Polymorph screening is a critical step in developing an active pharmaceutical ingredient for a pharmaceutical formulation.

Blame it on cafeteria gossip, outdated procedures, and major miscommunication.

The authors describe the development and organization of the Product Quality Research Institute and highlight some of the important projects conducted by its Working Groups.

It's the end of the year already and I hope you are looking forward to the festive period and the opportunity to wind down and spend some quality time with family and friends.

The end of 2009 is creeping closer and analysts are already looking towards 2010 and wondering what new challenges are in store for the pharma industry.

An agreement between sanofi-aventis and the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) has lead to the initiation of the largest safety and efficacy study of an antimalarial drug.

After further reviewing data on the H1N1 pandemic vaccines approved in Europe, the EMEA has reaffirmed their balance of benefits and risks in the context of the current H1N1 influenza pandemic. Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an update on the H1N1 situation in Europe.

The Society for Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA) provided an update as to its grassroots efforts regarding the recently passed Chemical and Water Security Act of 2009 (HR 2868).

The US Food and Drug Administration has issued 22 Warning Letters to website operators as part of its International Internet Week of Action.

The European Medicines Agency confirmed the safety and efficacy of Focetria and Pandermix, and noted that data on Celvapan are still being analyzed.

Five percent of consumers across five European countries suspect they may have received a counterfeit prescription, and 1% believe that they definitely have, according to research conducted by ICM on behalf of patient safety communications company Aegate (UK).

Engineers at a UK university claim to have developed technology that can be used in existing chemical reactors to ensure right first time drug crystal formation, which is crucial to their efficacy and the efficiency of pharmaceutical manufacturers' operations.

Last week, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK, London) agreed to donate 50 million doses of its adjuvanted pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccine to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Around half of all multiple sclerosis (MS) patients that are eligible for treatment do not receive it and one in five of those patients that do begin therapy, delay doing so because of fear and anxiety over the treatment process, and not fear and anxiety about the disease.

Following the its $68-billion acquisition of Wyeth (Madison, NJ), Pfizer (New York) Pfizer detailed plans for its global research and development (R&D) network, which includes consolidation of its R&D facilities.

The international pharmaceutical supply-chain consortium Rx-360 held a launch meeting in Europe last week with more than 135 industry and regulatory representatives in attendance.

FDA has approved a fifth influenza A (H1N1) vaccine, manufactured by ID Biomedical.

Company and People Notes: Genzyme provides updates on enzyme replacement products and FDA complete response letter; Watson appoints VP of global operations; more...

Pigging is a sustainable strategy that can aid in cleaning and product recovery and improve a manufacturing line's efficiency and throughput.

Recent advances in microreactor technology are improving the application and scale at which the technology can be applied.

PharmTech's monthly newsletter, Equipment & Processing Report, reviews the Editor's Picks for the November 2009 edition from Enercon and Schreiner.

Company and People Notes: 3M forms agreement with VaxInnate; TRIN Pharma appoints CEO; More...

A consortium led by GlaxoSmithKline (UK) intends to deliver a "step change improvement" in pharmaceutical tablet manufacturing in the UK by "substantially" increasing the country's manufacturing efficiency.

On Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) expressed its disappointment with the US House of Representatives's healthcare-reform bill.

The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) recognized researchers at the organization's 2009 Annual Meeting and Exposition in Los Angeles this week.

Novartis reported that German regulatory authorities approved its adjuvanted cell culture-based Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine, Celtura. The company also said it will acquire a stake in Chinese vaccines company Zhejiang Tianyuan Bio-Pharmaceutical.

The European Medicines Agency, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, and the Heads of Medicines Agencies issued a European strategy for H1N1 vaccine benefit–risk monitoring.

Also, Commissioner Hamburg addresses the nation's doctors in a letter about the influzenza A (H1N1) virus and vaccine.