Week of August 6, 2012: Boehringer, Servier, Xoma Form Biomanufacturing Agreement; Teva Canada Completes Sale of Mirabel (Quebec) Facility to Halo Pharmaceutical; and More

Boehringer Ingelheim has entered into an agreement with Servier and its partner Xoma to transfer Xoma’s technology and process for the commercial manufacture of gevokizumab, Xoma’s novel interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β) allosteric modulating antibody for treating noninfectious uveitis. Upon completion of the transfer and the establishment of biological comparability, Boehringer Ingelheim is expected to produce gevokizumab at its facility in Biberach, Germany, for Servier’s commercial use. Additionally, Servier and Xoma will retain all rights to the development and commercialization of gevokizumab. Read More

Gilead Sciences, Mylan Laboratories, and the Indian pharmaceutical companies Ranbaxy Laboratories and Strides Arcolab, have agreed to collaborate on promoting access to generic versions of Gilead’s HIV medicine emtricitabine (FTC) in developing countries-including single tablet regimens containing emtricitabine, and fixed-dose combinations of emtricitabine coformulated with other Gilead HIV medicines. Under the new agreements, Gilead will provide a technology transfer for the manufacture of emtricitabine, together with funding to assist with investment in process improvements to reduce overall manufacturing costs. Read More

Teva Canada has completed the sale of Teva’s Mirabel (Montreal, Quebec) manufacturing facility to the CDMO Halo Pharmaceutical on July, 31, 2012. Under the terms of the sale, Teva Canada and Halo have established manufacturing agreements. Halo will continue to manufacture all products currently produced at the Mirabel site until the end of 2012. Afterwards, manufacturing operations will be transferred to Teva’s Stouffville, Ontario, facility. Read More