to buy a minority stake in a Brazilian drug wholesaler and outlined plans for a $100m distribution services joint-venture in the rapidly expanding market.

UK cell therapy site to help firms avoid failures in “valley of death”

21-Mar-2014 By Gareth Macdonald

Government-backing for a large-scale cell therapy centre is justified because it will help developers navigate the “valley of death” in which many early-phase projects fail says the team planning the new manufacturing hub.

Managing excipient supply needs risk guidance, not ‘fear’ says expert

19-Mar-2014 By Fiona BARRY

US pharmaceutical firms ‘fear change’ and need guidance on assessing safe excipient supply to become more like their European counterparts, says a senior IPEC expert.

DKSH gets the Glory citing increased demand for Asian expansion services

19-Feb-2014 By Dan Stanton

DKSH has acquired Macau-based distributor Glory and says demand for Asian market access is being driven from both Western and local pharma firms.

Theorem, Decision Driver form strategic alliance

12-Feb-2014 By Zachary Brennan

Theorem Clinical Research has announced the formation of a strategic alliance with Decision Driver Analytics (DDA) to integrate health economics and outcomes research, predictive modeling and definitive analysis to maximize return on investment for pharmaceutical...

inVentiv partners with NeuroVive to bring cardio, neurological drugs to market

06-Feb-2014 By Zachary Brennan

inVentiv Health has extended its partnership with NeuroVive Pharmaceutical AB to bring their drugs to treat acute cardiovascular and neurological conditions to market.

UDG slims down services business into single unit

04-Feb-2014 By Fiona BARRY

Pharmaceutical services provider UDG Healthcare (formerly United Drug) announced today the integration of its sales, marketing and medical service divisions into one group, named Ashfield.

World Courier expands fleet as EU GDP rules drive demand for compliance

15-Jan-2014 By Dan Stanton

World Courier says it is expanding its European ground fleet as pharma and supplier demand grows in the wake of new EU GDP guidelines.

McKesson's strategy unclear after $8.3bn Celsio takeover falls through

14-Jan-2014 By Dan Stanton

Whether McKesson will relaunch its bid to acquire German logistics firm Celsio has been questioned by analysts after the proposed $8.3bn (€6.1bn) takeover bid fell through.

AMEC to expand pharma plant design biz with $3bn Foster Wheeler buy

13-Jan-2014 By Gareth Macdonald

AMEC has announced its plan to buy US  firm Foster Wheeler AG for $3.2bn (€2.3bn) in a deal that includes the latter’s pharmaceutical plant design services business.

Christmas is 'snow problem' for drug distribution

19-Dec-2013 By Dan Stanton

If the Coca-Cola truck can battle the snow each Christmas so too can drug logistics firms using technology, contingency plans and sometimes a good old-fashioned shovel, distributors say.

DKSH inks clinical trial logistics deal with Nordic Bioscience

12-Dec-2013

Southeast Asian market expansion group DKSH has penned a deal with Nordic Bioscience to provide clinical trial logistics services in Hong Kong.

PCI constructing plant for increased call for clinical trial storage

04-Dec-2013 By Dan Stanton

Packaging Coordinators Inc (PCI) has begun construction on a US clinical storage and global distribution facility with demand from international clients being a key driver.

US FDA explains how compounders can register as outsourcing facilities

02-Dec-2013 By Gareth Macdonald

The US FDA has defined compounding pharmacies as ‘outsourcing facilities’ in new guidance issued days after the Drug Quality and Security Act (DQSA) became law.

Marken commissions cold-chain distribution hub for Irish clients

28-Nov-2013 By Dan Stanton

Marken says it will offer biopharmaceutical manufacturers greater flexibility with its new cold-chain clinical trial distribution hub in Ireland.

CROs turn to app platform to speed development of CTMS modules

07-Nov-2013 By Zachary Brennan

Plagued with tighter deadlines and calls for more efficiency, CROs (contract research organizations) seem to be increasingly turning to apps and cloud-based systems to develop CTMS (clinical trial management system) modules.

Some specialty CROs seeing early phase research revival

05-Nov-2013 By Zachary Brennan

After almost two years of lagging early phase clinical research work, it seems some CROs are now seeing an uptick in specialized trials that require more scientific expertise.

inVentiv takes a stranglehold on the patient adherence market with acquisition

04-Nov-2013 By Zachary Brennan

Pharma service provider inVentiv Health has acquired Catalina Health and is merging it with its subsidiary Adheris to create the largest direct-to-patient adherence program in the US. 

McKesson pushes for global reach with $8.3bn Celesio deal

28-Oct-2013 By Dan Stanton

McKesson Group has completed the acquisition of logistics firm Celesio as it eyes a global strategy, targeting the European and Latin America markets.

Dispatches from CPhI

McKinsey consultants help to pull Patheon off the road to bankruptcy

23-Oct-2013 By Zachary Brennan

Patheon brought in McKinsey consultants over the last three years to help overhaul its sagging business and institute a number of simple process changes that resulted in deep transformations.

Ben Venue closure: Company evaluates facility, EMA evaluates shortages

23-Oct-2013 By Dan Stanton

Ben Venue’s closure is still being evaluated the troubled drugmaker says, in the week the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is meeting to discuss ongoing shortages.

DrugDev acquires site payment specialist CFS Clinical

22-Oct-2013 By Zachary Brennan

Sponsor network developer DrugDev on Monday announced it would acquire CFS Clinical, which specializes in managing the financing of clinical trials.  Financial terms were not disclosed.

Med device specialist CRO nearly doubles size with EU acquisition

21-Oct-2013 By Zachary Brennan

Medical device specialist CRO Clinlogix has nearly doubled its number of employees with the acquisition of German contractor ikfe CRO GmbH.

Yale signs agreement with Belgian med device CRO

16-Oct-2013

Yale University’s Cardiovascular Research Group (YCRG) and medical device CRO genae associates nv, have announced a collaboration and co-marketing agreement for cardiovascular devices.

Catalent's Brazilian acquisition supports global softgel strategy

10-Oct-2013 By Dan Stanton

Catalent has continued its softgel expansion in emerging markets with the acquisition of Relthy Laboratórios in Brazil.

McKesson rumoured to be eyeing up Celesio; New CFO - People Gallery

10-Oct-2013 By Dan Stanton

McKesson Corporation who is said to be in talks to acquire German logistics company Celesio has appointed a new CFO and Executive Director - Welcome to Outsourcing-Pharma's People on the Move.

United Drug rebrands packaging business with an eye on Asia

03-Oct-2013 By Gareth Macdonald

United Drug has rebranded its contract pharmaceutical packaging business and unveiled plans to build in Asia in a move it says provides “global opportunities” for employees.

Marken adds Russian depot center for clinical trial materials storage

03-Oct-2013 By Zachary Brennan

Marken on Wednesday announced its pharma depot network is expanding to Russia to meet the growing needs of clients looking to store materials for clinical trials there and in Eastern Europe.

CMO hit with first ever US FDA warning letter for failing to pay facility fee

03-Oct-2013

Germany-based CMO CPM Contract Pharma was hit with the first US FDA warning letter for failing to self-identify its manufacturing facility and pay the facility fee required by the Generic Drug User Fee Amendments of 2012.

Almac launches online system to manage drug supply in trials

26-Sep-2013 By Dan Stanton

Almac has launched an online tool which it says will increase accuracy and save money in managing the supply of clinical trial supplies.

FDA final guidance on eCRFs skirts questions raised by ACRO, Quintiles

19-Sep-2013 By Zachary Brennan

The US FDA has finalized guidance on electronic case report forms (eCRFs), which offers advice for sponsors and CROs on how and in what cases to capture electronic source data. 

Survey finds CRO sales reps should be more creative

18-Sep-2013 By Zachary Brennan

CRO sales representatives do a good job of explaining the basics of their service offerings but they need to be more innovative in tackling sponsors’ individual challenges, according to a new survey.

CROS NT Jumps into Medical Device Space with US Acquisition

12-Sep-2013 By Zachary Brennan

European CRO CROS NT has acquired US medical device CRO Stat-Tech Services to try to take a slice of the growing medical device trial sector. 

Pharma Packaging Market to Grow to $73B by 2018, Report Finds

10-Sep-2013 By Zachary Brennan

The global pharma packaging market - worth $47.5bn (Eur35.87bn) in 2011 - is expected to grow to $73bn in 2018, with a CAGR of 5.6%, according to a report by Transparency Market Research.

inVentiv Sues US HHS Arguing New Rules Restrict Rx Reminders Business

10-Sep-2013 By Zachary Brennan

inVentiv Health company Adheris filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) last week claiming that a new regulation imposes unconstitutional restrictions on part of its patient reminder business.

OmniComm Partners with Clinverse to Offer Payment Tool as Part of EDC

04-Sep-2013 By Zachary Brennan

OmniComm Systems and Clinverse have partnered to combine OmniComm’s EDC system with Clinverse’s automated payment tool.