Advancements in personalized medicine and other innovations are transforming the way dosage forms are viewed.

Reshaping Dosage Forms

This study aimed to develop a taste-masked drug resin complex using the ion exchange resin Kyron T-114.

Development of Taste-Masked Oral Dispersible Tablets of Cefpodoxime Proxetil

Novel genetic engineering technologies are transforming the design and manufacture of bispecific antibodies, which are emerging as a promising new class of biologics.

Frontrunners in Bispecific Antibodies

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Articles

Biotechnological developments have led to an increased number of recombinant proteins or antibodies in drug development that offer high potential in various diseases, such as cancer, growth disturbances and diabetes.

Bioanalysis of recombinant proteins by mass spectrometry

Sheryl Henderson is the director of Plant Network Strategy Implementation at Pfizer Inc.

Steven McWethy is the senior manager of the fermentation plant at Pfizer's Kalamazoo, Michigan, site.

Keith Dixon is the director of bioprocess development at Pfizer.

The authors describe the critical aspects of an ideal fermentation services provider.

Manufacturing Considerations for Sourcing GMP Fermentation Services

Stephen H. Wu, PhD, is a technical fellow in the Pharmaceutical R&D division of Mallinckrodt PharmaceuticalâCovidien Ltd.

The authors propose an alternative to the USP disintegration test method. The method embraces physiological conditions of the oral cavity, as a screening tool for developing ODT products.

An Alternative to the USP Disintegration Test for Orally Disintegrating Tablets

To meet the demands of early-stage development, contract research organizations can evaluate various dosage-form options. The author examines various methods of capsule filling, including binary blends.

Recent Options for Phase 1 Formulation Development and Clinical Trial Material Supply

Pharmaceutical companies developing new drug candidates for Hepatitis C virus infection now can test their compounds with a novel culture system that mimics the biology of HCV infection in humans.

New Culture System Models Human HCV Infection

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Barr Pharmaceuticals (Montvale, NJ) signed a definitive agreement under which Teva will acquire Barr, the fourth-largest generic-drug company in the world. Teva will buy each share of Barr common stock for $39.90 in cash and 0.6272 Teva shares. Based on the closing price of Teva?s shares on July 16, 2008, the price per share of Barr common stock is $66.50, and the total value of the acquisition is $7.46 billion. Teva will assume Barr?s outstanding net debt of approximately $1.5 billion.

Teva to Purchase Barr

Patricia Van Arnum was executive editor of Pharmaceutical Technology.

3M Drug Delivery Systems has successfully designed a proof of concept device using a solid microstructured transdermal system for the systemic delivery of high-potency pharmaceuticals. The technology was showcased at a poster session at the annual meeting of the Controlled Release Society held this week in New York City.

Solid Microstructured Transdermal Delivery Highlighted at Controlled Release Society's Meeting

The European Pharmacopeia Commission has published the General Information chapter "Potentially Genotoxic Impurities and European Pharmacopoeia Monographs on Substances for Human Use" in the July 2008 edition of PharmEuropa.

European Pharmacopeia Defines Policy for Potentially Genotoxic Impurities

The Congressional Budget Office has released a report that provides a picture of the financial impact from the enaction of S.1695, the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2007.

Federal Report Outlines Cost Savings in Biosimilars Approval Pathway

The introduction of biomolecules into cells is a key technology for research in biological sciences.