Pharmaceutical Technology Editors

The Bosch Group acquires Pharmatech, InterMune enters a supply agreement with Boehringer-Ingelheim, more.

Albany Molecular Research acquires manufacturing sites, Bespak restructures, more

Trenton, NJ (May 18)-Pharmaceutical and medical technology companies in New Jersey have found a striking disparity between six high-demand occupations and the number of qualified workers to fill those positions, according to a report issued by the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey (HINJ). Modest job growth in this field is expected for the next four years, states the report.

Akorn, Catalent, Novo Nordisk, more

Washington, DC (June 22)-Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Michael Enzi (R-WY), and Hillary Clinton (D-NY) agreed on legislation that would authorize the US Food and Drug Administration (Rockville, MD) to approve follow-on versions of biologic therapies.

London, UK (June 22)-The competition between biosimilars and branded drugs intensified this week thanks to favorable reviews of three biosimilar products for a popular treatment for anemia.

Althea Technologies partners with GeoVax Labs, Nabi Biopharmaceuticals restructures, more

Rockville, MD (June 18)-The US Food and Drug Administration, the European Commission, and the European Medicines Agency have agreed to extend cooperative activities to the areas of pediatrics and medicinal products for rare diseases (i.e., orphan drugs).

New York (June 19)-The US District Court for the Southern District of New York affirmed the validity and enforceability of Sanofi-Aventis's patent on clopidogrel bisulfate, the active ingredient in the company's coronary artery disease treatment "Plavix."

Cambridge, MA (June 7)-Genzyme Corp. is growing, with a new biomanufacturing plant planned and other expansions nearing completion.

Los Angeles (June 6)-Researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) used silica-based nanoparticles to deliver the anticancer drug camptothecin (CPT) and other water-insoluble drugs to human cancer cells.

Brussels (May 30)-The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) called for the pan-European and industry-wide adoption of 2-D barcode technology to combat the increase in counterfeit drugs in Europe.

Merck, Amgen, Lonza, Vical, more

Kvistgard, Denmark (June 4)-Bavarian Nordic received a $1.6-billion contract from the US Department of Health and Human Services to manufacture and deliver 20 million doses of its smallpox vaccine "Imvamune."

AstraZeneca, Barr Pharmaceuticals, Jubilant Organosys, Roche, more

Thousand Oaks, CA (June 4)-Amgen agreed to acquire Ilypsa (Santa Clara, CA), a private company that develops nonabsorbed drugs for renal disorders, for $420 million.

Boston, MA (May 8)-The global biotechnology industry showed several positive signs in 2006, including increases in overall revenues and financing, although the industry as a whole continues to operate at a loss, according to Ernst & Young's (New York, NY, www.ey.com) annual analysis of the biotechnology industry. Its report, "Beyond Borders 2007," was issued at the Biotechnology Industry Organization's (BIO, www.bio.org) annual conference and exhibition, which was held in Boston May 6–9.

Cambridge, MA (May 30)-Genzyme agreed to buy its US partner Bioenvision (New York) in an all-cash transaction worth $345 million.

Rockville, MD (May 25)-The US Food and Drug Administration issued a Form FDA 483, Inspectional Observations, to the Liverpool, United Kingdom, facility of MedImmune, Inc., citing deviations from current good manufacturing practices.

Acambis, FDA, Biogen, Ranbaxy, more

Rockville, MD (May 25)-The US Food and Drug Administration issued a statement announcing its intention to take action against companies that market unapproved timed-release drug products that contain the expectorant guaifenesin.

AAI, AstraZeneca, Biovail, West, more

Mumbai, India (May 21)-Sun Pharmaceutical Industries and its subsidiaries signed definitive agreements to acquire Taro Pharmaceutical Industries, a generics manufacturer with subsidiaries and manufacturing operations in the United States, Canada, and Israel.

Aptuit, Actavis, BASF, Bristol-Myers Squibb, more

Rockville, MD (May)-The US Food and Drug Administration issued a draft guidance, "Labeling for Human Prescription Drugs-Determining Established Pharmacologic Class for Use in the Highlights of Prescribing Information."

Darmstadt, Germany (May 13)-Mylan Laboratories Inc. and Merck KGaA have signed a share purchase agreement under which Mylan will acquire all of Merck's worldwide operations within Merck Generics, the company?s generics business.

Washington, DC (May 3)-The Biotechnology Industry Organization published a position paper stating that any legislation establishing a regulatory pathway for follow-on biologics should grant pioneering products 14 years of data exclusivity.

Dublin, OH (May 3)-In preparation for California?s new pedigree legislation, Cardinal Health plans to integrate radio frequency identification (RFID) technology into the operations at its pharmaceutical distribution center in Sacramento by fall 2007.

Althea, AstraZeneca, Bosch, more

Hamilton, OH (May 2)-Amylin Ohio LLC, a subsidiary of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, is expanding construction at its manufacturing facility in West Chester, Ohio. The expansion increases the company?s total investment to approximately $400 million.