Amy Ritter

Amy Ritter is Scientific Editor, BioPharm International and Pharmaceutical Technology. Amy Ritter joined the editorial staff of BioPharm International and Pharmaceutical Technology in 2011. She received her BA in Biology from Boston University, and holds a PhD in Neurobiology from SUNY at Stony Brook. Before joining Advanstars Pharm Sciences group, she worked in the preclinical pharmacology group at Merck Research Labs, and is the author of numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications.

AstraZeneca announced further downsizing in response to an expected period of declining revenues in the face of patent expirations. The company will eliminate 2300 positions in sales and general administration.

AstraZeneca announced that it will consolidate its R&D capabilities into three centers located in Cambridge, UK; Gaithersburg, MD in the US; and M?lndal, Sweden. The reorganization will result in a net loss of 1600 positions, mainly in the UK and the US.

INTERPOL and 29 of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies have joined forces in an initiative to battle counterfeit drugs.

Mylan announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire the generic injectables unit Agila Specialties from Strides Arcolab for $1.6 billion in cash.

FDA approved Roche?s antibody-drug conjugate, Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine or T-DM1), for the treatment of people with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.

Protein Sciences announced that the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) will continue to support the company?s influenza vaccines program.

Eli Lilly and Co. announced that it will discontinue its Phase III rheumatoid arthritis program for tabalumab, an anti-BAFF (B cell activating factor) monoclonal antibody, because of lack of efficacy.

FDA has released a list of more than 50 guidance documents planned for 2013.

Ben Venue Laboratories announced that it has voluntarily entered into a consent decree with FDA over violations of cGMP.