Drug Development

An ambitious survey of characterization techniques presents current information.

When drugs are encapsulated, electrification (the electrostatic charge of the capsule) may sometimes cause problems, such as capsule adhesion during transportation or dispersion of the capsule content in the filling process.

Also, GVK BIO and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals form research agreement, Eli Lilly announces changes to management, more...

The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), the trade association representing European pharmaceutical manufacturers, issued recommendations to the public consultation launched in March by the European Commission's proposed drug anticounterfeiting measures. EFPIA's proposal includes a ban on drug repackaging.

Also, Pfizer to close Indiana "Exubera" facility, executive appointments at Patheon, more...

Also, Quintiles Transnational to acquire Eidetics, ChemAxon appoints Alex Drijver CEO, more...

Also, FDA removes OAI status for Watson's Florida facility, executive management changes as GSK, more...

Polyplus-transfection, a company that researches, develops, and commercializes drug-delivery solutions for biomolecules, created a new technology designed to enhance in vivo delivery of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) when they are associated with a cationic polymer.

Scientists are giving up on a preventive vaccine for AIDS, but there are lessons to be learned.

An authoritative book helps drug developers face one of their toughest problems.

The less complex nature of excipient manufacturers, as compared with API manufactures, carries many benefits.

Chemocatalytic and biocatalytic routes show promise for more efficient syntheses of select active ingredients.

Insulin is one of the world's oldest and most well-known biological drugs, and the need for it is not going to go away as the number of patients diagnosed with diabetes continues to increase. A wealth of clinical evidence shows that good, long-term glucose control in diabetes is key to avoiding complications such as kidney disease, blindness and heart problems.

The current trend within the pharmaceutical industry toward more efficient development, manufacturing, and specification is fueling demand for analytical tools that provide highly relevant information. Effective powder characterization has a valuable role to play.

The adequate absorption and transport of drugs in the body is part of optimal therapy. Drug administration perorally is easy, common and traditional, but occasionally alternative routes are required.

The assembly of the World Health Organisation (WHO) later this month is expected to feature counterfeit medicines as one of its important discussion points, and there is some hope that the ministers will agree on measures that will strengthen anticounterfeiting legislation and enforcement worldwide.

The pharmaceutical industry must address the release of nonbiodegradable APIs into the environment.

When Pharmaceutical Technology Europe was established 20 years ago, PAT was not a hot topic in the industry. It was started in 2002 by FDA to modernize pharmaceutical manufacturing and increase the efficiency of manufacturing processes.

Practical guidance on how to handle validation failures cannot be found in the existing literature because they are not supposed to happen.

Traditional tablet presses do not measure tablets' tensile strength, yet this characteristic strongly influences tablet quality. The author describes a compression technique that accounts for tensile strength and produces tablets with consistent weight and disintegration time.

Congress is taking on the issue of inspection of foreign drug-manufacturing facilities as it began hearings on a discussion draft of the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2008.

Also, Genzyme to build R&D center in Beijing, Noven Pharmaceuticals appoints Peter C. Brandt president and CEO, more...

Problems associated with contamination of heparin products continue after worldwide recalls in March in the United States, Italy, France, and Denmark.

Also, GSK expands in Ireland, executive appointments at ProGenTech, more...

The US Food and Drug Administration issued a final guidance last week regarding investigational new drug applications for human gene therapy.