Abbott Laboratories and artus have gained European approval for
their RealArt HPA Coronavirus LC RT Reagents, a diagnostic test for
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
BioProgress of the UK, which specialises in delivery mechanisms for
the pharmaceutical oral dosage markets, has sold the first two
machines in its line of systems for tablet coating based on its
proprietary coloured cellulose film.
Sigma-Aldrich has negotiated an exclusive contract to distribute a
range of catalysts that are used in pharmaceutical discovery and
fine chemical production.
Oden has introduced its Mass/Blend Continuous Stream Digital
Blending System, designed to eliminate problems associated with
large-batch liquid preparation.
Swiss pharmaceuticals giant Novartis is planning to shut its only
manufacturing facility in India, at Mahad in Maharashtra, because
of increasing competition.
The UK's Genetix, which makes gene and protein research equipment,
said it had received orders from leading pharmaceutical groups for
two of its new products.
BASF has completed a production plant for high-purity
methanesulfonic acid, widely used in the chemical industry and in
the synthesis of pharmaceuticals.
Isopak of the UK has introduced a single punch benchtop tablet
press machine that is designed to answer the needs of small
laboratories, pharmacies and hospitals.
Alfa Laval and Millipore are to work together to supply tools for
the recovery of biopharmaceutical proteins generated by cell
culture and fermentation.
Vencor has launched a range of chemical taggants that can be used
to provide secure identification of products, including drugs and
speciality chemicals.
Neo Pharma becomes the first company to start manufacturing
pharmaceuticals in Abu Dhabi. The company's facility offers both
production and R&D capabilities.
Procter & Gamble has patented a new formulation of risedronate
that overcomes the upper gastrointestinal side effects that can
occur with the osteoporosis drug.
UK software company Intelligensys has launched a new product that
promises a step forward in the application of artificial
intelligence technologies to pharmaceutical formulation and design.
A new range of cell culture vessels developed by Switzerland's
Integra Biosciences promises to increase production yields in
laboratories making monoclonal antibodies and recombinant proteins.
Roche has licensed exclusive marketing rights outside the USA to
Avastin (bevacizumab), a drug for colorectal cancer, from
Genentech. The latter company will retain all rights to the drug in
its home market.
Schering has been granted approval throughout the European Union
for Angeliq (oestradiol and drospirenone), its new low-dose hormone
replacement therapy.
Australia's Biotechnology Frontiers is awarded a A$780,000 grant to
develop a microbiological quality control tool that can be used in
the pharma and food industries.
Akzo Nobel received a knock-back from the US Food and Drug
Administration after the agency asked for more information before
approving a ready-to-use version of the firm's fertility drug
Follistim.
Argonaut Technologies has introduced a new resin-bound reagent,
MP-TsO-TEMPO that enables medicinal chemists to introduce diversity
into chemical libraries with high purity and yields.
A new formulation of GlaxoSmithKline's Parkinson's disease drug
Requip (ropinirole), developed with UK drug delivery specialist
SkyePharma, has entered Phase III testing.
Italian drug delivery specialist Eurand has made a foray into the
market for fast-melt oral tablets that dissolve quickly in the
mouth without chewing or the need for water.
A closed system that prevents the exposure of healthcare workers to
hazardous anticancer drugs, developed by Sweden's Carmel Pharma,
has been introduced in the USA by Baxa.
For the first time, German chemicals and pharmaceuticals major
Bayer is offering a range of products and services from its
biotechnology division to third-party customers
Brookfield has introduced the YR-1 Rheometer, designed to provide a
simple to operate, low-cost alternative to full-featured laboratory
rheometers for quality control applications
US company Nashai Biotech has developed a new process that
preserves and protects theaflavins, compounds found in tea, when
they are formulated into powders or liquids
Amarin Development has won a new contract to apply its formulation
and manufacturing services to a neurological drug candidate
developed by Acadia Pharmaceuticals
CT Consulting Group has developed a new electronic logbook system
for the drug industry that enables R&D teams and quality
control labs to maintain lab and GMP notebooks on computer
Germany's BASF has been awarded a US patent covering a new coating
agent, binder and/or film-forming excipient, based on
polyether-containing polymers, which can be used in pharmaceutical
formulations
UK-based laboratory instrumentation supplier Presearch has added a
new evaporator to its product range that is claimed to allow for
rapid evaporation of solvent from samples
Laureate Pharma of the USA has commissioned a new automated
chromatography system for Good Manufacturing Practice-compliant
purification of protein products
BASF has announced that later this summer it will temporarily
suspend production of the amino acid lysine at its facility in
Gunsan, Korea, due to essential maintenance work
Dutch biotechnology company Crucell has announced a new project
aimed at developing a vaccine for West Nile virus, a flu-like
illness that can cause a brain infection with a mortality rate of 1
per cent
Tepnel Life Sciences sees its shares soar after announcing the
first sale of its Nucleopure DNA purification system to an unnamed
UK pharmaceuticals group
Canadian chromatography and mass spectrometry specialist Waters has
introduced a series of new products at the ongoing ASMS meeting in
Montreal, Canada
The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has
asked for prescribing restrictions on GlaxoSmithKline's
widely-prescribed antidepressant Seroxat.
Owens-Illinois has launched a line of child-resistant 'squeeze and
turn' packages that incorporate a closure and bottle system
suitable for solid oral dose uses
