Excipients, raw materials and intermediates

People on the move: results season special

06-Aug-2012 By Natalie Morrison

Results season is well under way and in-PharmaTechnologist.com is here to bring you the latest as companies announce their chops, changes and plans for the coming quarters.

Dr. Reddy's is big enough to bear the brunt of closed Mexico plant, says Barclays

02-Aug-2012 By Natalie Morrison

Dr. Reddy’s may not have as big a hill to climb as some observers suggest to regain customers lost as a result of the closure of its Mexican API plant, according to Barclays.

Granules India cites rising China API and intermediates prices as Q1 driver

31-Jul-2012 By Gareth Macdonald

Granules India saw API sales rocket in the fiscal first quarter due – according to the firm – to an efficiency drive and the impact of rising prices in China.

Regulatory pressures on microbial drug production means big wins for Cherwell Laboratories

26-Jul-2012 By Natalie Morrison

Cherwell Laboratories has more than doubled the size of its Bicester, UK, plant that manufactures prepared media for microbial production after a boom in demand for its goods.

FDA mixed messages create QbD confusion; consultant

26-Jul-2012 By Nick Taylor

Variable understanding of QbD among US FDA reviewers is leading to mixed messages and confusion, a consultant said.

SAFC ensures modest growth for Sigma Aldrich in Q2

25-Jul-2012 By Natalie Morrison

Sigma Aldrich’s fine chemicals manufacturing section SAFC ensured a modest growth for the company although its “weak” research business in the US and the EU has stunted any drastic figures, according to analysts.

Aegis gets patent for peroxide-free stability excipient in MAb formulations

25-Jul-2012

Aegis Therapeutics has been granted a US patent for a novel formulation method and excipient that it claims reduces the risk of oxidative damage during MAb production and storage.

Colorcon says IPEC review process would make Pharmas more likely to use new excipients

23-Jul-2012

More support for IPEC Americas’ proposed excipient safety review process emerged last week with Colorcon saying it makes Pharmas more likely to use new excipients.

EXCLUSIVE

Invest in African R&D to boost manufacturing: WAPMA and PMGMAN's plea

23-Jul-2012 By Natalie Morrison

WAPMA and PMGMAN are calling on African Governments to pump more money into R&D in order to boost the continent’s pharmaceutical manufacturing sector.

Beneo-Palatinit and Biogrund unveil new quick coating excipient

18-Jul-2012

Biogrund and Beneo-Palatinit say new pill coating will help manufacturers cut process time.

Nanoshells could solve oncology dual delivery riddle

18-Jul-2012 By Natalie Morrison

Hollow nano shells capable of holding both cancer fighting drugs and immune-system boosters could be the solution to oncology’s greatest delivery riddle, according to Yale University researchers.

Religion plays big part in pharma gelatine shortage for India: Beroe

17-Jul-2012 By Natalie Morrison

Religion is playing a big part in increasing gelatine woes for Indian drugsmakers, according to Beroe.

BASF sells chitosan biz to firm with eye on pharma

04-Jul-2012 By Gareth Macdonald

BASF has sold its chitosan biopolymers business to Norway-based Seagarden ASA continuing the divestiture of the non-core units it acquired as part of Cognis in 2010.

SFDA draft excipient guidelines place quality burden on pharmas

03-Jul-2012 By Gareth MACDONALD

New Chinese SFDA draft guidelines make pharmaceutical firms more responsible for monitoring excipient quality and assessing suppliers.

The quest for more understanding is behind the single use boom: Pall and Thermo Fisher

03-Jul-2012 By Natalie Morrison

The implementation of single use technology in the biopharmaceutical fill and finish process has seen a massive uptick recently because of better industry understanding, according to Pall’s Bruce Rawlings.

A new easy way to "clean" pharma ingredients; study

28-Jun-2012 By Natalie Morrison

Scientists have uncovered a new simple way to “clean” genotoxic impurities (GTIs) in drug ingredients by mixing the solution with contamination-eating scavengers.

EXCLUSIVE

Pakistan's re-joined health ministry still troubled, says PPMA

27-Jun-2012 By Natalie Morrison

PPMA is fearful that the Government of Pakistan’s recent call for more foreign investment in the local pharma sector will go unheard because the industry is already overcrowded.

Freeman updates powder analysis tech

20-Jun-2012 By Natalie Morrison

Freeman Technology has added a new “intuitive” control system to its multi-purpose powder analysis system.

Chocolate drug delivery has NIH interest, Lycotec CEO says

12-Jun-2012 By Natalie Morrison

The CEO of Lycotec says its chocolate formulation of a liver-targeted oral compound has attracted interest from the NIH and FDA.

FDA plans warning label for drugs produced with albumin

12-Jun-2012 By Nick Taylor

The FDA is proposing a warning to cover the “extremely remote risk” of viral disease spreading from drugs manufactured using albumin.

More HIV drugmakers to stabilise the South African supply chain, says Aspen

11-Jun-2012 By Natalie Morrison

The upcoming tender for antiretroviral meds (ARVs) in South Africa will be opened up to more companies in a bid to tackle shortages, an insider told us.

New ERP causes “self-inflicted disruption” of supply at Pall

11-Jun-2012 By Nick Taylor

Pall posted weaker than expected results after the switch to a new ERP system caused “self-inflicted disruption” of supply.

UPDATE

Pricing schemes stunts UK pharma manufacturing market's growth: report

07-Jun-2012 By Natalie Morrison

The UK pharma manufacturing market is predicted to see a modest 2.7 per cent growth over the next five years largely due to pricing schemes set by the Government, according to a new report.

Quicker, safer vaccine production a reality thanks to hydrogen peroxide, according to study

05-Jun-2012 By Natalie Morrison

Hydrogen peroxide could be the key to safer and more efficient vaccine production, according to researchers at Oregon Health & Science University.

EMA adds formulation, closure flexibility to biosimilar guidance

05-Jun-2012 By Nick Taylor

The EMA has joined the FDA in proposing to accept different biosimilar formulations and closures in revised draft guidelines.

P-Gels mean cheaper and more varied drug development, says Patheon

31-May-2012 By Natalie Morrison

Patheon says its new soft gel platform is creating cheaper development opportunities for drugsmakers.

USP replaces 'out of date' impurity testing standards

29-May-2012 By Natalie Morrison

The US Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) has introduced new elemental impurity standards to replace what it says were outdated guidelines.

UPDATE

Shortage of Indian gelatin makers could be "tremendous" opportunity for foreign firms, says IPEC

24-May-2012 By Natalie Morrison

IPEC (International Pharmaceutical Excipients) Federation is calling on foreign gelatin makers to set up manufacturing plants in India in a bid to tackle an “acute” shortage of the excipient.