Pharmaceutical Technology Editors

Company Notes: Gibraltar expands facilities; Allozyne appoints new president and CEO, more.

The US Food and Drug Administration announced the formation of the Pediatric Review Committee to help ensure quality and consistency across the agency.

In accordance with the US Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007, FDA is asking companies to notify the agency within 30 days whether they intend to participate in FDA?s direct-to-consumer user-fee program during fiscal year 2008.

Company and People Notes: ImClone, BMS, and Merck form agreement; CRI Worldwide names new CEO, more.

Medical students are participating in various activities this week to persuade medical schools to shield their campuses from the influence of pharmaceutical marketing as part of ?National PharmFree Week.?

Under a new US Food and Drug Administration revision, sole manufacturers of drugs considered life-supporting, life-sustaining, or for prevention of certain serious diseases or conditions will be required to notify FDA at least six months before discontinuing production of the product.

On behalf of manufacturers of over-the-counter (OTC) infant cough and cold medications, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association announced a voluntary withdrawal of products intended for use in children under age 2.

The US Food and Drug Administration posted its rates for user fees for fiscal year 2008, effective Oct. 1, 2007 through Sept. 30, 2008.

The US Food and Drug Administration sent Med-South Pharmacy a Warning Letter for producing large volumes of betamethasone acetate?betamethasone sodium phosphate without following current good manufacturing practices (CGMPs).

Company and People Notes: Orexo acquires Biolipox, Avalon cofounder resigns, more...

The US Food and Drug Adminstration?s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research has issued a Warning Letter to Genzyme Corporation.

Company and People Notes: Novartis and MIT to study continuous processing, GSK appoints Andrew Witty as CEO, more.

The US Food and Drug Administration will hold a public meeting on November 14, 2007 to solicit comments about the proposed behind-the-counter (BTC) availability of drugs.

A recent report conducted by The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General is stirring some concern over how the US Food and Drug Administration conducts inspections of clinical trials.

Ranbaxy received full market approval from the US Food and Drug Admnistration for its anti-infective agent ?Clarithromycin? oral suspension.

Company and People Notes: Thermo Fisher Scientific buys Priority Solutions International, Wyeth elects new president and CEO, more.

President Bush signed the FDA Amendment Act into law, thereby reauthorizing the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA).

Lancaster Laboratories (Lancaster, PA) acquired Microchem Laboratories (Waterford, Ireland). Microchem was established in 1986 and is one of Ireland's testing and research laboratories. Microchem offers microbiological, chemical, and environmental analyses to the pharmaceutical, medical-device, and chemical industries in Europe and Asia.

The United States House of Representatives passed its version of the Patent Reform Act of 2007 (H.R. 1908) in September in a 220-175 vote. Although the bill aims to fix current flaws in the US patent system and to bring it in line with those of other countries' systems, the biopharmaceutical industry is largely unhappy with the news, arguing that it will reduce patent protection.

Company and People Notes: Evotec and Renovis enter agreement, Amgen to lay off 675 workers, more.

Company and People Notes: Catalent expands Bolton, UK, warehouse; Biotica appoints Edward E. Hodgkin as CEO and director; more.

Bayer Schering Pharma officially completed the acquisition of Novartis?s biologics manufacturing facility in Emeryville, California.

Company and People Notes: Baxter and Halozyme Expand Relationship, Crucell Names COO, More.

Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Herb Kohl (D-WI) introduced the Physician Payments Sunshine Act to require pharmaceutical and biologics manufacturers to report the payments, gifts, honoraria, and trips they give to doctors.

The US Food and Drug Administration’s Interagency Working Group on Import Safety released a Strategic Framework based on a cost-effective, risk-based approach for ensuring the safety of products exported to the United States.

A team of researchers from the University of Idaho and Seoul National University have designed a potential drug delivery system by coating silica nanowires with the protein fibronectin.

Ranbaxy Laboratories has gained approvals from the US Food and Drug Administation to manufacture and market galantamine hydrobromide tablets and carvedilol tablets.

Company and People Notes: SAFC Expands in Wisconsin, Amgen Reduces Rhode Island Staff, More.

Boehringer Ingelheim decided to voluntarily withdraw its “Silomat” drug, which contains clobutinol hydrochloride, in all countries where it is available.

Purchase-order contracting is a commonly used approach to conducting commercial transactions, but it is a risky proposition when applied to pharmaceutical transactions, including the buying and selling of contract services and pharmaceutical ingredients. The authors examine the contract provisions covered in a commercial-supply agreement that are likely to be omitted under purchase-order contracting and the risk-reduction benefits that a commercial-supply agreement can offer in pharmaceutical procurement transactions.