Pharmaceutical Technology Editors

Almac opens new North American headquarters; Sanofi Pasteur appoints Damian Braga as senior vice-president of global commercial operations; and More.

Global spending on medicines will total almost $1.1 trillion by 2015, according to an IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics study.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries agreed to pay shareholders $460 million in cash to acquire a 57% stake in Taiyo Pharmaceutical Industry. Teva also will offer to buy all outstanding shares of Taiyo.

AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, and the University of Manchester form new research collaboration for inflammation; BASi names Michael Zhou as senior director of R&D; and More.

EMA is working with its European and international regulatory partners to monitor and evaluate ?the possible risk of radioactive contamination of medicines manufactured in Japan following the radiation leak from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.?

Recent recalls, including that of American Regent?s caffeine and sodium benzoate injection on May 5, 2011, highlight the importance of particulate inspection, and they might lead observers to ask whether current inspection methods are sufficiently effective.

How do you assign a minimum sample weight for a US Pharmacopeia <41> balance application when the tested repeatability gives a standard deviation of zero?

PharmTech's monthly newsletter, Equipment and Processing Report, reviews the Editor's Picks for the May 2011 edition from David Round Company and Globe Medical Tech.

Filling active ingredients directly into capsules is probably the quickest option for entering clinical trials. This case study compares manual and automated methods of capsule filling.

In fiscal year 2010, the number of patent settlements in which the manufacturers of branded products paid makers of generic drugs to postpone the introduction of their products reached its highest level ever, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

FDA is asking for input on the development of a user-fee program for biosimilar and interchangeable biological product applications.

INC Research agrees to acquire Kendle; CMC Biologics hires Claes Glassell as CEO; and More.

The IPEC is soliciting public comment about a draft plan for the independent certification of manufacturers and suppliers of pharmaceutical excipients.

Velesco partners with Vindonwestech; NeurogesX announces retirement of CEO Anthony DiTonno; and More.

Israel-based Teva Industries seals deal to acquire Cephalon for $6.8 billion.

This article, which focuses on distribution and administration, is Part III of a three-part series on biopharmaceutical issues in public health, government, and developing-world markets.

A roundup of developments in corporate social responsibility and sustainability from the bio/pharmaceutical industry, its suppliers, and other public and private organizations.

Efforts are made to educate health workers in less developed countries.

sanofi-aventis signs research pact with Stanford; Paul Maffuid joins AAIPharma Services; and More.

Warner Chilcott announced in a press release on Apr. 18, 2011, its intentions restructure, placing 500 Western European jobs on the line.

FDA has released a list of its strategic priorities for the next five years to address new global challenges.

Axcan acquires Mpex Pharmaceuticals; Bend Research receives patent for improving bioavailability of low-solubility drugs; and More.

On Apr. 18, 2011, scientists from the national laboratories of five African nations gathered in Accra, Ghana, to take part in a week of technical training put on by the US Pharmacopeia (USP) that will teach them how to detect substandard and counterfeit medicines.

FDA Released Draft Guidance for Industry on Safety Labeling Changes.

On Tuesday, Apr. 19, 2011, officials from FDA, the US Department of Health and Human Services, and the Drug Enforcement Administration introduced President Obama?s plan for curbing prescription-drug diversion and abuse.

The implementation of digital photomicrography has expanded the capabilities of microanalysis for quality control. But if used incorrectly, the technique can hurt more than help.

We want to fill one of our oxygen-sensitive products inside an isolator system. Can we run an isolator with pure nitrogen and defined humidity?

PharmTech's monthly newsletter, Equipment and Processing Report, reviews the Editor's Picks for the April 2011 edition from ACS Valves and L.B. Bohle.

To find out how well industry is applying QbD, and what benefits the approach can bring, Equipment and Processing Report talked to Moheb M. Nasr, director of FDA?s Office of New Drug Quality Assessment.

Alynlyam forms drug-delivery pact with the University of British Columbia; Linda S. Mayer Joins Schott North America; and More.