Patricia Van Arnum

US Government Increase Orders for Flu Treatment from Roche, GSK

Bayer Bids for Schering AG in Friendly Merger Offer

Fundamentals Stay Strong for Pharma Contract Services Industry

FDA's Risk-based Model Leads to Strategies for Optimizing Site Risk Potential

Merck KGaA Launches Bid For Schering AG

Chiron Withdraws Measles Vaccine

Roche Expands "Tamiflu" Production

Novasep Divests Swiss Fine Chemicals Producer Rohner AG

Watson To Acquire Andrx for $1.9 Billion

GSK Loses Bid to Block Generic "Flonase"

Schering-Plough Reorganizes Management in Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific

Novavax, Bharat Biotech Team for Pandemic Influenza Vaccine Development

Eisai Plans $105 Million Pharma Production and Formulation R&D Facility

BMS Plans to Build $660 Million Bulk Biologics Manufacturing Facility

Facing still-sluggish market conditions and a changing world order in fine chemicals, the large Western custom manufacturers are responding by building their toolboxes in specialized technologies in chiral chemistry, catalysis, and biosciences and by adjusting their manufacturing networks via streamlining or investment in Asia.

P&G Pharmaceuticals Plans Job Cuts

Chiron and Novartis Advance Programs for Pandemic Flu

Chiron To Sell Betaseron Assets to Schering

BMS Receives FDA Approval for Transdermal Antidepressant

Novartis Plans Manufacturing Site in China

GSK Gains Approval for Rotavirus Vaccine in Infants; FDA Review Extended for Merck’s Shingles Vaccine

Lonza Plans Biomanufacturing Facility in Singapore

Cambrex Reports Loss; Advances Biosciences Business

Informex, ORLANDO - The rising influence of custom manufacturers and fine chemicals suppliers from India and China in the global market was evident at Informex 2006, the trade show of custom and batch manufacturers, which is being this week in Orlando. An increase in the number of exhibitors from India and China, expansion plans by several large players, and partnering strategies of Western fine chemical companies, all point to the growing participation of India and China in the fine chemicals market.

Informex, ORLANDO - Facing growing competition from offshore suppliers, several mid-sized custom manufacturers announced expansion plans in specialized technologies at Informex this week.

Informex, ORLANDO - Saltigo GmbH (Leverkusen, Germany, www.saltigo.com), newly formed from the fine chemicals business unit of Lanxess AG (Leverkusen, Germany, www.lanxess.com), made its debut at Informex in Orlando this week. Saltgio will officially launch as a new company in April. It will focus on custom manufacturing and be divided into three principal business lines: pharmaceuticals, specialties, and agrochemicals.

Informex, ORLANDO - Optimizing a synthesis for an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) or pharma intermediate is a critical part of the pharmaceutical manufacturing process, and several exhibitors at this year’s Informex highlighted their recent advances in catalysis, biocatalysis, and chiral chemistry. Among the developments: Reaxa to launch biotech affiliate. ChiralQuest develops new chiral ligands. BioCatalytics launches new line. Codexis expands directed evolution biocatalysis program with BMS. Chemtura targets organometallic catalysts for pharma manufacturing.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has ended its investigation of whether Chiron Corporation (Emeryville, CA, www.chiron.com) violated federal security laws in connection with the previous suspension of Chiron’s license to manufacture “Fluvirin” influenza virus vaccine by the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.

Akzo Nobel NV (Arnhem, the Netherlands, www.akzonobel.com) plans to spin off its pharmaceutical division by creating a separate company, Organon Biosciences.

Cambrex Corporation (East Rutherford, NJ, www.cambrex.com), a contract manufacturer and provider of life sciences products and services, has retained Bear Sterns & Co Inc. as an advisor as it considers strategic alternatives for the company.