Roche gets OK for tumour-starving drug
Switzerland's Roche made a piece of medical history on Friday after receiving the first approval for a drug designed to treat cancer blocking the growth of blood vessels required to feed a growing tumour.
Archives for March 1, 2004
Animal research slammed by doctors' group
Much animal research into potential human treatments is wasted because it is poorly conducted and not thoroughly evaluated, according to a commentary in the British Medical Journal (28 February).
FDA makes drug bar coding mandatory
The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a new rule that makes it a requirement for most prescription and some over-the-counter pharmaceutical products to carry bar codes. The move is aimed at reducing the number of medication errors associated...
New use found for promising cancer drugs
Inhibitors of the enzyme histone deacetylase (HDAC) have entered clinical testing in cancer, but may also prevent a serious and life-threatening complication of bone marrow transplants.
New French player in contract biomanufacturing
Two France-based companies have pooled their resources to set up a new venture specialising in the contract development and manufacturing of biologicals drugs.
Hexal buys chemical synthesis plant
Pharmaceuticals manufacturer Hexal has bought a facility near Dresden from specialty chemicals firm Degussa.
Legal decision could delay biogenerics in US
Dr Reddy's Laboratories of India has lost its bid to market a generic version of Pfizer's blockbuster hypertension drug Norvasc (amlodipine besylate) in a development that could spell trouble for companies hoping to market generic versions of biologic...
CombiChem market set for renewed growth?
A reluctance by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to invest in drug discovery technologies has been holding back the market for combinatorial chemistry, but this is expected to change over the next few years, according to new market research.
Improved fast-melt tablets from Antares
Fast-melt tablets are a growing category in oral drug delivery, driven by their ease of use. To date, products of this type have needed specialised packaging to ensure they arrive at the consumer in good condition, but a new technology developed by...