NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE PHARMACEUTICAL FINE CHEMICAL AND CUSTOM MANUFACTURING SECTOR

Sunday 31 August 2008

Dishman builds Carbogen Amcis facility

Dishman is building the biggest oncology and high potency drugs facility in Asia at its Bavla plant. The Rs500m ($11m) facility is being commissioned by Dishman's Carbogen Amcis subsidiary, which will also operate the facility. In addition, Dishman Pharmaceuticals is investing Rs5bn ($115m) in two special economic zones near Bavla. The chemicals and pharmaceutical zone is expected to house 50 facilities and the engineering zone 100 facilities. Work on the zones will start before the end of the year.
Business Standard
Financial Express

Jubilant Organosys plans to expand its generic drugs capabilities from its Roorkee, India, plant

Economic Times

Wednesday 27 August 2008

CNOOC to establish fine chemicals park

CNOOC, the China National Offshore Oil Corp, as part of its current strategy to expand beyond its traditional upstream businesses will construct a fine chemical industrial park in the Shenzen special economic zone bordering Hong Kong. CNOOC has signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Shenzhen city to jointly develop the park.
Trading Markets

Tuesday 26 August 2008

Aesica has opened its new global corporate headquarters in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK

PharmaLive

Codexis expands Arch deal

Codexis has expanded its three-yeas strategic collaboration with Arch Pharmalabs. Codexis' Indian subsidiary will offer multiple pharmaceutical intermediates and APIs made with its biocatalytic processes, including intermediates used to manufacture generic atorvastatin (Lipitor), as well as the API itself.
Codexis

Dishman looks to $200m manufacturing contracts and acquisition

Dishman Pharma is currently in talks for $100-200m for its contract research and manufacturing business. Managing director, JR Vyas, puts this down to pharma companies exiting API manufacturing. Dishman is seeking an Asian acquisition to establish Carbogen Amcis as a full-service oncology package provider.
Money Control

Thursday 21 August 2008

Wacher Chemie develops manufacturing process for RFS Pharma's Amdoxovir

Wacker Chemie

US researchers develop synthetic route to heparin

In-Pharma Technologist

Jubilant invests in North America

Jubilant Organosys is integrating its North American operations. Jubilant will align Canadian Draxis Health with US subsidiary Hollister-Stier. Jubilant has also initiated a $20m capacity expansion programme.
Business Standard

Dishman close to manufacturing contracts with Merck & Co Inc and AstraZeneca

Reuters

Sunday 10 August 2008

CMC Biologics will manufacture a polyclonal antibody product candidate for Symphogen

CMC Biologics

AMRI Q2 profit rises 24%

Reuters

SAFC to expand HP-API capabilities

SAFC Global is to expand its high potency API manufacturing capabilities with a new 4500m2 plant in the Verona Technology Park in Wisconsin. SAFC expects to close the deal for its $30m facility on 15 Aug. The company plans to break ground in October, complete construction in 2009 with a production starting in early 2010.
Verona Press

Thursday 7 August 2008

Lonza has established a business unit to provide engineering, facility design and maintenance services in China

Forbes

Ampac Fine Chemicals sees revenues decrease in Q3 to end June, expects full year growth

American Pacific

Cambridge Major Laboratories buys land for possible expansion

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

API challenge for Cambrex

Despite Q2 sales rising 5% to $66.2m, Cambrex said its marginon sales decreased to 29.9% from 37.9% of sales. Cambrex said its lower sales of generic APIs were partially offset by higher custom manufacturing revenues. The company put the decrease in margins down to an unfavorable product mix, lower pricing on its largest API, and higher costs associated with the validation of the new API finishing facility in Milan, Italy.
Cambrex

FMC's speciality chemicals division sees revenues rise $2m to $41.5m in Q2

In-Pharma Technologist

Daiichi Sankyo has received approval to acquire majority control in Ranbaxy Laboratories

Times of India

Wednesday 6 August 2008

Lilly considers selling Lafayette, IN, API facility

In-Pharma Technologist

New Institute aims to improve fine chemical processes

University of Leeds, UK, will link its research capacity with commercial needs for the fine chemical sector through its new Institute of Process Research and Development. The iPRD includes teams from the University’s School of Chemistry and School of Process, Environmental and Materials Engineering. The new institute, which is funded by industry as well as public funds, aims to develop production processes with greater efficiency and lower impact.
iPRD

NME approvals down in H1 2008

The FDA has approved only six NMEs in the first half of the year. In H1 2007 the agency approved seven. The approval level is usually similar in the second half of the year, which could mean this year is one of the wort for approvals.
In Vivo

Revenues at Synthetech increased 18% to $4.9m in its Q1 to end June

PR Newswire