Roche plans to acquire the biopharmaceutical company Genentech (South San Francisco, CA) for $43.7 billion. Roche currently holds a 55.9% stake in Genentech and it plans to acquire the remaining publicly held minority interest that it does not own for $89 per share.

Also, Niro changes its name to GEA Process Engineering; Frances K. Heller joins Exelixis as executive vice-president of business development, more...

The US Food and Drug Administration issued a final rule on July 18 that exempts early Phase I investigational drugs from certain good manufacturing practice regulations.

Pfizer (New York, NY) announced plans to restructure staff at its Kalamazoo, Michigan, facility, leading to an estimated job cut of 275 by the end of the year.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) agreed to reduce the output of ozone-depleting refrigerants at several industrial facilities around the country to resolve violations of the Clean Air Act. The company's modifications will cost approximately $3.65 million.

3M Drug Delivery Systems has successfully designed a proof of concept device using a solid microstructured transdermal system for the systemic delivery of high-potency pharmaceuticals. The technology was showcased at a poster session at the annual meeting of the Controlled Release Society held this week in New York City.

Also, Roche to end HIV/AIDS research program, WuXi PharmaTech makes appointments, more...

The US Food and Drug Administration published a Draft Guidance for Industry on Providing Regulatory Submissions in Electronic Format in the Federal Register on July 11.

Creating nanoparticles can be challenging and requires appropriate equipment and techniques. Media milling or grinding is the best-established manufacturing method for nanoparticle production.

PharmTech's monthly newsletter, Equipment & Processing Report, reviews the Editor's Picks for the July 2008 edition from Parker Fluid Control Division and Watson-Marlow Bredel.

Pfizer has agreed to pay $975,000 in civil penalties to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act at its former manufacturing plant in Groton, Connecticut, according to a release by the US Department of Justice.

Also, Catalent Pharma Solutions to collaborate with One World Design and Manufacturing Group, Bioheart appoints Howard J. Leonhardt as CEO, more...

The US Food and Drug Administration is seeking volunteers from the pharmaceutical industry to participate in a pilot program involving the submission of quality information for biotechnology products.

The European Pharmacopeia Commission has published the General Information chapter "Potentially Genotoxic Impurities and European Pharmacopoeia Monographs on Substances for Human Use" in the July 2008 edition of PharmEuropa.

The European Pharmacopoeia Commission adopted revised monographs for heparin calcium and heparin sodium to strengthen the level of testing required for quality control.

Change control in life-sciences organizations is a critical business issue in terms of risk, safety, and performance. The author examines common shortcomings in change control when implementing non-enterprise solutions and the functionality derived from enterprise-level change control.

A recent US government study shows that follow-on biologics are likely to have a favorable economic impact if proposed legislation authorizing a regulatory pathway in the US is approved.

Also, Covance and WuXi PharmaTech to form contract research joint venture in China, Covidien makes appointments to its Pharmaceutical Products and Imaging Solutions businesses, more...

Richard E. Maleczka Jr. and Milton R. Smith III, professors of the Department of Chemistry at Michigan State University, were recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency's Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards, for designing a catalytic reaction to synthesize precursors for the Suzuki-coupling reaction.

Molecular Profiles created a poster that demonstrates the efficacy of its "nanoPASS" (nanoscale predictive analytical screening solution) technique to characterize an active pharmaceutical ingredient's (API) surface energy.

After a one-year delay in its implementation, the US Pharmacopeia Chapter 467 "Residual Solvents" is now official.

The Congressional Budget Office has released a report that provides a picture of the financial impact from the enaction of S.1695, the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2007.

President Bush signed H.R. 2642, the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2008, which provides $150 million to the US Food and Drug Administration for medical-safety and drug-safety activities.

Drugmakers seeking to block the activity of a protein may have a new strategy at their disposal.

Staff reductions are not surprising with the state of the economy and falling pharmaceutical sales.

This review article explains how self-emulsifying drug delivery systems can increase the solubility and bioavailability of poorly soluble drug.

A new book explains process analytical technology, drug stability, and quality.

The year 2011 may seem far off, but there is much to do to prepare for electronic pedigrees.