Industry Briefs: September 3, 2012

A roundup of additional company and people news from pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies, their suppliers, and contract-service providers.

Company News

Aesica has announced a partnership with the Center for Pharmaceutical Engineering Science at the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom. The agreement will enable Bradford scientists to use the GMP capabilities and assets held at Aesica while Aesica will have access to the center’s research facilities. Read More

Astellas Pharma and Medivation have received FDA approval for Xtandi (enzalutamide) capsules, a new molecular entity for treating metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Read More

Charles River Laboratories has acquired Accugenix, a provider of cGMP-compliant contract microbial-identification testing, for approximately $17 million in cash. Read More

Cobra Biologics and Algeta have entered into a contract manufacturing partnership for Algeta’s fourth targeted thorium conjugate program. The program will focus on the development of an undisclosed monoclonal antibody, which is highly selective for a validated cell surface target on hematological cancer cells, linked to Algeta’s alpha-particle emitter thorium-227. Read More

Cellceutix has selected Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories for the manufacturing of Prurisol, the company’s new drug candidate for treating psoriasis. Read More

Marken has opened new pharmaceutical depots in Frankfurt, Germany and in Farmingdale, New York. Read More

Mylan’s India-based subsidiary Mylan Laboratories has been selected as a supplier of antiretroviral drugs to India’s National AIDS Control Organization. Read More

VLST, a biotechnology company focused on the development of therapeutics for cancer and autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, has announced an in-licensing agreement with Pfizer for an anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody. Read More

West, a manufacturer of components and systems for injectable drug delivery, has announced an agreement with Janssen Biotech to collaborate on the development and manufacturing of a self-injection product. Read More

WuXi PharmaTech a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical-device R&D outsourcing company, and Open Monoclonal Technology (OMT), a company that specializes in transgenic animals for development of human therapeutic antibodies, have entered into an agreement to use OMT’s OmniRat to develop therapeutic antibody candidates for commercialization by WuXi’s global customers. Read More

People Notes

CMC Biologics has appointed Patricio E. Massera as general manager of the company’s Copenhagen facility. Read More

Hovione has named Mike Ironside general manager of the company’s Technology Transfer Center. Read More