Manufacturing

The author discusses new detection-system technologies that can improve performance and provides key criteria to consider when selecting or upgrading a system for pharmaceutical use.

Several industry experts describe applications in pharmaceutical applications, including on-line total organic carbon analysis, ultra-fast liquid chromatography, rapid microbial testing, and differential scanning calorimetry-Raman Spectroscopy.

The author outlines key considerations for carrying out a structured approach to monitoring process performance and ensuring product quality.

The author describes the development of small-angle X-ray scattering and analyzes its advantages in the characterization of drug-delivery systems and large molecules. This article is part of a special Analytical Technology issue.

Using new co-processing technologies, the authors show that it is possible to formulate an 'all-round' excipient.

The benefits that can be gained by integrating single-use systems into a commercial cell culture facility depend on whether the systems are to be used in an existing or a new facility. It is usually more beneficial to use Single-use systems in a new facility because this offers the opportunity to reduce the requirements for floor space and to reduce or eliminate the need for utilities, such as steam, ventilation, cleaninplace systems, water systems, etc.

The FDA has issued a final rule that clarifies what safety information must be reported during clinical trials of investigational drugs and biologics.

The authors discuss the approach taken to develop a new calibration approach, its associated protocols, and how it can be used to calculate data.

The authors review and discuss the influence of glycans on the conformation of a representative IgG1 biopharmceutical using H/DX-MS as an analytical tool.

The European Medicines Agency and the US Food and Drug Administration announced their individual regulatory decisions and resulting actions regarding the marketing of GlaxoSmithKline's (London) Avandia (rosiglitazone), a thiazolidinedione used to treat Type 2 diabetes.

Novartis Sells US Enablex Rights; Ricerca Names Chemistry Director; And More.

Amgen (Thousand Oaks, CA) issued a voluntary recall last week of certain lots of Epogen(R) and Procrit(R) (Epoetin alfa) vials.

DSM and PolyTherics in Development Deal; Kite Pharma Appoints President and CEO, And More.

Johnson & Johnson (J&J, New Brunswick, NJ) announced last week that it was in "advanced negotiations" for a potential public offer for the Dutch biopharmaceutical company Crucell (Leiden, The Netherlands).

The US Food and Drug Administration recently issued a Warning Letter to Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS, New York) for violations of current good manufacturing practice at the company's Manati, Puerto Rico, manufacturing facility.

Genzyme Sells Genetics Business; Bausch and Lomb Names Vice-President; and More.

Last week, Lonza (Basel) agreed to support the ongoing development of GlaxoSmithKline?s (GSK, London) biopharmaceutical pipeline by supplying manufacturing capacity for five early-stage monoclonal antibodies.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (New York) has agreed to acquire the biopharmaceutical company ZymoGenetics (Seattle) for an aggregate purchase price of $885 million or $735 million net of cash.

The generic-drug company Actavis (Hafnarfjordur, Iceland) is considering acquiring a 51% stake in the biopharmaceutical company BioPartners Holdings (Barr, Switzerland) from Bioton, a Polish biotechnology company.

PharmTech's monthly newsletter, Equipment and Processing Report, reviews the Editor's Picks for the September 2010 edition from Alfa Laval and Gems Sensors and Controls.

The author describes the types and sources of rouge and explains ways to prevent and mitigate this problem.

US Pharmacopeia apparatuses for testing the dissolution of transdermal drugs produce good, reproducible results. Yet some scientists believe that further modifications could improve the instruments? suitability for this application.

Pfizer to Acquire FoldRx; Protalix Appoints COO; And More.

Roche (Basel) launched a groupwide operational-excellence initiative intended to modify the company's cost structures and accelerate its productivity improvements.

After hosting the first international scientific workshop on nanomedicines earlier this month, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has concluded that further research is needed to provide an adequate scientific basis for evaluating the quality, safety, and efficacy of such medicines.