Contract Manufacturing

Patheon has bought hard-to-make API specialist Irix Pharmaceuticals

04-Mar-2015 By Gareth Macdonald

Patheon has bought hard-to-manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) specialist, Irix Pharmaceuticals.

Valeant sacks Dendreon admin staff and plans manufacturing savings

04-Mar-2015 By Gareth Macdonald

Valeant has started cutting jobs at Provenge manufacturer Dendreon just over a week after it acquired the bankrupt firm for $495m (€444m).

CMO group wants US FDA fees to be exempt from enforced budget cuts

03-Mar-2015 By Gareth Macdonald

A US CMO industry group has backed plans to exempt privately paid user fees from Government spending cuts enforced if US politicians fail to agree a budget.

Sun Pharma goes after opiates with deal to buy GSK’s Aus business

03-Mar-2015 By Fiona BARRY

Indian giant Sun Pharma has bought GSK’s Australian Opiates business.

UK R&D firm patents biologics powder storage technique

27-Feb-2015 By Fiona BARRY

XstalBio, a private biopharma services company, has patented the use of stabilisers in the manufacture of dry powders for biopharmaceuticals – an alternative to freeze-drying or spray-drying techniques.

Japanese companies acquire CMO KBI Biopharma

26-Feb-2015 By Zachary Brennan

Tokyo-based CMIC Holdings Co., Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ), and JSR have agreed to acquire KBI Biopharma, a contract development and manufacturing organization with facilities in Durham and Research Triangle Park, North Carolina and...

Bayer manufactures for biologics start-up in CoLaborator project

26-Feb-2015 By Fiona BARRY

Bayer has announced a strategic alliance to manufacture a preclinical candidate for small biotech Aronora.

Sagent shifts production in-house after US FDA concerns about CMO Emcure

25-Feb-2015 By Gareth Macdonald

Problems at Emcure Pharmaceutical have prompted US customer Sagent Pharmaceuticals to recall two lots of a muscle relaxant made by the CMO and take production in-house.

Catalent wants to raise $630m through follow on offering

24-Feb-2015 By Gareth Macdonald

Catalent wants to raise $629.3m (EUR550m) through a follow-on offering that will see Blackstone sell 17.6m shares.

Syringe reuse not clever: WHO advocates use of "smart" syringes to stop disease spread

23-Feb-2015 By Gareth Macdonald

‘Smart’ syringes that can’t be reused should be the drug and vaccine delivery technology of choice for healthcare programmes according to the WHO, which says needle reuse is spreading deadly infectious diseases.

Facility already supplying Granules' JV partner Ajinomoto Omnichem with validation batches

Granules predicts US and EMA approval for new API plant in two years

23-Feb-2015 By Gareth Macdonald

An API and intermediates plant set up by Granules India and Ajinomoto Omnichem is a step closer to opening after an offical inauguration ceremony last week. 

AstraZeneca R&D arm signs five-year deal with NIST to advance discovery, manufacturing

23-Feb-2015 By Zachary Brennan

MedImmune, the biologics R&D arm of AstraZeneca, and the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have signed a five-year agreement to support research that will help advance drug discovery and biomanufacturing. 

Novasep signs €4.7m biomanufacturing deal with biotech

18-Feb-2015 By Zachary Brennan

Novasep has signed a €4.7m ($5.4m) agreement with Celladon, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, to prepare to supply the drug substance for the heart failure treatment Mydicar.

WuXi borrows $165m from Asian banks for M&A deals in 2015

18-Feb-2015 By Zachary Brennan

China-based CRO WuXi PharmaTech has entered into a syndicated loan facility to borrow up to $165m from a consortium of banks in Asia to seek out new acquisitions. 

Fresenius Kabi sells cancer compounding biz to NewCo Pharma

17-Feb-2015 By Gareth Macdonald

Fresenius Kabi has sold its cancer drug pharmacy network CFL GmbH to NewCo Pharma GmbH five years after spending €42m to buy compounding capacity in Germany.

More US FDA draft guidance for compounders

16-Feb-2015 By Gareth Macdonald

The US FDA has proposed more new rules for compounders three years after a deadly meningitis outbreak was linked to unsafe manufacturing practices at a pharmacy in Massachusetts.

PE-backed Laurus Labs sets up US drug ingredients business

16-Feb-2015 By Gareth Macdonald

Warburg Pincus-backed HIV drug ingredient firm Laurus Labs has set up a US presence and development facility in a bid to win more North American customers.

Enteris plans to beat established API CMOs on lead times

16-Feb-2015 By Gareth Macdonald

Enteris Biopharma says it can compete with established API CMOs by offering shorter lead times and greater flexibility.

AMRI looks to close API facility in Wales as part of network realignment

12-Feb-2015 By Dan Stanton

AMRI has announced plans to close an API development and manufacturing plant in Wales, UK, after efforts to establish it as a conduit between the US and Europe were deemed unsuccessful.

Ex-Unigene execs who run Enteris add API contracting service to delivery tech licensing business

12-Feb-2015 By Gareth Macdonald

Enteris BioPharma has broadened its business beyond drug delivery tech licensing and launched a contract API manufacturing service.

Unilife upping device production as market opportunity offsets flat sales

10-Feb-2015 By Dan Stanton

Unilife Corporation has ramped up production of delivery devices as pharmas looks to differentiate injectable therapies from the competition.

Penn is mightily pleased with safety record

10-Feb-2015 By Gareth Macdonald

Banishing kettles, 'Gemba walks' and encouraging employees to report near misses have helped Penn Pharma to remain accident free at its high potency compound manufacturing facility in Wales.

Cambrex: ‘Either we invest now or turn away API business”

09-Feb-2015 By Dan Stanton

Ongoing demand for large-scale APIs combined with high capacity utilization has driven Cambrex Corporation to allot up to $85m (€70m) for manufacturing expansion in 2015.

Provenge in a dish not yet sold: Valeant ups Dendreon offer after competing bids

06-Feb-2015 By Gareth Macdonald

Bankrupt cell therapy firm Dendreon has attracted more suitors according to stalking horse bidder Valeant, which upped its offer for the Provenge (sipuleucel-T) developer to $400m this week.

Dispatches from InformEx

What helps an outsourcing partnership? Be up front about the bad news

06-Feb-2015 By Zachary Brennan

When it comes to forging solid relationships between CMOs (contract manufacturing organizations) and drug developers, one thing is clear: deviations will occur.

Water Street targets generic injectables sector with CMO buy

05-Feb-2015 By Gareth Macdonald

Water Street Healthcare Partners has bought US generic injectables contractor Custopharm.

Dispatches from InformEx

Post-IPO Catalent turns to internal investments to meet new demands

05-Feb-2015 By Zachary Brennan

With its stock up about 35% since its IPO, Catalent is continuing to invest internally to meet the growing demands of its clients.

Think you’re on track for 2018 EU serialisation? No you’re not

04-Feb-2015 By Fiona BARRY

Most pharmaceutical companies are already behind on preparations for the EU Falsified Medicines Directive’s serialisation requirements for 2018, says one services firm.

CMO free? Novo Nordisk investing $760m in homegrown network

03-Feb-2015 By Dan Stanton

Novo Nordisk will invest up to $760m in its manufacturing network in the coming year to support the growth of its insulin portfolio.

ScinoPharm: profits fall on higher costs, an idle plant and lower Qsymia sales

03-Feb-2015 By Gareth Macdonald

ScinoPharm was hurt by weak US demand for the weight loss pill Qsymia, higher raw material prices and costs associated with its still unapproved plant in China in 2014.

Fareva to buy Pfizer plant to build US pharma presence

31-Aug-2011

US drug giant Pfizer is to sell its plant in Henrico County, Virginia to Luxembourg-headquartered manufacturer Fareva.