Ranbaxy Laboratories (RLL) has opened its third state-of-the-art
drug discovery research centre in India, boosting the country's
profile as a key destination for pharmaceutical-related R&D by
drug companies, who are attracted...
Affiliated Computer Services (ACS), announced today that it has
been awarded an additional information technology (IT) outsourcing
contract with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), valued at $100.5 million (€82
million) over five years.
In its second set of financial results, Superfos has reported
earnings in the first six months of 2005 that have been affected by
high prices of raw material. The Danish packaging firm appear to
have resolved its delivery problems...
Drug delivery specialists, Inyx has announced the acquisition of
Celltech Manufacturing Services from biopharmaceutical company UCB
for €27.5 million (€22.3 million). The acquisition adds to Inyx's
recently established operating...
Researchers in the US have discovered a way of generating stem
cells that could avoid the use of human embryos, potentially
bypassing one of the major obstacles to the development of
therapies based on this technology.
Sandoz, the generics subsidiary of Swiss pharmaceutical company
Novartis, is rumoured to be planning an acquisition in India in a
move that would give it back the top slot in the sector.
Who's making what for whom? In-PharmaTechnologist provides its
periodic round-up of new deals and developments in the
pharmaceutical contract manufacturing sector.
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries has become the second Indian
drugmaker in a matter of days to announce the purchase of a
manufacturing facility in Eastern Europe that will serve as a
springboard for expansion into the broader European...
Viatris, a German pharmaceutical company specialising in inhaled
medicines and other specialty drugs, has accepted a €750 million
takeover offer from Swedish drugs group Meda.
Cardinal Health reported a mixed bag of results in its fourth
quarter, with revenues rising well on the back of rising demand for
its pharmaceutical distribution services, although operating profit
fell 9 per cent, in line with forecasts,...
The world's second largest pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline,
is investing close to €100 million in a new manufacturing facility
in Dresden, Germany, for flu vaccines.
Clintrak Pharmaceutical Services (CPS) has announced that it has
been approved by the German Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority for
secondary packaging, warehousing and distribution operations at its
manufacturing site in Freiburg,...
Dowpharma has announced the addition of an oligonucleotide
synthesizer for its manufacturing of nucleic acid medicines. The
new oligo synthesizer is said to increase speed and flexibility in
producing clinical quantities for customers.
The Hovione Group revealed its yearly figures for 2005, which
revealed that sales grew by 8 per cent. The company's performance
is in contrast to the pharma fine chemicals sector, which between
2002 and 2004 had an average 14...
Cambrex has recorded a gain in the second quarter of this year,
with growth in its Bioproducts and Human Health segments. The
performances overshadow the company's troublesome BioPharma
division, indicative of a market for outsourced...
Alfa Laval has announced the first of several new patents in which
a new mixing technology is described that claims to increase
productivity as well as reduce long cycle times - an issue that is
common with current single-use mixing...
Swiss chemicals firm and contract manufacturer Lonza fulfilled its
promise of stronger financial results in the first half of 2005,
with profits coming in at the lower end of the forecast range, but
still on target, reports Phil Taylor.
The acquisition of Flexible Packaging (FlexPac) of the US by the
Blackard Group will spur the development of the company's
technology into new industrial sectors, including pharmaceuticals.
Chemicals and pharmaceuticals firm Merck KGaA saw turnover rise but
pretax earnings dip in the second quarter of 2005, although the
results were skewed by the gain from its divestment of its
laboratory distribution business VWR International.
Maxim Pharmaceuticals has been issued with a US patent that covers
a novel class of potent apoptosis inducers with vascular targeting
activity that inhibits microtubule formation - a prime drug target
in the fight against cancer.
Lester Crawford was confirmed yesterday as the new Commissioner of
the US Food and Drug Administration, having already served for more
than a year in the post.
The trials and tribulations affecting US generics maker Able
Laboratories took a decisive turn yesterday when the company filed
for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, reports Phil Taylor.
The rapporteur trying to finesse the controversial REACH
legislation through the European Parliament, Guido Sacconi, has
formulated a compromise that aims to alleviate fears that the
regulations could pose a heavy financial burden...
New analysis into the gene therapy market reveals that
toxicological complications and poor therapy efficacy have hampered
the growth of this sector in which new ways must be found to
improve clinical efficiency and generate revenue.
A recent study designed to assess biopharmaceutical innovation in
the member states of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and
Development has found that, in terms of innovation and
biotechnology industry development, Belgium...
West Pharmaceutical Services is planning to buy Israel's Medimop
Medical Projects, which develops disposable medical devices for the
mixing, transfer, reconstitution and administration of injectable
drugs.
Emergent Biosolutions has announced it has acquired Microscience,
in a deal that adds proprietary platform technology in oral vaccine
delivery. The deal also adds to Emergent's European presence in the
growing global vaccine...
The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has finalised a new procedure
designed to make the process for the development, consultation,
finalisation and implementation of pharmaceutical guidelines
clearer.
Suppliers in the RNA purification market seeking to win market
share are posed with the challenge of overcoming strong levels of
customer loyalty. A survey reveals that Qiagen and Invitrogen came
out top as to primary suppliers to...
Another week, another Indian acquisition of a European or US
pharmaceutical company. In the latest case, Torrent Pharmaceuticals
has agreed to acquire Heumann Pharma Generics of Germany through
its wholly owned German affiliate, Torrent...
German pharmaceutical firm Schering is planning to close down half
its production facilities in the coming years as it strives to
boost profitability and growth to a level that will beat its peers
in the industry, reports Phil Taylor.
Shares in German generic drugmaker Stada rose last Friday after
rumours resurfaced that Israeli company Teva Pharmaceutical
Industries was gearing up to launch a €2 billion bid for the
company.
Pfizer has started production at a newly opened $90m plant
expansion in Ireland that will make torcetrapib, a cardiovascular
drug in late-stage clinical testing, reports Phil Taylor.
In-PharmaTechnologist.com presents a round-up of recent
appointments in the pharmaceutical development and manufacturing
arena, headed this week by senior appointments at world number one
drugmaker Pfizer.
United Drug of Ireland has acquired TD Packaging, a UK-based
company which supplies the international pharmaceutical and
healthcare industries, in a deal valued at up to £11.4 million
(€17.1m), reports Phil Taylor.
US biotechnology company Biogen Idec has said that it plans to sell
a California manufacturing plant built to produce its withdrawn
multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri (natalizumab) to Genentech,
reports Phil Taylor.
AstraZeneca has been fined a hefty €60 million by the European
Commission for manipulating patent laws to keep competitors out of
the market, marking the first occasion that antirust laws have been
used to combat patent abuse.
The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval of the
first-in-class antibiotic, Tygacil (tigecycline), is set to provide
doctors with an alternative treatment for skin and intra-abdominal
infections that have previously been...
The Supreme Court's decision to allow drug companies to receive
exemptions from patent infringement during key early-stage research
carries wider significance throughout the industry as it reduces
licence negotiation for patented...
Solutia has drawn up an agreement with former parent Monsanto that
could finally bring it out of the state of bankruptcy
reorganisation it has resided in since the end of 2003, reports
Phil Taylor.
BASF, the world's largest chemical company, said on Friday it plans
to buy Orgamol SA of Switzerland as part of an expansion of its
BASF Pharma Solutions unit, reports Phil Taylor.
Arena Pharmaceuticals have been issued with a patent for drug
screening methods for the treatment of metabolic-related disorders,
especially in relation to the niacin receptor. Ligands of the
niacin receptor play a role in regulating...
