Delivery technologies

Twist Bioscience secures $50m to advance DNA Synthesis Platform

03-Apr-2018 By Melissa Fassbender

The synthetic DNA provider Twist Bioscience Corporation has completed a private placement of $50m to advance its proprietary, silicon-based DNA Synthesis Platform.

Bioavailability increasing nanoparticle tech receives US patent

03-Apr-2018 By Flora Southey

Nanoparticle delivery technology that transports compounds to the bloodstream and cells can increase bioavailability and reduce adverse effects of cannabinoids and bioactive compounds, says NanoSphere Health Sciences.

Consortium looks to make bacteria for anti-inflammatory drug delivery to the gut

29-Mar-2018 By Dan Stanton

Porton Biopharma will look to develop GMP manufacturing capabilities for Clostridia bacteria as part of a UK collaboration developing aimed at developing microbiome targeted therapeutics.

Peptide ‘nanodrills’ to deliver anticancer drugs into cells

28-Mar-2018 By Flora Southey

Scientists have developed synthetic peptide ‘nanodrills' to pierce cell membranes and deliver molecular drugs.

Medpharm targeting increased growth through PE investment

27-Mar-2018 By Staff Reporter

Ampersand Capital Partners has invested in drug delivery technology firm MedPharm.

Scientists develop ‘nanospear’ tech for cell and gene therapies

21-Mar-2018 By Flora Southey

‘Splinter-like’ nanostructures have been developed by researchers in the US to deliver biomolecules straight into patient cells for immune-oncology and gene therapies.

Upperton upping spray-dry production in $2m relocation

15-Mar-2018 By Staff Reporter

Spray-drying service provider Upperton Pharma Solutions has expaned to offer GMP manufacturing for early-stage clinical trials.

Capsule maker ups track and trace with molecular tagging

14-Mar-2018 By Flora Southey

ACG says adding Applied DNA Sciences’ molecular tagging and authentication technology to its capsule products will increase supply chain security.

UPDATE

Anticancer delivery tech to reduce tissue damage an ‘unexpected surprise’

12-Mar-2018 By Flora Southey

Researchers are developing light-sensitive nanocontainers they say can deliver anticancer drugs to precise locations, at exact times.

WuXi STA to make oligonucleotides for Regulus

01-Mar-2018 By Staff Reporter

Regulus Therapeutics has entered into an oligonucleotide synthesis collaboration with STA Pharmaceuticals for research and mid-scale non-GMP/cGMP manufacturing.

‘Painless’ biologics? US firm makes intestinal injection pill for large molecule drugs

28-Feb-2018 By Flora Southey

Rani Therapeutics is developing an oral delivery pill that injects large molecule drugs directly into the small intestine.

Fake news? Novartis confirms it has no plans to sell Sandoz

26-Feb-2018 By Dan Stanton

Novartis is considering divesting non-core and negative margin products but confirms it has no plans to place Sandoz “on the auction block.”

Lonza ups HPAPI encapsulation capacity in Florida

22-Feb-2018 By Staff Reporter

Lonza has increased its encapsulation capacity and invested in highly potent active pharmaceutical ingredient (HPAPI) services at a facility in Tampa, Florida.

West Pharma to merge manufacturing and exit sites in network shake-up

21-Feb-2018 By Flora Southey

A network reshuffle will see West Pharma consolidate manufacturing and close some facilities to “streamline” its plant network.

Takeda looks to oligonucleotides in $230m CNS collaboration

21-Feb-2018 By Staff Reporter

Takeda Pharmaceuticals will work with Wave Life Sciences to develop nucleic acid therapies for central nervous system disorders, including Huntington’s and Lou Gehrig’s disease.

‘No mess’ delivery tech to combat overdose, says GSK

20-Feb-2018 By Flora Southey

GSK has developed a ‘no mess’ applicator for its topical analgesic Voltaren, designed to avoid overdosing problems.

Slippery when wet: Colorcon coating aims to ease tablet swallowing

20-Feb-2018 By Dan Stanton

Colorcon has created a coating system it says makes swallowing tablets easier, fulfilling patient compliance demands in recent regulatory guidance.

US FDA approves Makena injection using ‘smaller, non-visible needle’ tech

19-Feb-2018 By Flora Southey

AMAG has received approval for its preterm birth risk reduction product combining the drug product supplied by Pfizer and Antares Pharma’s auto-injection system.

ImmunoGen closing MA plant: 20 jobs to go, $20m in savings

15-Feb-2018 By Staff Reporter

ImmunoGen says it is shifting drug conjugate manufacturing and quality testing to an outsourcing model and will close its Norwood facility.

Short-acting to extended half-life, Ireland signs exclusive haemophilia deal

14-Feb-2018 By Flora Southey

The Republic of Ireland will move its population from short-acting to extended half-life haemophilia therapies, under an exclusive two-year deal with Sobi.

Industry donates ‘one-shot’ anti-opioid delivery tech to Illinois

14-Feb-2018 By Flora Southey

AptarGroup has donated its nasal spray delivery technology to the Illinois Task Force in conjunction with opioid antagonist maker Adapt Pharma.

Site closure, staff cuts: Arbutus reshuffles in Vancouver

13-Feb-2018 By Flora Southey

Arbutus Biopharma Corporation is cutting operations but says it remains committed to developing its messenger RNA drug delivery technology.

Drug delivery trends from Paris: Bluetooth, patient centricity and disposable tech

08-Feb-2018 By Flora Southey

A patient-controlled injector and a prefilled pen for patients with hand dexterity issues were among the drug delivery technologies celebrated at PharmaPack Europe’s awards this year.

Lonza: Capsugel contributes to ‘record year’ for Swiss CDMO

01-Feb-2018 By Dan Stanton

Lonza has attributed a record-breaking year to the addition of Capsugel along with continued high pharma and biotech demand.

Hovione adds inhalation product development tech at former Generis site

30-Jan-2018 By Staff Reporter

Hovione has bolstered its encapsulation for inhaled products technology capabilities at its site in Portugal.

Sanofi to buy Ablynx for €3.9bn, leaving Novo Nordisk in the cold

29-Jan-2018 By Dan Stanton

Sanofi is set to acquire its antibody-fragment tech partner Ablynx for €3.9bn ($4.8bn).

Analgesics and beyond: Time-release delivery firm looks for investment

25-Jan-2018 By Dan Stanton

InSitu Biologics says it is looking for investors to support its hydrogel-based drug delivery system AnestaGel.

Braeburn’s subdermal opioid addiction candidate receives CRL from FDA

24-Jan-2018 By Dan Stanton

The US FDA has asked Braeburn Pharmaceuticals for more information regarding its sustained-release subcutaneous buprenorphine injection in a complete response letter (CRL).

Benchmark for tracking industry efforts to fight antimicrobial resistance launched at WEF in Davos

23-Jan-2018 By Gareth Macdonald

The Access to Medicines Foundation has launched a ‘benchmark’ that maps drug industry efforts to stem the spread of drug resistance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Pfizer blames Canadian EpiPen shortage on manufacturing complexities

22-Jan-2018 By Dan Stanton

Pfizer says ongoing remediation to the quality validation process at its supplier has resulted in a shortage of EpiPen auto-injectors in the 0.3 mg format.

Google Ventures and others back universal flu vaccine firm Vaccitech

17-Jan-2018 By Gareth Macdonald

Vector-based vaccine tech firm Vaccitech has secured £20m ($27.1m) in venture capital with investors Google Ventures, Sequoia China, Neptune Ventures and Oxford Sciences Innovation.

Research looks to microneedle patch to combat antimicrobial resistance

Microneedle skin patch could combat antimicrobial resistance, say researchers

16-Jan-2018 By Flora Southey

A skin patch designed to deliver antibiotics directly into the bloodstream could prevent the development of antimicrobial resistance in gut bacteria, say scientists in Ireland.

Aviragen Vaxart merger to create $264m tablet vaccine firm

15-Jan-2018 By Dan Stanton

Aviragen Therapeutics has called on shareholders to back its proposed merger with oral vaccine delivery firm Vaxart.

Novartis to test Intec's Accordion controlled-release delivery tech

10-Jan-2018 By Gareth Macdonald

Novartis will trial a controlled release technology – dubbed the Accordion Pill – under an agreement with developer Intec Pharma Ltd.

Pfizer pays Arvinas $830m to discover drugs that target mis-folded proteins

08-Jan-2018 By Gareth Macdonald

Pfizer Inc has paid Arvinas Llc $830m (€693m) to develop small molecule drug candidates that treat diseases caused by mis-folded proteins.

Intec gets Canadian patent for Accordion Pill controlled release tech

04-Jan-2018 By Flora Southey

Canadian regulators have granted Intec Pharma a patent for its Accordion Pill controlled release technology.

Boehringer Ingelheim trials drug delivery tech for RNA-based drugs

20-Dec-2017 By Flora Southey

Boehringer Ingelheim has partnered with Evox Therapeutics to investigate the delivery of RNA-based drugs in cell-derived vesicles called exosomes.

Arrowhead turns to TRiM tech to drive clinical pipeline and collaboration

14-Dec-2017 By Dan Stanton

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals says it is looking to move six candidates into the clinic within the next year thanks to its newly unveiled RNAi delivery platform.

Lonza to make delivery vectors for Akouos' gene therapies at Houston plant

13-Dec-2017 By Gareth Macdonald

Lonza has confirmed it will manufacture gene therapy delivery vectors for hearing and balance disorder-focused biotech Akouos.

Brexit health risk: UK must negotiate role in EU drug safety monitoring says industry

12-Dec-2017 By Gareth Macdonald

Identifying dangerous medicines will take months longer if the UK cannot negotiate continued involvement in EU drug safety and health monitoring say industry groups.

US FDA looks to answer industry's 3D printed drug concerns

12-Dec-2017 By Dan Stanton

3D printing offers “a tantalizing step toward changing the manufacturing processes” for personalised medicines says a US FDA scientist.

Emergent eyes capacity boost for anti-nerve gas auto-injector

11-Dec-2017 By Dan Stanton

Emergent BioSolutions says it is looking to expand auto-injector manufacturing capacity due to growing demand for its nerve agent antidote product Trobigard.

Once-a-month opioid: Injectable Sublocade wins US approval

04-Dec-2017 By Flora Southey

The US FDA has approved Indivior’s once-monthly, injectable buprenorphine formulation to treat moderate to severe opioid use disorder.

Pharma's growing complexity needs spur AMRI aseptic investments

04-Dec-2017 By Dan Stanton

AMRI has added a new line at a facility in Spain, effectively doubling its bulk aseptic API manufacturing capacity.

Glass act: Corning set to expand capacity to tap pharma opportunities

30-Nov-2017 By Dan Stanton

Corning says it is planning to increase manufacturing capacity for its Valor Glass packaging technology to take advantage of a multi-billion dollar industry.

Fresenius Kabi investing $100m and adding 445 jobs in North Carolina

22-Nov-2017 By Dan Stanton

Encouraged by a North Carolina state grant, Fresenius Kabi will expand its prefilled syringes business acquired from Becton, Dickinson and Company in 2016.

Corium close to partnering on transdermal Alzheimer’s drug

20-Nov-2017 By Dan Stanton

Corium says it is in talks with commercialisation partners for its transdermal Alzheimer’s disease candisate Corplex Donepezil ahead of a potential 2019 launch.

Treat and trace? Sensor-embedded pill gains US approval

16-Nov-2017 By Flora Southey

Otsuka Pharmaceutical’s pill embedded with a sensor that digitally verifies if patients have taken their medication has received US approval for mental illness indications.

Evoke’s experience with Thermo wins Patheon nasal metoclopramide contract

13-Nov-2017 By Dan Stanton

Evoke Pharma has selected Patheon to commercially manufacture its nasal delivery formulation of metoclopramide Gimoti ahead of a planned US FDA submission next year.

UPDATE

Needle-free biologics: Takeda & Portal develop delivery tech for Crohn’s

09-Nov-2017 By Flora Southey

Takeda has partnered with Portal Instruments to develop a needle-free drug delivery device for biologic medicines, starting with the former’s Entyvio (vedolizumab).