Week of December 10, 2012: Amgen Agrees to Acquire deCODE Genetics; Baxter International Agrees to Acquire Gambro; and More
Amgen Agrees to Acquire deCODE Genetics; Baxter International Agrees to Acquire Gambro; and More.
Amgen has agreed to acquire the Reykjavik, Iceland-based, human-genetics R&D company deCODE Genetics. The all-cash transaction values deCODE Genetics at $415 million, subject to customary closing adjustments, and was unanimously approved by Amgen’s board of directors. Read More
Baxter International has agreed to acquire Gambro, a privately held dialysis-product company based in Lund, Sweden, for total consideration of SEK 26.5 billion (USD 4 billion). The transaction will be financed through a combination of cash generated from overseas operations and debt. Baxter expects to maintain its current dividend payout ratio of approximately 40%. The closing of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions and is expected to occur in the first half of 2013. Read More
Following a five-year partnership with Exelixis during which Catalent Pharma Solutions has provided analytical, clinical-trial supply, and manufacturing support for Cometriq (cabozantinib), FDA has approved Exelixis’ aforementioned treatment of progressive, metastatic medullary thyroid cancer. Catalent will now continue to be the exclusive commercial drug-supply partner for the 20- and 80-mg capsule dose packs in the US. All US Cometriq capsule manufacturing and packaging operations will be undertaken at Catalent’s 450,000-ft2 facility in Kansas City, Missouri. Read More
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have signed a research collaboration and license agreement to develop new therapeutic antibodies that promote an immune system attack against cancer. Under the agreement, MD Anderson grants GSK exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize the antibodies, which activate OX40 (secondary receptor proteins) on the surface of T cells. MD Anderson, through its new Institute for Applied Cancer Science, will collaborate with GSK to conduct preclinical research on the antibodies. Read More
A roundup of additional company and people news from pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies, their suppliers, and contract-service providers. Read More
Drug Solutions Podcast: A Closer Look at mRNA in Oncology and Vaccines
April 30th 2024In this episode fo the Drug Solutions Podcast, etherna’s vice-president of Technology and Innovation, Stefaan De Koker, discusses the merits and challenges of using mRNA as the foundation for therapeutics in oncology as well as for vaccines.
Understanding the Variability in Bioburden Test Results in Biomanufacturing
May 7th 2025This article explores the impact of test volume, microbial distribution, and dilution errors on bioburden testing variability. It presents statistical approaches to estimate percentage error and discusses strategies to optimize microbial enumeration techniques in biopharmaceutical quality control.
Drug Solutions Podcast: Gliding Through the Ins and Outs of the Pharma Supply Chain
November 14th 2023In this episode of the Drug Solutions podcast, Jill Murphy, former editor, speaks with Bourji Mourad, partnership director at ThermoSafe, about the supply chain in the pharmaceutical industry, specifically related to packaging, pharma air freight, and the pressure on suppliers with post-COVID-19 changes on delivery.
Intertek to Expand UK GMP Facility with 6000 Square Feet of Lab and Office Space
May 7th 2025The company said the expansion is in response to globally rising demand for inhaled biologics, which offer distinct advantages in route of administration, but can be challenging products for developers.
