October 19, 2006 Notes: Chemir Establishes Cyanta Drug Development Services, Boehringer Engelheim Enters Into Agreement with Pfizer and J&J, More

Company Notes

Ridgefield, CT (Oct. 12)-Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (www.boehringer-ingelheim.com) entered into an agreement with Johnson & Johnson (J&J, New Brunswick, NJ, www.jnj.com) and Pfizer Inc. (New York, NY, www.pfizer.com) to acquire the US rights to the over-the-counter “Zantac” product line for $509.5 million. Under the terms of the agreement, Boehringer will acquire the rights, title, and interest in OTC Zantac in the United States, which is being divested to faciitate the approval by the US Federal Trade Commission of J&J's acquisition of the Pfizer Consumer Healthcare business. Boehringer plans to distribute Zantac through the same retail channels as its current “Ducolax” product.

St. Louis, MO (Oct. 16)-Chemir Analytical Services (www.chemir.com) has established Cyanta Drug Development Services, a new company dedicated to serving the pharmaceutical industry. Cyanta will provide testing services to pharmaceutical clients in support of their new drug applications, abbreviated new drug applications, and 501K applications. The company's specialization in pharmaceutical services will include analytical development, stability and method validation programs, formulation and deformulation studies, extractables and leachables, and custom synthesis.

Vancouver, BC, Canada (Oct. 16)-China Health Holding (www.chinahealthholding.com) executed a letter of intent with Beijing Boran Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (Beijing, China) for the proposed acquisition of 51% or more of Beijing Boran. According to the letter, Beijing Boran agreed to offer China Helath Holding first refusal rights and legal exclusive rights for 51% or more of the company within nine months from the date of the signed letter of intent.

Chicago, IL (Oct. 19)-Kerry Bio-Science Sheffield (www.sheffield-products.com) formed a strategic marketing alliance with Foremost Farms USA (Baraboo, WI, www.foremostfarms.com). The alliance is effective starting Jan. 1, 2007 and will give Kerry Bio-Science a leading share of the global lactose excipient market. Under the agreement, Kerry will develop and support excipient production at its production site in Norwich, Connecticut and at Foremost Farms' plant in Rothschild, Wisconsin.

Cambridge, MA (Oct. 17)-Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (www.millennium.com) decided not to increase its offer to acquire AnorMED Inc. (Vancouver, BC, Canada, www.anormed.com). AnorMED has instead accepted Genzyme Corporation's (Cambridge, MA, www.genzyme.com) offer of US $13.50 per share, for a total of approximately US $580 million.

Toronto, Canada (Oct. 16)-Patheon Inc. (www.patheon.com) entered into an agreement with its lenders to amend certain financial convenants under its North American loan facilities. The amendment establishes amended financial covenants, which include trailing 12-month debt-to-EBITDA covenants. These amended covenants, to be satisfied monthly, cover a six-month period from Oct. 31, 2006 to March 31, 2007. By March 2007, Patheon intends to have implemented long-term improvement to its capital structure.

Basel, Switzerland (Oct. 16)-Roche (www.roche.com) entered into an agreement with InterMune, inc. (Brisbane, CA, www.intermune.com) to develop and commercialize products from InterMune's HCV protease inhibitor program, including "ITMN-191" to treat hepatitis C, which is expected to enter clinical trials before the end of the year. The companies also plan to collaborate on a research program to identify, develop, and commercialize second-generation HCV protease inhibitors. Under the terms of the agreement, Roche will exclusively license ITMN-191 and will have the right to exclusively license further products resulting from the research collaboration. InterMune will receive an upfront payment from Roche of $60 million and could receive as much as $470 million in milestones if ITMN-191 is successfully developed and commercilized.

Swiftwater, PA (Oct. 12)-Sanofi pasteur (www.sanofipasteur.com) exepects to deliver its entire projected supply of 50 million doses of “Fluzone” influenza vaccine by the end of November. The company already completed its first wave of shipments of Fluzone, which consisted of about one-third of its projected supply. The company's distribution schedule is approximately three weeks later than last year, but it is still consistent with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendation for the timing of influenza immunization. Sanofi pasteur is expected to provide approximately 40% of the nation's influenza vaccine supply.

South Brunswick, NJ (Oct. 16)-Tris Pharma (www.trispharma.com) unveiled a new 30,000 ft² research and manufacturing facility at its South Brunswick campus. The expansion adds an FDA-compliant CGMP facility and will enable Tris Pharma to offer numerous capabilities, including manufacturing, at one site. The company can now provide its partners with clinical supplies, submission batches, eCTD filing, and medium-scale commercial production of tablets, capsules, liquid suspensions, and oral solutions as well as packaging for the finished product.

People Notes

Lexington, MA (Oct. 17)-Indevus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (www.indevus.com) appointed Thomas Forest Farb president and chief operating officer. Farb previously served as executive vice-president and chief financial officer of Indevus from 1994 to 1998. He also cofounded and served as managing director of New America Partners.

Plymouth Meeting, PA (Oct. 16)-Ronald Dundore, PhD, appointed vice-president of regulatory and quality affairs with InfaCare Pharmaceutical Corporation (www.infacarepharm.com). Dundore previously served as director of US regulatory affairs with AstraZeneca.

New York, NY (Oct. 13)-Pfizer, Inc. (www.pfizer.com) promoted Edmund P. Harrigan to the position of senior vice-president of worldwide licensing and business development. Harrigan will be responsible for copromotion and licensing agreements, venture capital investments in new technologies, and the acquisition of promising new products and services from outside the company. He joined Pfizer in 1992 and served as senior vice-president of worldwide regulatory affairs and quality assurance since 2003.

Geneva, Switzerland (Oct. 12)-Fred Hassan, chairman and CEO of Schering-Plough Corporation (Kenilworth, NJ, www.schering-plough.com), was named president of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA, www.ifpma.org). His term of office begins immediately and ends in fall 2008.

Duluth, GA (Oct. 16)-Stiefel Laboratories Inc. (www.stiefel.com) appointed Jeffrey S. Thompson chief operating officer. Thompson will be resonsible for operations on a global level, which includes facilities, manufacturing, logistics, procurement, MIS/IT, risk management, human resources, and corporate compliance. He will also oversee Glades Pharmaceuticals and StoneBridge Pharma. Thompson joined Stiefel Laboratories in 1994 and served as president of Glades Pharmaceuticals and senior vice-president of business services.