Boehringer Ingelheim and and Hisoar (Taizhou, China), a pharmaceutical production company, formed a strategic production alliance in China.

Companies launched 25 new active substances in 2007, a decline of 19% from the previous year, according to a new report from Parexel International.

Also, Novartis stops development on "Aurograb," Zealand Pharma appoints David H. Solomon as CEO, more...

The US Food and Drug Administration will hold a public meeting this month to gain public input on implementing the recommendations of the Nanotechnology Task Force report, taking another step closer to setting a regulatory framework for nanotechnology for pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

The pharmaceutical majors deploy green-chemistry strategies to improve the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients and intermediates.

A recent book shows the links between synthesis, catalysis, and environmental protection.

Sterile manufacturing may be the next aspect of pharmaceutical manufacturing to consider in the continuous process paradigm.

Equipment qualification is a critical step in ensuring that a product or service is provided accurately and consistently with regards to manufacturing and testing. The time-saving attribute of adding prerequisites to a qualification program, along with the benefit of gaining the ability to track and trend problem areas, make the addition both worthwhile and cost-effective.

The selection of the chiral stationary phase is an important consideration in separating enantiomers when using high-performance liquid chromatography, supercritical fluid chromatography, and simulated moving bed chromatography.

Brief pharmaceutical news items for September 2008.

This year, the employment survey will acknowledge the industry's best employers.

With economics and politics in the way, can we defeat the malaria epidemic before it defeats us?

Operators are hit hard by breakage problems and strike out on FDA inspections.

Are hypersanitation trends a result of scaremongering or a lack of faith in medicine?

It's back to school. Another summer has flown past and here we all meet again, ready to return to work and face the winter with renewed energies. Welcome back!

The US Food and Drug Administration will hold a public hearing Oct. 2, 2008, to obtain input regarding over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold drugs marketed for pediatric use.

The Healthcare Institute of New Jersey (HINJ) released a new research study showing that New Jersey's life-science industry experienced stable growth in 2007.

The deadline for nominations for the Innovations in Pharma Science Awards is here. Check out http://pharmtech.com/Innovations to nominate your company's work in one of five areas by next week

Also, Shire recalls "Daytrana" patch, Chromatide forms Scientific Advisory Board, more...

FDA has finalized a regulation regarding changes to an approved new drug application (NDA), biologics license application (BLA), or medical device premarket approval applicatin (PMA).

The specialty drug company King Pharmaceuticals is seeking to acquire the specialty pharmaceutical company Alpharma (Bridgewater, NJ) through an unsolicited bid of $33 per share or $1.4 billion in cash. Alpharma has rejected the bid.

The US Pharmacopeial Conventional added to its international sites with the official opening of its facility in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association (SOCMA) is expressing trade concerns with the European Union's REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals) regulation, a new European Union policy on chemicals and their safe use.

Also, Tekmira will collaborate with Bristol-Myers Squibb, Helicos Biosciences appoints Steve Lombardi CEO, more...

The US Food and Drug Administration may soon ask doctors to undergo special training to be able to prescribe powerful narcotics, Dr. Bob Rappaport told The New York Times last week. Rappaport, director of FDA's Anesthesia, Analgesia and Rheumatology Products division, said the agency is considering recommending additional education for doctors in early 2009.

The concept of the the triple bottom line incorporates a company's financial, social, and environmental performance. As a result, an increasing number of companies are investigating how sustainable, green technologies and practices can help them stay competitive in a challenging regulated market.

Decontaminating pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities is essential for producing safe and pure drugs. The most commonly used decontaminant in the industry has been sublimated formaldehyde.

PharmTech's monthly newsletter, Equipment & Processing Report, reviews the Editor's Picks for the August 2008 edition from OYSTAR Manesty and Hawk.