Authors


Michael T. Ricci

Latest:

The New Biopharmaceutical Blueprint: Service-Oriented Architecture in Manufacturing

More than ever, drug makers need to be fleet and flexible-and they need their software to be the same.


John Michael Newton

Latest:

Formulation Variables on Pellets Containing Self-Emulsifying Systems

This high quality of pellet roundness is surprising in view of the high extrusion forces required to extrude the wet masses.


Ryan F Donnelly

Latest:

Excipient-Excipient Interactions in Pharmaceutical Systems Intended for Topical Application

Bioadhesive films cast from aqueous blends of PMVE/MA have diverse uses, such as a means of establishing an electrically conducting interface for bioelectrodes and as an adhesive drug delivery matrix.


Reg Freeman

Latest:

Understanding powder behaviour by measurig bulk, flow and shear properties

The trend towards developing pharmaceutical products and their manufacturing processes in tandem supports optimized production. Such developments rely on gathering process-relevant information at an early stage and being able to draw on past and current processing experience. Here, we discuss how powder rheometers can make a real difference in building a database of powder properties and removing subjectivity.


Johannes G. Khinast

Latest:

Real-Time Measurement of Coating Film Thickness

Optical coherence tomography can improve quality control and development of coated dosage forms by allowing film thickness to be measured in real time.


Anabela Godinho

Latest:

Formulation Variables on Pellets Containing Self-Emulsifying Systems

This high quality of pellet roundness is surprising in view of the high extrusion forces required to extrude the wet masses.


Brianne Harrison

Latest:

Evaluating Impact of Personalized Medicines on Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Interphex2007, New York, NY (Apr. 26)-As focus shifts away from "one-size-fits-all" medicines and begins centering on personalized medicines, many companies begin to wonder how they can manufacture such drugs economically. Mark Hirschel, chief scientific officer of BioVest International, addressed that issue in his presentation, "A Bioreactor System Designed for Production of Personalized Therapeutics," at Interphex on Thursday.


Taia Ergueta

Latest:

Trends in mass spectrometry

To fully optimize MS performance, corresponding enhancements are required in the other functional components of the integrated LC/MS platform.


Phyllis Walsh

Latest:

The Real Complexity of Excipient Composition

This article seeks to promote dialogue among stakeholders to facilitate consensus regarding requirements for excipients.


Lisa Lim

Latest:

Designing a winning process development strategy

Process development is an important aspect of biopharmaceutical development.1,2 Through studies in the pharmaceutical industry, Pisano suggests that companies able to develop and implement new process technologies quickly and effectively have a competitive edge. In addition, the fact that the production cost of biopharmaceuticals could be up to 25% of sales value means that the failure to develop a viable process could result in uneconomic manufacturing routes and the inability to capture fully the value of the firm's discovery.3


Gbenga Alebiowu

Latest:

The Influence of Pregelatinized Starch Disintegrants on Interacting Variables that Act on Disintegrant Properties

This study evaluates the quantitative effects of the nature and concentrations of disintegrants and a tablet's relative density on disintegrant properties such as disintegration time and the crushing strength-friability/disintegration time ratio.


Control, a senior compliance officer

Latest:

Time Is Of The Essence

Giving contamination time to build up can cause headaches for more than just your company.


Sandra A. Lueken

Latest:

Project Management and CMO–Sponsor Relations

Using basic project management tools and ideas in the transfer process saves time and money and ensures high success rates.


Heather E. Fraser

Latest:

From Quality by Inspection to Quality by Design: A Roadmap for Success

Companies must create a risk-based framework for developing and manufacturing drugs, and acquire the scientific knowledge and technological skills to create more complex products.


Per-Åke Ohlson

Latest:

Why It Pays To Be Clean

Process industries are faced with increasing demands for product safety, improved quality, efficiency and profitability. The chemical, pharma and cosmetic industries are no exception.


Dan Mullen

Latest:

Understanding Data, Symbol, and Technology Options

Although the main purpose of the proposed unit-of-use bar coding mandate is to reduce medication errors, manufacturers may find additional benefits to compliance, including reduced materials and finshed-good inventory requirements, improved sample management, and streamlined recalls.


Colin Booth

Latest:

The role of media fills in process control

There is currently no vaccination or cure for prion diseases and contamination of a parenteral or infusion pharmaceutical product could prove fatal.


Ian M. Pearson

Latest:

Designing & Implementing Pharmaceutical Clean Rooms

Possible cross-contamination issues should be eliminated at the early stage of the project. The project sponsor should ensure that all relevant personnel from the production, quality control, logistics, and maintenance departments, as well as engineering, are involved in the conceptual stages of a design.


Mark Straker

Latest:

Clean Rooms and Air Handling Systems — Design for Compliance

This article provides an overview of the important factors associated with air handling systems within pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical facilities. It provides information on the need for these systems, design considerations and advice on the approach to commissioning and qualification.


Breda O' Driscoll

Latest:

Analysing Raw Materials and Formulations Using High Resolution Ultrasonic Spectroscopy

HR-US is a nondestructive technique with enormous potential for the analysis of materials and formulations used in the pharmaceutical industry.


Ian Pearson

Latest:

Containment Levels and Facility Design

The influence of containment classification in facility design cannot be underestimated. It can, for example, determine the extent of the design process and the level of equipment needed to safeguard human life and the surrounding environment. This article discusses factors that should be considered when planning such a containment facility, including material flow, process equipment and regulatory guidelines.


Christopher Ahlberg

Latest:

Pharmaceuticals visualize success

With a finger on the pulse of an evolving market, the sales and marketing team can visually demonstrate trends and new market opportunities to the R&D team


Jon Mowles

Latest:

Designing a winning process development strategy

Process development is an important aspect of biopharmaceutical development.1,2 Through studies in the pharmaceutical industry, Pisano suggests that companies able to develop and implement new process technologies quickly and effectively have a competitive edge. In addition, the fact that the production cost of biopharmaceuticals could be up to 25% of sales value means that the failure to develop a viable process could result in uneconomic manufacturing routes and the inability to capture fully the value of the firm's discovery.3


Paul Denny-Gouldson

Latest:

Barriers and Solutions to Effective External Collaboration in Biopharma

As biopharma companies rapidly change their focus, they may lack the laboratory space, instrumentation, and the scientific knowledge to support biologics research.


Dave Femia

Latest:

Process Analytical Technology: Real-Time Reliability

To implement process analytical technology systems into the current information technology landscape, manufacturers will need to adopt continuously available systems and infrastructures.


Jo Daniels

Latest:

How polymeric microspheres deliver the goods

Drug delivery systems using biocompatible polymers allow controlled release of therapeutics, addressing many of the challenges of conventional administration. Polymer microspheres are attractive delivery systems, having a wide application in numerous therapeutic indications. This article reviews the current use and trends for polymer microspheres, and compares production methods and polymer characteristics.


James E. Akers

Latest:

Distinguishing Between Cleanroom Classification and Monitoring

A one-size-fits-all approach to monitoring practices and results is never appropriate, given the diversity of practice within the pharmaceutical industry.


Catherine Sheehan

Latest:

Characterization of Polymeric Excipients

This article summarizes the evolution of the viscosity standards and their corresponding applications in the USP−NF compendia.


H. Jurgen Spanier

Latest:

Integrity Testing of Sterilizing Grade Filters: Comparative Investigation of Pressure Drop and Flow Rate Measurements

Testing sterilizing grade filters using integrity testers has become a standard method in biopharmaceutical production and quality assurance. In accordance with international regulations and recommendations, these filters should be tested before and after filtration. For these applications, a variety of automatic integrity testers is available. Currently, there are two groups of devices that are used to conduct validated testing procedures, such as the bubble point test, the diffusion test, and the water intrusion test (WIT) and water flow test (WFT). Whereas one group of devices relies on the principle of flow measurement, the other group is based on pressure drop measurements. The following report compares the accuracy of the two test methods, using the WFT as a reference.


Charles R. Cunningham

Latest:

The Effect of Core Design and Formulation on the Quality of Film Coated Tablets

This article examines the importance of core design and formulation on the quality of a film coated tablet...