Industry Briefs: October 1, 2012
A roundup of additional company and people news from pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies, their suppliers, and contract-service providers.
Company News
Almac’s clinical-services operations in Craigavon, United Kingdom, has passed an inspection conducted by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
Bayer HealthCare and Onyx Pharmaceuticals announced that FDA has approved Bayer’s new molecular entity, Stivarga (regorafenib) tablets for the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
Dalton Pharma Services, a provider of drug discovery, development, and manufacturing services, and the University of Guelph are developing a vaccine against tuberculosis. Initiation of the program was made possible through government funding directed at applied research.
Evotec and Aspireo Pharmaceuticals have entered into a strategic advisory agreement for support in the development and partnering of Aspireo’s Somatoprim (DG3173), a proprietary somatostatin analogue.
Hovione has expanded its services to address bioavailability and other drug-delivery issues.
Intellect Neurosciences has awarded the future development and manufacture of the antibody drug conjugate Conjumab-A to Lonza, subject to completion of a definitive development and manufacturing agreement.
Merck & Co. plans to return the global marketing and development rights for both the intravenous and oral formulations for vernakalant to Cardiome Pharma.
Spirax Sarco has announced the release of its steam-system asset-management program. Under the program, a team of steam-technology specialists, backed by the knowledge and resources of Spirax Sarco, will service customers’ refinery, petrochemical, or chemical facility’s steam-system needs.
Theorem Clinical Research has expanded its services to include Theorem Strategic Sourcing Solutions to provide staffing and outsourcing services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in more than 30 countries, with a special focus in the Asia-Pacific and Latin American regions.
Vetter’s development service has expanded its capabilities. The company’s Chicago site has expanded its analytical and microbial testing over the past few months, adding 2000 ft2 of GMP storage. At its Ravensburg, Germany, site, the company acquired new technologies that enable enhanced control of syringe and cartridge siliconization, more accurate detection of subvisible particles in drug products, and a greater ability to simulate commercial-level processes in the development-service setting.
People News
BASF has appointed Scott Thomson as senior vice-president in charge of the company’s pharmaceutical ingredients and services business unit, effective Oct. 1, 2012.
Baxter International has appointed two new members to its board of directors, including Uma Chowdhry, and Thomas F. Chen, effective November 2012.
GlaxoSmithKline has announced several changes to its board and committees, including the relinquishing of board membership of Robert Wilson and Larry Culp by May 2013.
Sanofi has appointed Paul Chew as chief medical officer and head of global medical affairs.
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