Ampac Fine Chemicals revenues declined 23% in the year ended 30 September 2009. Ampac said the decline in revenues could be attributed to declines in core product revenues from anti-viral products of 30%, central nervous system products of 14%, and oncology products of 13%.
Seeking Alpha
Sunday, 27 December 2009
Ampac Fine Chemicals revenues decline
Cobra recommends Recipharm offer
Cobra Biomanufacturing recommends that its shareholders accept the offer from Recipharm to acquire the outstanding shares. The company said it no longer has sufficient working capital to continue and that its current financing facility runs out in January 2010.
Cobra
DSM to reorganise Pharma Chemicals in Venlo
DSM will lay off 35 jobs at its Venlo, Netherlands, site in 2010 as part of a reorganisation of its Pharma Chemicals business. DSM plans to introduce a 'lean and mean' manufacturing model and is examining all the activities at Venlo. Activities that do not meet the minimum requirement will be phased out or transferred to the Linz, Austria, site. DSM puts the reorganisation down to "limited demand from pharmaceutical companies, delay in approvals and the loss of some large contracts" which have lead to increasing cost pressure.
DSM
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Avecia biologics business snapped up by Merck
Merck's UK affiliate Merck Sharp & Dohme will acquire the biologics business of Avecia for an undisclosed sum. Merck will acquire Avecia's assets in Billingham, UK. The deal does not include Avecia's US-based oligonucleotide business. Merck will honour Avecia's contracts and will discuss future manufacturing needs with customers after the transaction is closed. John McCubbins, senior vice president, Biologics and Therapeutic Protein Operations, Merck Manufacturing Division, said the deal provides Merck with "an operational facility staffed by an experienced workforce that is highly skilled in a broad portfolio of bioprocess systems."
Avecia
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Recipharm to acquire Cobra
Recipharm has made a mandatory offer for the outstanding shares in Cobra Biomanufacturing following its acquisition of 43.87% of the company for £437,625. The offer values Cobra at almost £1m. Cobra has said it expects Recipharm to make a loan to Cobra so it can meet its working capital requirements during the integration of the two businesses. Cobra had announced it was in sales talks last month.
Proactive Investors
InvestEgate
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Pfenex licenses technology to Merck
Pfenex, the new spinout from Dow Chemical, has licenced its Pseudomonas fluorescens biomanufacturing technology to Merck for production of proteins for an undisclosed vaccine product. Pfenex will receive $52m in upfront and milestone payments and is entitled to royalty payments on any product sales derived from the agreement.
Xconomy
Sunday, 13 December 2009
Archimica sells site; begins investment programme
Erredue has acquired Archimica's Isso, Italy, manufacturing facility. In addition Archimica has started an capital investment programme with a €2.5m capacity expansion for API production at its Origgio, Italy, site. The company will also make investments in its other manufacturing sites.
Archimica
Dishman invests in Saudi Arabia and India
Dishman Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals and three Saudi Arabian partners, have established a joint venture to manufacture APIs in Saudi Arabia. Dishman has invested $9m for a 30% stake in CAD. The Arab Company for Drug Industries and Medical Appliances (ACDIMA) has a 15% stake, Spimaco 20% and Capital Advisory Group 25%. The facility is due on line towards the end of 2010.
Dishman is also investing $32m in four contract manufacturing plants at its SEZ and another $32m in expanding its Bavla facility.
Business Standard
Dottikon sales fall
H1 sales for Dottikon fell 42% to CHF45.3m. The company put this down to the elimination of redundant product lines and delayed commissioning of new apparatus groups. During the period Dottikon brought on-stream the expansion of its medium scale API separator capacity and large scale corrosion-resistant glass-lined steel and Hastelloy multipurpose reactor, low-temperature, and API separator capacity.
Dottikon
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
Dow spins out biomanufacturing technology
Dow Chemical has spun out its Pseudomonas fluorescens-based Pfenex Expression Technology for producing recombinant proteins into a new company called Pfenex Inc. The Dow Venture Capital group will retain a "significant minority share" in the new company alongside Signet Healthcare Partners. San Diego, CA-based Pfenex will focus on the human health applications of the technology.
MSN
Thursday, 3 December 2009
Socma names Sloan new president and ceo
Lawrence Sloan will replace Joseph Acker as President and ceo of Socma on 10 February 2010. Sloan previously served as President of the Adhesive and Sealant Council (ASC), a trade association representing the adhesive and sealant industry. Sloan started his career at Air Products & Chemicals in and later worked for Nalco Chemical Company.
Socma
Dishman adds HPAPI lab in Netherlands
Dishman Netherlands has opened its high containment cGMP laboratory in Veenendaal, The Netherlands. The laboratory includes dedicated clean rooms with the capability to scale up to 1kg. Dishman expects an FDA compliance audit in H1 2010.
Outsourcing Pharma
Thursday, 26 November 2009
AZ to out source all API manufacturing
AstraZeneca plans to outsource 100% of its API manufacturing within seven years, it told analysts at a recent briefing. The company currently outsources about 80% of its API manufacturing with three preferred suppliers in Europe and suppliers in India. The additional outsourcing is expected to come from India where the cost base is lower, said Executive Vice President for Operations, David Smith, although the company expects to introduce greater quality control and supplier audits.
AstraZeneca
Sunday, 22 November 2009
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Agencies failing to monitor API quality
Guy Villax, board member of the European Fine Chemicals Group, has once again raised the subject of API quality. Speaking at the AAPS meeting earlier this month Villax said that enforcement of API quality is in "disarray" and that regulatory agencies were failing to properly police the supply chain.
In-Pharma Technologist
Thursday, 12 November 2009
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Jubilant to expand, sell
Jubilant Organosys plans to spend $54m on capacity expansion plans in the current year. Most of the money will be spent on debottlenecking and a small amount on R&D. In addition the company expects to have sold its performance polymers business by end March 2010.
Business Standard
Reuters
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Carbogen Amcis restructures
Carbogen Amcis plans to restructure its Swiss operations. Early phase services will be consolidated at the company's Aarau site, while the Hunzenschwil site will focus on new technologies, such as micro-reactors and crystallisation. Late phase and high potency services at the Bubendorf facility, will be expanded, due to increased market demand. The changes would result in the loss of up to 40 positions.
Carbogen Amcis has seen a significant increase in the number and rate of progress associated with later phase projects, but there has been a substantial decline in the number of early phase projects being generated.
Dishman Pharma, Carbogen Amcis' parent company saw 2Q revenue decrease 12% mainly due to a disappointing quarter at Carbogen Amcis.
Carbogen Amcis
Money Control
Cambrex sees 3Q sales rise
Cambrex 3Q sales rose 2.3% to $57.8m. The company said the rise was primarily due to higher volumes of an API that utilises its polymeric drug delivery technology but was partially offset by lower sales of two APIs manufactured under long-term supply agreements.
Cambrex
Monday, 2 November 2009
Thursday, 29 October 2009
Lonza to cut jobs, costs
Lonza will cut about 450 jobs and reduce costs by CHF60-80m. Chief executive, Stefan Borgas, said the cuts come as a result of cancellations and postponements in large-scale biopharmaceutical custom manufacturing, an 18 month delay of a lead customer project in cell therapy due to clinical disappointments and continued low order level for Lonza's Exclusive Synthesis due to key customers reducing net working capital. The company's share price fell around 20% on the news.
Last week, Lonza withdrew its $460m bid for Patheon after the major shareholder, JLL, refused to talk. Borgas said the company is still looking for value creating add-on acquisitions. Lonza is looking to enlarge its life sciences business technology portfolio, strengthen its offering for life-science researchers including CRO services; strengthen the CMO value chain by entering finished dosage form development and manufacturing; and add niche portfolio products to the nutrition business.
Reuters
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Stronger quarter for SAFC
SAFC showed a 4.8% increase increase in Q3 organic sales helped by sales of H1N1 vaccine adjuvants to pharma companies. Rakesh Sachdev, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, said sales were also helped by 'new customer facilities coming online, new financing becoming available at both biotech and virtual pharmaceutical companies and our customer’s efforts to push early stage clinical trials in response to indications of moderate economic improvements'.
Jai Nagarkatti, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said 'we delivered a fair amount of what was booked at June 30th, in the third quarter, but our order book remains above 25% higher than what it was at the end of 2008'.
Seeking Alpha
Thursday, 22 October 2009
Jubilant plans fundraising and disposals
At its investors conference Jubilant Organosys announced plans to raise Rs5bn ($107m) in funds. In addition the company plans to sell its application polymers division and consumer products division and then change its name to Jubilant Life Sciences.
My Iris
Lonza acquires stake in German biotech, Cilian
Lonza has made an investment in Cilian. The deal gives Lonza right of first refusal for the commercial production of products and access to Cilian's ciliates system for the production of therapeutic proteins and nutritional ingredients. Lonza will transfer a number of patents and patent applications in tis field to Cilian in return for newly issued shares in Cilian.
Lonza
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Lonza withdraws Patheon bid, looks elsewhere for formulation
Lonza has withdrawn its $460m bid for Patheon after the major shareholder, JLL, refused to talk. Lonza said it was looking at other opportunities to add formulation capabilities to its portfolio, which it believes fits with its current growth strategy.
Reuters
Sunday, 18 October 2009
Lifeline plans acquisitions
Lifeline Industries is planning to complete two acquisitions before the end of the year. Lifeline is in talks to buy Erica's assets for around Rs1.35bn ($29.3m) and hopes to close the deal by the end of this year. The company is also in talks for a second acquisition valued between Rs1.75bn-Rs2.0bn.
Business Standard
Thursday, 15 October 2009
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
Evonik expands US API capabilities
Evonik has purchased Eli Lilly's Tippecanoe, IN, manufacturing facility to strengthen its API production capabilities in the US. Financial terms for the deal, which is expected to close by the end of the year, have not been disclosed. In addition, Evonik has entered into a nine-year API production deal with Lilly.
Reuters
Tuesday, 13 October 2009
SAFC completes expansion
SAFC Pharma has completed the $12m expansion of its Carlsbad, CA, facility. The company has added two fully segregated state-of-the-art viral product manufacturing suites to expand its services for late phase and commercial clients. In addition SAFC Pharma has installed an Oxford Diffraction SuperNova single crystal X-ray diffraction system at its Pharmorphix Solid State Research Laboratories in Cambridge, UK.
Sigma Aldrich
Sigma Aldrich
Monday, 12 October 2009
Angel signs £1.2m deal with Materia Medica
Angel Biotechnology has signed a fourth deal with Materia Medica for the GMP manufacture of antibodies. Angel said that 90% of the £1.2m would be invoiced over the next 18 months.
Angel Bio
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
CIA highlights chemical industry to opposition party
The UK Chemical Industries Association has challenged the Conservative opposition to recognise the part manufacturing industries, such as the chemical industry, can play in helping the UK meet economic and green goals.
CIA
Thursday, 1 October 2009
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
Monday, 21 September 2009
Cobra takes loans to address shortfall
Cobra Biomanufacturing has taken a £180,000 loan from Sultan Scientific and a £50,000 loan from its biggest shareholder to fund its working capital shortfall.
Cobra
Friday, 18 September 2009
Angel sales increase in H1
Angel Biotechnology reported stronger revenues in H1 2009 compared to 2008. Revenues grew 25% and the company signed contracts worth £2.2m in the half year ended 30 June. However, losses for the six-months also increased.
InvestEgate
Codexis closes German site
Codexis has closed its Jülich, Germany, site as part of a move to streamline its supply chain efficiency. The company said it would continue to supply its inventory through a soon-to-be-launched e-store. Codexis acquired the Jülich site as part of its 2005 purchase of Jülich Fine Chemicals.
Codexis
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
Monday, 14 September 2009
Phoenix rises from Shasun
Phoenix Chemicals has purchased the Annan, Scotland, facility from Shasun. Shasun closed the facility in March. Phoenix said the former GlaxoSmithKline facility will expand its capabilities to manufacturing scale and plans to offer jobs to former site workers
Annandale Observer
Dishman looks to expand overseas
Dishman is expanding its contract research and manufacturing operations into Japan and the US. Dishman cfo, VVS Murthy, said the company is eyeing contracts in the US market and expects them to materialise in the financial year 2010-11.
DNA India
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
Thursday, 3 September 2009
Almac founder establishes research charity
Almac founder Sir Allen McClay has established the McClay Foundation to fund research and commercial innovation in the field of healthcare and allied technologies. Almac will become the engine to generate funds for the foundation from the profits of its research and global sales.
Belfast Newsletter
Wednesday, 2 September 2009
SynCo in Japan deal
SynCo Bio Partners will provide process development and manufacturing for an unnamed Japanese company. SynCo will assist its client with in-house process development prior to transfer, scale-up and GMP manufacture for Phase I clinical trials in Amsterdam.
SynCo
FDA expected to require manufacturing info in applications
The US FDA is expected to require more manufacturing site information on drug product applications. Edwin Rivera-Martinez, the FDA's chief of the international compliance in CDER’s manufacturing division said the rule is designed to cut down on unneeded FDA inspections and erroneous information about manufacturing sites by requiring sponsors to list establishments and locations involved in manufacturing drug products. Rivera-Martinez also said the agency will double its overseas inspections of facilities for GMP compliance this year from 50 to 100.
FDA News
FDA News
Lonza sells Singapore plant to Roche
Roche subsidiary Genentech has picked up its option to purchase a biologics manufacturing plant from Lonza. The facility will be merged with Genentech's existing facility in Singapore. Lonza will receive $290m and up to $70m in milestone payments.
In-pharma Technologist
Tuesday, 1 September 2009
Patheon continues to explore Lonza bid
Patheon's independent directors are continuing to examine Lonza's bid for the company. The Lonza offer, which is a 77% premium over that of JLL is conditional on being able to secure two-thirds of Patheon's shares.
Patheon
Cobra struggles with cash; passes MHRA inspection
Despite an order book worth £10m Cobra Biomanufacturing's ability to continue as a going concern remains dependent on thecompany delivering contract signatures and converting these contracts into revenue and cash receipts. The company said trading conditions have resulted in a delay in the achievement of some contract signatures. Cobra has completed a successful cGMP audit by the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) at its facility based at Keele.
Small Cap News
Thursday, 27 August 2009
Archimica and Chemic cooperate to scale manufacturing
Chemic Laboratories and Archimica Group have formed an API development and manufacturing cooperation. Archimica will scale DEA controlled and other API to commercial scale after Chemic Laboratories have developed and produced the first quantities.
Mass Bio
Lonza reiterates Patheon bid
Lonza reiterated its bid for Patheon as JLL allowed its offer to expire. JLL holds 57% of Patheon. Lonza has bid $3.55/share for the company and will only proceed with an offer if it can secure 67%.
Wall Street Journal
JLL rejects Lonza bid for Patheon
JLL, the majority stakeholder in Patheon, has rejected Lonza's $460m offer for the Canadian company. JLL currently holds 57% of Patheon.
PR Newswire
Lonza makes offer for Patheon
Lonza has made a non-binding offer to acquire Patheon. Lonza has offered $3.55/share valuing Patheon at $460m. Lonza ceo Stefan Borgas said Lonza was looking to expand its offering to cover more of the manufacturing supply chain and Patheon's finished dosage manufacturing capability would fill a gap. He added that Patheon was one of several opportunities in the area that lonza had been following over the last couple of years.
Reuters
Thursday, 20 August 2009
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
Thursday, 13 August 2009
FDA expands access to experimental drugs
The US FDA has will allow greater access to experimental drugs for seriously ill patients. Under the new rules drugmakers will be able to provide experimental medicines to patients with no other options.
Bloomberg
Wednesday, 12 August 2009
Problems at FDA
The US Department of Health and Human Services is investigating Janet Woodcock, the director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, for conflict-of-interest during a drug approval. In addition, Daniel Schultz, head of the FDA's device regulation division, has resigned from the agency.
Wall Street Journal
Wall Street Journal
PCAS and Nanosyn form jv
PCAS-Nanosyn, a joint venture between PCAS and Nanosyn, will operate a cGMP kilolab in Santa Rosa, CA. Christian Moretti, chairman of PCAS, said the jv allows PCAS to offer preclinical and clinical trial API synthetic capabilities nearer to its clients in the US.
Nanosyn
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
FDA to get tougher, faster
FDA Commissioner, Margaret Hamburg, has said the Agency will enforce its regulations in a faster and more aggressive way. Among the processes being introduced the FDA will streamline the warning letter process.
Washington Post
Informex looking for 2012 location
Informex is asking potential delegates where they would like the 2012 event to be held. The choices are Charlotte, Houston, Miami Beach, Philadelphia and San Diego. The 2010 event will be held in San Francisco and the 2011 event in Charlotte, NC.
Visit LinkedIn to vote
Thursday, 6 August 2009
Wednesday, 5 August 2009
Dishman plans Carbogen Amcis changes
R Vyas, MD of Dishman Pharma said the company is looking at making some drastic changes to improve the EBDITA margins in Carbogen Amcis following the appointment of Nick Green as president of the company's CRAM activities.
Money Control
Cambrex reports sales rise
Excluding the impact of currency sales at Cambrex rose 2%. The company attributed the rise to the timing of orders related to two APIs manufactured under long-term supply agreements and an API that incorporates its polymeric drug delivery technology. However Cambrex said this was partially offset by lower sales of generic APIs and feed additives.
Cambrex
DSM expects pharma business improvement by year end
Profits for DSM's pharma business fell from €37m to €14m in the first half of the year. The company put this down to lower business activities in its custom manufacturing business at DSM Pharmaceutical Products, related to de-stocking, delay in approvals and the loss of some larger contracts, and weak market conditions for DSM Anti-Infectives. The company expects the year-end results to be 'substantially lower than last year due to lower prices at Anti-Infectives and challenges to fill the pipeline at DSM Pharmaceutical Products'. DSM said it expects the the results of the Pharmaceutical Products business to be better towards the end of the year.
Capital
Monday, 3 August 2009
Dishman to expand pharma SEZ
As a result in the downturn in the engineering sector, Dishman has cancelled its engineering special economic zone near Ahmedabad, India. Instead, the company will merge the land with its ongoing pharma SEZ project.
Economic Times
Hovione sees rapid sales growth
Hovione's sales for the year ended 31 March 2009 grew 21%, compared to 2008, to $125.5m. Hovione put the growth down to a significant investment in particle design technologies and in new production lines, both at Hisyn, China and at Hovione Portugal.
Hovione
Thursday, 30 July 2009
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
SAFC orders boosted by H1N1
Sales at Sigma-Aldrich's fine chemicals business, SAFC, declined 14% in Q2 2009. The company said sales improved in Q2 against Q1, but were weak compared to 2008. The SAFC saw increased booked orders for future delivery, rising 19% in Q2 to an all-time high, some of which are for H1N1 related products. The company expects SAFC to make a modest overall contribution to its low single-digit organic growth expectations for 2009.
Seeking Alpha
Albemarle sees fine chemicals income decline 80%
Albemarle's Fine Chemicals business saw sales decline 32% to $104m in Q2 2009, and income decline from $24.5m to $5.2m. The company attributed the declines to reduced sales and production volumes but is encouraged by a strong new product pipeline for the second half of the year.
RTT
Thursday, 23 July 2009
Cambridge Major to open new API facility
Cambridge Major Laboratories will inaugurate its new API plant in Gemantown, WI, next week. The facility, which will become operational during August, will allow the company to provide large scale production for its customers.
Milwaukee and Southeastern Wisconsin Business News
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
Fine chems first quarter positive for Johnson Matthey
Johnson Matthey says its Fine Chemicals Division was well ahead of last year in the first quarter. The company said demand has been less affected by the recession than some other business units and it has generated income from the generic version of Adderal XR, launched in April.
Easy Bourse
Lonza consolidates custom manufacturing operations
Lonza has brought its fine chemical and biopharmaceutical custom manufacturing operations together into a single business unit. The Lonza Custom Manufacturing unit is designed to help the company's sales and marketing activities.
Easy Bourse
Sunday, 19 July 2009
Senate committee vote on biosimilars
The US Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee has approved an amendment that would provide innovative biologic drugs with 12 years protection from competition by biosimilar products.
Wall Street Journal
Sunday, 12 July 2009
Thursday, 9 July 2009
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
Sunday, 5 July 2009
Buyer sought for Isochem
Groupe SNPE is seeking a buyer for its Isochem fine chemicals business. SNPE expects the sale to be completed within six to eight months.
SNPE
Wednesday, 1 July 2009
Lonza in contract dispute with Altus
Altus Pharmaceuticals has terminated a supply agreement with Lonza citing an alleged breach in the manufacture and supply of key ingredients. The move follows Lonza suing Altus over accusations that the contract was terminated in violation of certain covenants.
Boston Business Journal
Monday, 29 June 2009
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
EFCG and AIME introduce manufacturing guidelines
Cefic's European Fine Chemicals Group (EFCG) and the Agrochemical & Intermediates Manufacturers in Europe (AIME) have launched a set of voluntary guidelines for manufacturers in the non-GMP, ISO-regulated fine chemicals industry. The guidelines set out minimum requirements to help promote the highest level of risk management in the manufacturing of non-GMP intermediates, active ingredients and end products.
EFCG
Monday, 22 June 2009
Helsinn plans Swiss expansion; completes Irish sale
Helsinn is planning to expand its development and manufacturing facilities at its Biasca, Switzerland, site. The expansion will build on the €5m investment in recent years. In addition, Helsinn has sold its Mulhuddart, Ireland facility to Milan, Italy, based Medinco C.F.M. Group.
InvestEgate
Sunday, 21 June 2009
Biologics to dominate pharma sales by 2014
Six of the 10 top selling drugs will be biologics by 2014, demonstrating the increasing dominance of biologic products, especially those for cancer treatment says EvaluatePharma. In 2000 only one of the top 10 was a biologic product.
EvaluatePharma
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Monday, 15 June 2009
Boehringer and Kemwell collaborate on Indian biologics facility
Boehringer Ingelheim is working with Kemwell Pharma on a new biologics custom manufacturing facility in Bangalore, India. Boehringer will provide process technology and its BI-HEX expression system.
In-Pharma Technologist
Thursday, 11 June 2009
Angel reduces losses, sees positive future
Angel Biotechnology reported a pre-tax loss of almost £1.1m in 2008 as revenues rose 8% to £952,926. The company sees better prospects for 2009 and 2010 as it has recently signed three major contracts, with a value of £2.2m and its prospective new business pipeline is the best it has seen to date.
RTT News
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
Monday, 8 June 2009
Synthetech reports boost in earnings, gloomy outlook
Synthetech saw its earnings rise from $113,000 to $657,000 in its fourth quarter. However the company said the biopharmaceuticals market is showing some weakness, the difficult financing environment could impair drug development projects and that some major pharmaceutical companies are reducing their outsourcing expenses.
Portland Business Journal
Corden PharmaChem to close Cork facility
Corden PharmaChem is to close its Little Island, Cork, Ireland, facility later this year. The company has blamed the current API market conditions, limited potential for the development and commercialisation of new products, the scale of the plant and the significant capital investment necessary for it.
Irish Examiner
Johnson Matthey sees fine chemicals growth
In its year ended 31 March Johnson Matthey saw sales for its Fine Chemicals and Catalysts division grow 15% mostly due to favourable exchange rates. The division's Fine Chemicals businesses, Macfarlan Smith, Pharmaceutical Materials and Services and Research Chemicals which will report as a separate unit next year, contributed £220 (36%) of the division's revenue and 68% of the operating profit. Matthey reported that sales of some products were strong, but manufacturing costs, particularly the cost of energy, rose and that revenue from contract research was adversely affected by the lack of venture capital funding for a number of our smaller customers.
Manufacturing Chemist
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
SAFC in supply chain deal with Cherokee
Cherokee Pharmaceuticals will provide analytical testing, storage, packaging and distribution services for raw materials sourced by SAFC as part of a partnership agreement. The partnership will combine SAFC's global sourcing and production capabilities and with Cherokee's analytical laboratories, large-scale cGMP manufacturing, warehousing and distribution facilities.
In-Pharma Technologist
Lonza negotiating Genome Valley agreement
Further to previous reports Lonza said it is currently negotiating with the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Ltd for the acquisition or lease of 30 acres of land in Genome Valley. Lonza plans to establish an R&D and manufacturing facility on the site.
Lonza
Thursday, 28 May 2009
Wacker expands cyclodextrin capacity
Wacker has expanded its cyclodextrin facility in Eddyville, IA. The $21m investment has boosted capacity for alpha and beta cyclodextrins by 50% and doubling capacity for gamma cyclodextrin, with the new facility capable of producing 7500 tonne/year of cyclodextrin.
In-Pharma Technologist
Wacker boosts biologics
Wacker is boosting biologics production capacity at its Jena site. Following the completion of a process development and quality control facility in December 2008 a further extension will double the production area and add a downstream purification site. The new facility is expected to be on-stream by 2010
Wacker
Lonza invests in India
Lonza will invest $150m in a two-stage project in Genome valley, Hyderabad, India. The first phase of the development, which is due to be operational in 2011-2013, is for R&D labs for 100 people, a small-scale multi-purpose manufacturing plant for biopharmaceuticals, and a small-scale bio-therapeutic media manufacturing plant. The second phase of the development, which is due to be operational in 2014-2015 includes expanded media manufacturing capacity for bio-therapeutic media, additional R&D lab capacity for biologics for 200 researchers, and expanded large-scale manufacturing plant for biopharmaceuticals.
Fierce Biotech
Sunday, 24 May 2009
Hovione invests in R&D unit
Hovione will invest €2m ($3m) in a new R&D unit in Lisbon. The facility, which will be the base for the company's drug R&D efforts, will focus on the design, development and characterisation of nano- and micro-particles for novel delivery applications.
Outsourcing Pharma
Tuesday, 19 May 2009
Lonza expands in Singapore
Lonza is investing CHF30m ($27.03m) in a new cell therapy manufacturing facility in Singapore. Construction will commence next year and production by mid-2011.
Reuters
Minakem acquires API plant
Minakem has acquired AstraZeneca's multi-purpose APIs plant in Dunkirk. In addition Minakem has a greed a long term contract to supply AstraZeneca with Budesonide, Omeprazole and Esomeprazole. The multipurpose plant is dedicated to the production of corticosteroids.
Contract Pharma
Thursday, 14 May 2009
Avecia launches antibody fragment toolkit
Avecia Biologics has launched a toolkit of technologies for producing antibody fragment therapeutics. The toolkit combines Avecia's high yield microbial expression system with downstream technologies for purification, refold and PEGylation.
Avecia
Monday, 11 May 2009
Sunday, 10 May 2009
Obama wants extra $300m for FDA
US President Barack Obama has called on Congress to authorise and addtional $300m in to boost the FDA budget from $2.06bn in 2009 to $2.35bn in 2010. The President said the budget should strengthen inspections and increase the number of generic drugs on the US market.
Wall Street Journal
CombinatoRx files against Aptuit
CombinatoRx has filed a lawsuit against Aptuit. CombinatoRx alleges that "Aptuit caused harm by willfully ignoring warnings and failing to correct or disclose deficient practices that did not comply with European Union Good Manufacturing Practices as identified by UK regulatory authorities during planned inspections of Aptuit’s manufacturing facility in Kansas City, Missouri". The suit relates to the terminated agreement to manufacture Synavive (CRx-102) for a clinical trial.
CombinatoRx
Pharma declines for Saltigo
Lanxess' Saltigo business unit saw "robust" performance in Q1. The unit was less affected by declining demand from customer industries than in Lanxess' other business units. However Saltigo did see some decline in its pharmaceutical intermediates business due to product launch delays.
Lanxess
Wednesday, 6 May 2009
Cambrex sales decline
Cambrex reported a sales decline of 2.8% in Q1 2009. The company said that excluding currency impacts sales increased 8.7% primarily due to long standing orders of two APIs, higher volumes of controlled substances and slightly higher custom development revenues. However, the company saw lower sales of generic APIs.
Cambrex
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
Thursday, 30 April 2009
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
Senators want FDA to inspect more foreign plants
US Senators Chuck Grassley and Edward Kennedy have introduced a Bill to require the FDA to inspect more foreign drug manufacturing plants. The Senators say the FDA would get fees for conducting drug plant inspections.
Policy and Medicine
DSM pharma sales decline, profit rises
DSM's pharmaceutical facing business saw first quarter sales decline 5% to €197m, however profit for the business unit rose 3% to €11m. DSM attributed the sales decline to the disposal of a business unit at the end of 2008.
DSM
Albemarle sees sales decline
Albemarle saw sales in its fine chemicals business fall 18% to $120.8m in Q1 2009. The company attributed the decline to reduced sales in its bromine franchise.
RTT News
Sunday, 26 April 2009
SAFC sees sales decline
Sigma Aldrich saw sales for its SAFC fine chemicals business unit decline 5% against last year in Q1. The company saw a decline in orders from pharmaceutical customers during the quarter, but has a strong forward-orders book. SAFC has continued with three key expansion projects: to expand capacity for cGMP fermentation in Israel and new high-potence API capacity in Madison, WI, both of which are due onstream early in 2010, and a new viral products facility in Carlsbad, CA, which is due onstream soon.
Seeking Alpha
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Lonza on target; opens 2000L facility
Lonza has confirmed it is on track to meet its 2009 financial goals. Chief executive, Stefan Borgas, said the company saw robust underlying demand in life science markets remains and an increased outsourcing in biopharma as well as in chemical APIs, but that Lonza was feeling the effect of customer supply chain optimisation.
In addition, Lonza has started-up its high-titre 2000L microbial manufacturing train in Hopkinton, MA. The train is complemented by a highly flexible purification area. Lonza has also revamped the entire Hopkinton site infrastructure.
Reuters
Lonza
PharmEng to close plant
PharmEng will not be able to file its annual audited financial statements by the filing deadline of April 30, 2009. The company will also close its Sydney, Nova Scotia manufacturing facility effective May 8, 2009.
Market Wire
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Mixed reception for UK Budget
The UK Chemical Industries Association said the UK Budget "will be a major disappointment to chemical and pharmaceutical businesses across the UK". Chief Executive, Steve Elliott is "particularly angry that existing money has not been redirected to help temporary lay-offs and short time working".
Elliott also welcomed the £750m Strategic Investment Fund to support emerging technologies and high tech manufacturing. This fund was also cautiously welcomed by the BioIndustry Association, which said "it is essential that the fund is now implemented rapidly" to ensure that companies in the sector can benefit.
Chemical Industries Association
BioIndustry Association
Hovione opens Ireland plant
Hovione has opened the API manufacturing site in Cork, Ireland, which it agreed to acquire from Pfizer in December 2008. Hovione will continue to perform some manufacturing for Pfizer, which has manufactured Lipitor at the site for more than 10 years. However, the facility will mostly be used to address Hovione's own production needs.
Hovione
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Excelsyn wins Queen's Award
Excelsyn has won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2009, in the International Trade category, in recognition of a near-trebling of its export earnings, which now account for 82% of sales.
Daily Post
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Thursday, 9 April 2009
CIA and ICC sign MoU
The Chemical Industries Association and Indian Chemical Council have signed a memorandum of understanding to encourage the development of trade between the UK and India.
CIA
Tuesday, 7 April 2009
Monday, 6 April 2009
Shire closes plant outsources manufacturing
UK pharma company Shire is phase out manufacturing at its Owings Mills, MD, facility over the next three years. Shire plans to outsource the manufacturing to a North Carolina-based manufacturer as the company moves away from in-house manufacturing.
Baltimore Sun
Piramal Healthcare relocates custom manufacturing
Piramal Healthcare has closed its API contract manufacturing facility in Huddersfield, UK. Piramal will move the manufacturing jobs to its Morpeth, UK, and Ennore and Ahmedabad, India sites. The move will cost &3163;10m but the company expects to see profits in its custom manufacturing business improve by 6-8% by 2010-11.
Business Standard
Thursday, 2 April 2009
SOCMA changes name
SOCMA has changed its name to the Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates. Previously known as the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association, SOCMA believes the change formally broadens the scope of its activity to reflect service to the batch, custom and specialty chemical industry. Following changes to its charter all categories of SOCMA membership are now available to companies involved in batch, custom and specialty rather than just synthetic organic chemical manufacturing.
Pharmaceutical Business Review
Johnson Matthey to close Irish plant
Johnson Matthey plans to close its fine chemical manufacturing facility in Ireland and consolidate manufacturing of prostaglandin products at its US facility. The company said that in the quarter to the end of March its Fine Chemicals & Catalysts Division's sales excluding precious metals were ahead of the same period last year helped by favourable exchange translation and that good sales of active pharmaceutical ingredients offset some weakness in catalysts and chemicals.
Reuters
Monday, 30 March 2009
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Consortium wins manufacturing technology grant
A consortium of US and UK companies has been awarded an $11m phase 2 contract by the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) - Joint Science and Technology Office, Transformational Medical Technologies Initiative (TMTI), to develop technology for accelerated monoclonal antibody and vaccine manufacturing. The consortium combines Xcellerex’s microbial process development and single-use manufacturing technologies with Dowpharma’s Pfenex expression technology, deltaDOT’s analytical technology and BioPharm Services' systems integration, data management/process economics, and simulated event modeling technology. The consortium won a phase 1 grant in July 2007 (FINE Newsletter, 19 July 2007).
Boston Globe
Sunday, 22 March 2009
DSM to establish JVs in China
DSM has taken a 10% stake in North China Pharmaceutical Group Corporation Ltd and the two companies are establishing three joint ventures: one for vitamin C and two for anti-infective APIs and intermediates. DSM will hold a 51% share in the two anti-infectives joint ventures.
DSM
Thursday, 19 March 2009
Wacker expects fine chemicals growth in 2009
Wacker's fine chemicals business saw sales fall 13% in 2008, despite higher sales of its biotech products. The company put this down to consolidation and reducing the number of catalogue products it makes. The company expects overall business to fall in 2009, but believes the fine chemicals unit will see growth.
Wacker Chemie
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Novasep to build HPAI facility
Novasep will develop an R&D-phase pilot facility for highly potent active ingredients (HPAIs) as part of a consortium funded by the French government to develop innovative cancer therapies.
Business Wire
Obama announces FDA picks
President Obama has finally announced his picks to head the FDA. The President has nominated Margaret Hamburg as FDA Commissioner and Joshua Sharfstein as deputy commissioner. Hamburg will face a congressional approval committee.
Forbes
Sunday, 15 March 2009
Thursday, 12 March 2009
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Lonza speeds biologics development timeline
Lonza has developed a cell line construction process that reduces the time taken from DNA sequence to cGMP material to 14 months. The customer-tailored cell line construction process uses rapid methods for generating clonal cell lines and chemically defined, non-animal origin components.
Bio Valley
Monday, 9 March 2009
UKTI seeks companies for ChemSpec Europe
UK Trade and Investment is seeking up to 14 companies for a stand share at ChemSpec Europe in Barcelona. The companies must be of UK origin and offer UK origin products and services within the fine and speciality chemical industry.
For more information contact UKTI
US Senators propose clamp down on unsafe drug imports
A bi-partisan group of US Senators has introduced a Bill that will limit imports of drugs into the US. The Bill - The Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act - will only allow drugs - and drug ingredients - to be imported from FDA-inspected plants.
Domain B
Thursday, 5 March 2009
Lonza to manufacture TcL Pharma antibody
TcL Pharma has chosen Lonza to manufacture its lead monoclonal antibody. Lonza will provide strain development using its XS Microbial Expression Technologies through to cGMP manufacture of Phase I clinical material.
Manufacturing Chemist
RFCL-Mallinkrodt Baker deal off
RFCL has called off plans to acquire Mallinckrodt Baker. The two companies failed to agree a common valuatio, analysts expected the deal to be worth $325-350m.
Economic Times
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
Novacta and CML partner for chiral processes
Novacta Biosystems and Cambridge Major Laboratories will collaborate to develop new manufacturing routes to chiral pharmaceutical intermediates. Novacta will develop biocatalytic approaches to target chiral intermediates which Cambridge Major will scale-up at its facility in the Netherlands.
In-Pharma Technologist
India to be top five pharma hub
The Indian Government is planning to make the country one of the top five global pharmaceutical innovation hubs within four years. It aims to invest $1bn as part of its Vision 2020 - half of which will be public funds half from industry.
Pharma Times
Sunday, 1 March 2009
Lonza to manufacture Opsona antibody
Lonza will provide process development and cGMP manufacturing services for preclinical and Phase 1 studies of Opsona Therapeutics monoclonal antibody OPN- 305, using its GS Gene Expression System.
Morning Star
Thursday, 26 February 2009
US budget to strengthen FDA
The first budget from US President Obama's Administration will support the FDA's efforts to ensure imported drugs are safe and effective and to establish a new regulatory pathway to approve generic biologics. In addition the FDA will receive a substantial funding increase to strengthen its food and drug safety efforts.
Wall Street Journal
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
UKTI seeks companies for CPhI stand
UK Trade and Investment is seeking 11 companies for a stand share at CPhI Worlwide in Madrid. The companies must be of UK origin and offer UK origin (or UK high value added) products and services to the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry.
For more information contact UKTI
Thursday, 19 February 2009
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
DSM sees stable year for pharma
DSM saw stable full year organic sales in its Pharma cluster in 2008. Sales and profitability in its Pharmaceutical Products business unit were negatively impacted by the phasing-out of contracts related to the Roche Vitamins acquisition, insourcing by large pharma houses and delays in the commercial development of new products.
DSM
Monday, 16 February 2009
CMO sector to show 10% growth in 2008
The pharmaceutical contract manufacturing sector is predicted to exceed $30bn in 2008 - a growth of 10%, according to market research publishers, Kalorama. Biomanufacturing and secondary manufacturing are the two fastest growing sectors as they are often not core competencies of pharmaceutical and biotech drug developers.
In-pharma Technologist
Thursday, 12 February 2009
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
SAFC sees flat year in 2008
Sigma-Aldrich saw sales of its SAFC fine chemicals business grow 5.25% to $623.5m in 2008. The company said that 2% of the growth was due to currency effects, 0.7% to acquisitions and 2.5% due to organic growth. The company saw a decline in 2008 in services for small molecule projects with large pharma companies, however SAFC believes it is well positioned to take advantage of the move from small molecule to large molecule drugs.
Sigma-Aldrich
Monday, 9 February 2009
Thursday, 5 February 2009
Tuesday, 3 February 2009
Pharma changes to continue
Further to Pfizer's proposed acquisition of Wyeth announced last week, several other major pharma companies are expected to see significant changes. GlaxoSmithKline is expected to cut at least 6000 jobs worldwide. Sanofi-Aventis is believed to have approximately $26bn for acquisitions. Roche has lowered its offer for Genentech, appealing directly to the company's shareholders.
The Times
Financial Times
Financial Times
Sunday, 1 February 2009
Neuland moves into peptides
Neuland Laboratories is making a two-step move into peptide contract manufacturing. Firstly it will establish a non-GMP facility for synthesis of peptides both for generic API and contract research opportunities. The second phase will add commercial scale GMP contract manufacturing for both generic and innovator companies.
Outsourcing Pharma
APC adds capacity
American Peptide is expanding its GMP peptide manufacturing facility in Vista, California. The first phase of the expansion will add four purification suites, including HPLC columns and tray lyophilisers, and will commence operation in April 2009. The second phase will include two large-scale synthesis suites, with 1000L and 2000L solution phase reactors and 26L and 500L SPPS for solid phase synthesis, with completion expected in Q2.
Outsourcing Pharma
Thursday, 29 January 2009
Excelsyn reports strong sales; strengthens capabilities
Excelsyn's sales in its H1 2008/2009 were $10.98m. President and CEO Ian Shott said that progress has continued in the third quarted and it is "on track to more than double our EBITDA for FY 2008-09 – moving up to 16% from the 7% delivered in FY 2007/08".
Excelsyn has recently strengthened its capabilities at the Holywell, North Wales facility with the addition calorimetry equipment and a laboratory hydrogenation capability. The company has also completed the initial phase of its three-year expansion and upgrade programme at Holywell.
Excelsyn
Socma sees weaker outlook for 2009
Socma President, Joe Acker, persented the results of Socma's fifth busienss outlook survey at Informex 2009. The survey showed that overall outlook for the chemical industry has weakened in the 2008 reporting cycle with fewer companies reporting an increase in sales and more of them report actual declining sales. This trend is expected to continue in 2009.
Despite the less positive outlook, companies reported planned investments in R&D remain comparable to the last two years.
Socma
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
Albemarle sees record fine chemicals income
The Fine Chemicals business of Albemarle saw a 23% increase in sales in Q4 2008 to $161.3m. The company said the rise was due to "increased volume and pricing from fine chemistry services and improved pricing from our bromine portfolio". The company's Fine Chemicals segment reported a record income for the year.
Forbes
Pfizer to close five manufacturing plants
Pfizer is to reduce its number of manufacturing facilities from 46 to 41. The company will assess where its capabilities overlap with those of Wyeth, which the company is in the process of acquiring, before deciding which plants will close.
In-Pharma Technologist
Lonza reports strong year
Lonza reported a net income rise of 39% to CHF419m in 2008. Stafan Borgas, Lonza CEO, said the company saw solid demand overall and an increased trend towards outsourcing. The company's Exclusive Synthesis saw strong sales growth especially in samll molecules. The Biopharmaceuticals business was stable despite some project postponements. Borgas said the company was looking for some small to mid-sized acquisitions for its bioscience business in 2009 and that it was in advanced negotiations for a number of new custom manufacturing deals.
Reuters
Easy Bourse
Monday, 26 January 2009
Pfizer confirms Wyeth bid
The worst kept secret in pharma has been confirmed. Pfizer is to pay $68bn to acquire Wyeth. The deal will be financed through $22.5bn in bank loans combined with stock and cash, of which Pfizer has roughly $26bn.
New York Times
Saltigo expands US site
Saltigo has doubled the capacity of its cGMP pilot plant and added a second kilolab at its Redmond, WA, site. Site Manager Timothy Fitzpatrick said the company has also installed a low temperature unit in the pilot plant.
Lanxess
Sunday, 25 January 2009
Pfizer to buy Wyeth
Further consolidation may be coming to the pharma sector as rumours spread that Pfizer is looking to acquire Wyeth for $60bn. The news comes shortly after Pfizer announced another swathe of redundancies.
New York Times
Lonza starts-up Nansha API plant
Production has started at Lonza's new large-scale facility in Nansha, China. Lonza CEO Stefan Borgas said "this $200m investment enables Lonza to continue addressing the needs of our expanding worldwide customer base by adding manufacturing capacity, expanding our R&D services, and increasing flexibility.” The fully cGMP-compliant large-scale production facility is a six–train, multipurpose API manufacturing complex and complements the small-scale plant which started operations in September 2007.
Manufacturing Chemist
Thursday, 22 January 2009
Science not politics for FDA
Acting FDA Commissioner, Frank Torti, has promised that the agency will make its regulatory decisions based on science rather than politics. He admitted that the job would be difficult as the Agency awaits a permanent leader, but said that it should work efficiently and base decisions on the laws that govern food and drugs.
FDA
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
Lonza in biosimilars deal with Teva
Lonza will commence its partnership with Teva to develop, manufacture and market biosimilar medicines in the first quarter of 2009. Stefan Borgas, Lonza’s Chief Executive Officer said Lonza's capabilities in the area of biologics manufacturing will add value to this joint venture to produce the copycat products
Reuters
Thursday, 15 January 2009
FDA launches safety pilot programme
The FDA is seeking 100 companies to participate in its Secure Supply Chain pilot programme, which aims to improve the safety of drugs and active drug ingredients produced outside the US. Applicants must show they maintain control over the drug products from the time of manufacture through entry into the country.
Fierce Biotech
Wednesday, 14 January 2009
Agencies launch inspection sharing programme
The European, American and Australian regulatory agencies are looking at sharing inspection duties to best use resources. The European Medicines Agency (EMEA), FDA, and the Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) have commenced an 18-month pilot programme.
In-pharma Technologist
Sunday, 11 January 2009
SOCMA reveals "First 100 days" priorities
SOCMA has made its legislative priorities known for the first 100 days of the new Congress. The three key areas the trade association seeks action on are: the FDA’s inspection process of foreign drug-manufacturing facilities, security at chemical facilities, and chemical testing and risk management.
Pharmaceutical Technology
Thursday, 8 January 2009
Tuesday, 6 January 2009
Sunday, 4 January 2009
FDA approvals in 2008 highest for three years
The FDA approved 24 new, or first-of-a-kind, drugs in 2008. The agency approved 18 drugs in 2007, 22 in 2006 and 20 in 2005. However, the agency has missed its targets for a number of other products.
CNN
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
