update

Lonza cuts jobs at Visp and plans to review productivity at other sites

31-Oct-2012 - Lonza says it will cut jobs at its facility in Visp, Switzerland and that it may enact ‘similar productivity improvement programmes’ at other facilities. 

update #2

East coast CMOs relatively unscathed by Superstorm Sandy

31-Oct-2012 - The full impact of Superstorm Sandy is still being assessed, but early reports suggest that the East coast contract manufacturing industry has escaped relatively unscathed.

News in brief

SAFC wins preformulation services deal

31-Oct-2012 - SAFC will provide pre-formulation services for South Korea-based NSAID developer CrystalGenomics.

Cyprotex teams with Pfizer on predictive tox project

30-Oct-2012 - Cyprotex has signed an 18-month collaboration with US drug giant Pfizer focused on predictive in-vitro toxicology in preclinical development.

Biotrial to buy Warnex’s remaining biz for $6m; plans US clinical unit

30-Oct-2012 - French contract research organisation (CRO) Biotrial will buy Warnex’s bioanalytical services business for C$6m before the end of the year.

Patheon to buy Banner Pharmacaps for $255m

29-Oct-2012 - Canadian CMO Patheon will buy softgel specialist Banner Pharmacaps, moving forward with its plan to build in the oral dose delivery sector.

Lonza tweaks E.coli expression system; denies takeover rumours

29-Oct-2012 - Lonza claims a new selection technology to its microbial protein expression system will improve yields and boost efficiency.

News from Lonza, DSM, Ark and AMRI

29-Oct-2012 - Outsourcing-pharma.com presents a roundup of contract manufacturing news with deals for Lonza, DSM and Ark Therapeutics and an expanded agreement with Shire for AMRI.  

News for CPhI

New import laws spur hopes for reduced trial start-up time in Ukraine

25-Oct-2012 - Ukraine hopes changes to import laws will help cut trial start-up time from six month to 45 days.

News from CPhI

Cobra Biologics talks recent fill finish acquisition and future growth plans

25-Oct-2012 - CMO Cobra Biologics says North America is an obvious place to look at for a facility acquisition.

People on the move: outsourcing jobs

25-Oct-2012 - Outsourcing-Pharma.com presents its weekly round-up of the latest appointments within the industry, including news from Quintiles, AMRI and PDI.

Fujifilm and Piramal team on ADC manufacturing

24-Oct-2012 - Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies has partnered with Piramal Healthcare on development and manufacture of ADCs.

Genetic 'placebo response' marker has trial design implications, say researchers

24-Oct-2012 - Discovery of the genetic basis for the placebo effect in IBS patients has wider implications for protocol design and trials of personalised medicines say researchers.

Quintiles to conduct its first global trial using Indonesian patients

24-Oct-2012 - Quintiles has established roots in Indonesia through a new partnership with Prodia.

News from CPhI

Penn Pharma in talks with the big boys over new facility

24-Oct-2012 - Penn Pharma is in talks with a number of “big players” over its upcoming high containment oral solid dose facility.

EMA publishes guidance on trial data publishing

23-Oct-2012 - The EMA has issued new guidance on the publication of clinical trial results as part of an effort to make such data publicly available.

News in brief

DRAP sets up committee to solve price restructuring woes with CMOs

23-Oct-2012 - The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan has set up a committee to resolve registration and licensing issues with local contract manufacturers.

News from AAPS

Xcelience plans EU clinical trial supply expansion after opening new US plant

23-Oct-2012 - Xcelience is shopping for a European distributor after opening a new clinical trial supply facility in the US.

Former Lonza biologics CSO joins Cobra board

23-Oct-2012 - Cobra Biologics says former Lonza biopharmaceutical science officer brings strategic insight, process development and manufacturing expertise.

update - audio available

Catalent says sharing with industry will not dull competetive edge

22-Oct-2012 - Catalent says making its technology available to industry will not affect its competitive edge.

Wuxi opens biologics plant with JV partner AstraZeneca in attendance

22-Oct-2012 - Wuxi AppTec has opened a biologics manufacturing facility that will play a key role in its recent accord with Anglo-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca.

SNBL USA gets animal welfare accreditation

22-Oct-2012 - Preclinical services firm SNBL USA has gained AAALAC accreditation for animal research programs at its sites in Everett, Washington and Alice, Texas.

Ben Venue restarts production; Janssen says Doxil available soon

18-Oct-2012 - US CMO Ben Venue has restarted 'limited drug manufacturing' at its plant in Bedford, Ohio, but does not expect to start shipping product for several months.

News in brief

Catalent aims to boost drug delivery through industry-academia partnership

18-Oct-2012 - Catalent has established a new institute in a bid to advance drug delivery by creating links between industry and academia.

People on the move: outsourcing jobs

18-Oct-2012 - Outsourcing-Pharma.com presents its weekly round-up of the latest changes, faces and places in the pharma services sector, including news from Wolters, Advanced Clinical and BIA.

AstraZeneca deal not new for CRL, but still good news

18-Oct-2012 - Charles River Laboratories' deal with AstraZeneca may only formalise an existing relationship but a second Big Pharma accord is good news for the CRO say analysts.

update

Icon expands early-phase imaging business

17-Oct-2012 - Icon has expanded its early-phase medical imaging services business, citing greater use of the technology in clinical development.

Dispatches from AAPS

Bend Research hunting new partnerships to boost bioavailability offering

17-Oct-2012 - Bend Research is “actively” hunting new partnerships similar to its recent alliance with Dow.

Dispatches from AAPS

Emerging market CMOs and their customers must make info easily available: FDA

16-Oct-2012 - Make information about generic production readily available when working with vendors in emerging markets for quicker US approval, says the FDA.

SternMaid pumps cash into fluid bed processing

16-Oct-2012 - SternMaid has invested €14m in its Wittenburg factory to enlarge capacity and extend the range of its products and services, involving the introduction of new fluid bed technology.

More discovery outsourcing at AstraZeneca with Pharmaron deal

16-Oct-2012 - Sino-US CRO Pharmaron has signed a drug discovery partnership with Anglo-Swedish drug major AstraZeneca.

Clinical sites get their own industry group

16-Oct-2012 - A new trade organisation intended to give clinical research sites a voice was launched at industry event earlier this week.

Late-stage work will boost PPD's revs, but costs will hit margins says S&P

15-Oct-2012 - Returning demand for late-phase trial services will help PPD grow revenue in 2013 but rising labour costs will impact earnings says S&P.

Max Neeman expands; ACM adds liver tox testing; and Verum joins Biocom

15-Oct-2012 - Outsourcing-pharma.com presents a round-up of developments in the contract research sector with news from Max Neeman, ACM and Verum.de.

Piramal looking for injectables capacity at the right price

15-Oct-2012 - Piramal Healthcare wants to add sterile injectables to its offering but is unwilling to overpay for facilities owned by 'value focused' private equity groups.

Bend and Dow team on spray-dried dispersion solutions for bioavailability

12-Oct-2012 - Demand for better bioavailability drove another deal this week with Bend Research and Dow teaming up to develop spray drying-based solutions.

Independent panel to grant access to GSK trial data

12-Oct-2012 - A new independent review panel will decide to grant access to GSK’s clinical trial data based on scientific merit.

News in brief

Recipharm bags Astimex development and manufacturing deal

12-Oct-2012 - Swedish CMO Recipharm has won a development and manufacturing deal with Astimex Pharma and may be in the running for future contracts.

PETA discusses FedEx and UPS 'commitments' not to ship animals used in research

10-Oct-2012 - Commitments not to ship animals two cargo firms gave animal rights protesters won't impact drug research, but such campaigns will continue.

Industry too afraid to include children in clinical trials, says expert

10-Oct-2012 - The pharma industry does not include children in clinical research for fear of mentally scarring them, according to ResearchNurses.co.

Piramal on the lookout for EU and US CMO acquisitions

09-Oct-2012 - Indian contractor Piramal Healthcare is on the lookout for acquisitions in the US and Europe that will expand its CRAMS business.

Almac teams with DSM on biocatalysis and ramps up API capacity

09-Oct-2012 - Demand for larger-scale, sustainable API manufacturing capacity is a key strategy driver for Almac if developments this week are an indication.

Scotland's pharma services sector grows with Govt support

09-Oct-2012 - Scotland’s emergence as a biopharma hub – as evidenced by announcements by SAFC and Quintiles last week – is due to Government support, electronic health records and speedy trial approvals...

Dr Reddy's adds PEG and API capacity at UK site

09-Oct-2012 - Dr Reddy's Laboratories has added conjugation tech production capacity its UK plant.

Trial participants are medical heroes not test monkeys says ACRO

08-Oct-2012 - ACRO says media portrayal of clinical trial participants as ‘guinea pigs’ or ‘test monkeys’ has a negative impact on drug research.

Symbiosis opens contract injectables plant for early phase

08-Oct-2012 - Symbiosis has opened a new sterile manufacturing facility in Scotland for clinical trial drug supply.

People on the move: jobs in pharma

08-Oct-2012 - Outsourcing-Pharma.com presents its weekly round-up of the latest appointments in the pharma services industry, including news from Chiltern, Novacep and Emergent.

CitoxLAB cites LAB takeover as driver and hints at collaboration with clinical CROs

04-Oct-2012 - CiToxLAB says LAB Research acquisition was key driver for growth in H1 2012 and hints at future collaborations with clinical CROs.

News in brief

Olympus Biotech launches drug and biologic CMO

04-Oct-2012 - The CMO sector welcomed its newest member this week with Olympus Biotech launching a drug contract manufacturing business.

Almac buys new blister tech for Northern Ireland plant

04-Oct-2012 - Almac has invested in new flexible blister tech for its site in Northern Ireland facility just months after bolstering its US packaging business.

Icon and South Korean Government team up to drive clinical activity

04-Oct-2012 - Icon has forged an alliance with the South Korean Government in a bid to boost local trial activity.

update

Apax’s Marken dealmaker quits calling the investment a ‘tough one’

03-Oct-2012 - The Mann who bought Marken for investment group Apax Partners has stepped down, describing the deal for the logistics contractor as one of the ‘tough ones’.

ChemAxon opens Boston HQ in face of growing US demand

03-Oct-2012 - ChemAxon has opened a US headquarters to boost its technical, scientific and consultancy services.

News in brief

QPS Qualitix sets up Beijing office

03-Oct-2012 - CRO QPS Qualitix has continued its expansion in Asia with a new office in China.

Catalent and Parexel team up to offer clinical trial material supply services

03-Oct-2012 - Catalent and Parexel have teamed up to offer clinical trial material supply services.

Quintiles set to boost Scotland's "promising" clinical trials market

02-Oct-2012 - Quintiles has forged a deal with the Scottish Government which it says will boost clinical trial activity in the country.

Lonza wins second high-tech trial supply contract in a week

02-Oct-2012 - Lonza will produce clinical trial supplies of an enzyme-replacement therapy being developed by Celladon Corp as a treatment for heart failure.

News in brief

Pluristem Therapeutics signs Fisher BioServices as distributor for preclinical cell line

02-Oct-2012 - Pluristem Therapeutics has enlisted Fisher BioServices to distribute its placenta-based cell therapies to clinical and preclinical trial sites globally.

WorldCare Clinical launches clinical trials review service at request of FDA

02-Oct-2012 - WorldCare Clinical has launched a blinded independent safety and efficacy review service to speed FDA approval of clinical trial data.

Lonza to make preclinical antibody conjugates for Intellect Neurosciences

01-Oct-2012 - Lonza has signed a contract to make preclinical trial supplies of an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) being developed by Intellect Neurosciences.

Children must be included in more trials to drive paediatric development: experts

01-Oct-2012 - Children are not included in enough clinical trials in the US, according to an FDA committee.

People on the move: outsourcing jobs

01-Oct-2012 - Outsourcing-Pharma.com presents its weekly round-up of the latest movers and shakers in the world of pharma, including news from Icon, Althea and PSKW.