Avecia sells vaccines

Avecia has sold its vaccines business to PharmAthene for $20m. Avecia will also be eligible for $20m in milestone payments. The business will remain in the UK.
Baltimore Buisiness Journal

Archimica will manufacture the API for NicOx's lead compound, naproxcinod

Reuters

China's State Food and Drug Administration now governed by the Ministry of Health

Chemistry World

Eleven now interested in Evonik

The German press is reporting that 11 companies are interested in the 25% stake in Evonik that is up for sale. Apollo Management, Bain Capital, BC Partners, Blackstone Group, Carlyle, Cerberus, CVC, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, One Equity Partners, Permira and TPG are said to have contacted Evonik.
Reuters

Biotech offsets fine chemicals decline for Wacker

Wacker's fine chemicals business matched 2006 sales in 2007. The company said higher sales of biotech products offset its declining business in custom fine chemicals and catalog products.
Wacker

New projects boost Siegfried profits

Siegfried Holding saw full-year net profit rise 54% to SFR49.7m. Siegfried put the rise down to acquiring 20 new API projects and 'increased interest of pharmaceutical research firms'.
Forbes

Goodwin Biotechnology to manufacture antibody for Q Therapeutics

Goodwin Biotechnology

GMP not required for excipients

A European Commission report suggests that introducing GMP for pharmaceutical excipients is unlikely to bring benefits, despite industry warnings of safety issues. The European Fine Chemicals Group (EFCG) has called for mandatory GMP to level the playing field among manufacturers of pharmaceutical excipients and bring the sector into line with other aspects of the pharmaceutical production process.
In-Pharma Technologist

More money proposed for FDA

The US Senate has passed a budget resolution to give the FDA an additional $375m over this year. “Congress has a responsibility to close the glaring gaps in food and drug safety that have begun to overwhelm the FDA,” said Senator Edward Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, who pushed for the new financing.
New York Times

Good 2007 for Evonik, still looking for sale

Evonik saw sales rise 2% to €14.4bn and EBIT rises 14% to €1.3bn. The Chemicals business benefited from higher demand, an improvement in selling prices, lower depreciation and the recent restructuring. The company is still looking either to sell shares in an IPO or for a trade sale of a stake.
Evonik
Reuters

FDA increases China staff

The FDA plans to strengthen its regulatory presence in China. The agency will establish eight permanent positions at US diplomatic posts and will also hire five Chinese nations.
Chicago Tribune

CMC ICOS will develop a production cell line for Raven’s RAV18 monoclonal antibody

CMC Biologics

Hikal invests in manufacturing

Hikal is establishing manufacturing units in Bangalore, to supply pharmaceutical products for Pfizer and Alpharma, and a pharmaceutical intermediate manufacturing facility near Mumbai. In addition, it is setting up a pharmaceutical and crop protection R&D centre in Pune and a crop protection active ingredients facility in Navi Mumbai. Total investment is approximately $50m.
Business Standard

RFCL on European shopping spree

RFCL Ltd is close to acquiring a European fine chemicals company. The former Ranbaxy Fine Chemical Ltd has recently closed the acquisition of a European animal healthcare company. RFCL expects the fine chemicals deal to be confirmed in April.
Domain B

Cobra Biomanufacturing has received R&D tax credit approval from the French Ministry for Higher Education and Research

Cobra Biomanufacturing

Nicholas Piramal seeks Euro/US acquisition

Nicholas Piramal India is seeking acquisition opportunities in the US and in Europe to expand the customer base and technology range of its contract manufacturing business. An acquisition in the US is most likely said group chairman Ajay Piramal. Additionally, the company will rebrand its contract manufacturing business as Pharma Solutions.
Economic Times

Asian competition forces Rhodia to close last paracetamol plant in Europe

CNN

Analyst: Fewer NME approvals expected in 2008

Investment analyst, Jim Kumpel of Friedman Billings Ramsey, says NME approvals are “on pace with a miserable 2007". Through the first two months of this year, the FDA has approved only one NME, which is the same rate as 2007.
Pharmalot

Lanxess sets criteria for acquisitions

Lanxess ceo Axel Heitman said the company will continue to look for acquisition targets to bolster growth. However, it has outlined three possible scenarios for acquisition targets: the acquisition of individual small or medium-sized operations; the acquisition of chemical businesses to broaden the portfolio; or the acquisition of companies or part of companies with potential that has not yet been fully realised.
Forbes

Woodcock reappointed to head CDER

Wall Street Journal