Manufacturing

The emergence of influenza A (H1N1) and the efforts to provide vaccines to the vulnerable are timely examples of biopharmaceuticals' continuing importance.

To address the increasing popularity of drug-injector systems, the US Food and Drug Administration last week released a Draft Guidance for Industry titled, Technical Considerations for Pen, Jet, and Related Injectors Intended for Use with Drugs and Biological Products.

Also, TorreyPines Therapeutics to liquidate assets and dissolve company; EU's competition services to examine Pfizer/Wyeth merger; Akorn appoints Raj Rai interim CEO; more...

Patent infringement claims and a lack of clear global trade distribution routes may be unraveling the country's generic-drug export industry.

The US Government Accountability Office recommended that the US Food and Drug Administration draft a plan, including milestones, for developing its Sentinel system and ensuring the privacy and security of patients' healthcare data.

To address the increasing popularity of drug-injector systems, the US Food and Drug Administration last week released a Draft Guidance for Industry titled, Technical Considerations for Pen, Jet, and Related Injectors Intended for Use with Drugs and Biological Products.

The chief operating officer (COO) of Mylan (Canonsburg, PA), one of the world's leading generic drug manufacturers, has condemned the launch of authorized generic drugs during 180-day exclusivity periods.

The European Commission's (EC) Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry (EC-DG Enterprise) announced last week that it will not continue preparing a commission directive on good manufacturing practices (GMPs) for certain excipients.

The US biotechnology industry reached aggregate profitability for the first time ever in 2008, representing the only bright spot in an otherwise dismal year for biotechnology financing and performance.

Consumer-care products, electronics, and select industrial firms comprise AMR Research's Supply Chain Top 25 for 2009, offering an opportunity for the pharmaceutical industry to examine best practices in supply-chain management.

Members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Chair Emeritus John D. Dingell (D-MI), Chair Henry A. Waxman (D-CA), and Reps. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Bart Stupak (D-MI), Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Betty Sutton (D-OH) released last week a discussion draft of the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009.

Also, WACKER expands Iowa facility; EMEA releases a Q&A document for PIPs; Metrics consolidates quality operations; more...

This week the US Food and Drug Administration released the final version of Guidance for Industry: Providing Regulatory Submissions in Electronic Format-Drug Establishment Registration and Drug Listing.

In two whistleblower suits filed in May 2009, the United States and 16 states alleged that Wyeth (Madison, NJ) knowingly failed to offer the government the same discounts it gave to private purchasers of its drugs, as Medicaid laws require.

A book guides readers through the regulatory requirements for computerized quality systems.

A successful quarantine program requires collaboration among all departments of a pharmaceutical facility.

As regulators work to curb counterfeiting, industry finds benefits to gaining granular data about the supply chain. This article contains bonus online-exclusive material.

Compliance features help patients follow medication regimens correctly.

Misleading the public about their investments-be it money or medicine-is unacceptable.

CROs and CMOs expand to gain a piece of the market for clinical trial materials.

It can take a lot of work to make sure nothing happens.

Short-term problems in software or hardware lead to long-term manufacturing troubles.

Debates about science, manufacturing, and European regulations will shape the approval process for follow-on biologics in the United States.

Editors' Picks of Pharmaceutical Science & Technology Innovations

Despite its shrinking domestic economy, Ireland is determined not to let its pharmaceutical industry fade into the shadow of global recession.

Agency officials and manufacturers anticipate stricter enforcement of drug safety and quality.

Brief pharmaceutical news items for June 2009.

FDA leaders explain the purpose and plan for ICH's three quality guidelines.

In 2005, a small delegation (myself included) of the European Fine Chemicals Group (EFCG) met with the deputy head of the cabinet of Commissioner Kyprianou (the then Commissioner responsible for health and consumer protection). Our mission was simple - we were there to raise a red flag.

Despite the fact that regulatory compliance is fundamental to the pharmaceutical industry, too many manufacturers lose millions of euro in revenue because of poorly or incorrectly validated facilities. With increasingly demanding global regulations and guidance, rising manufacturing costs and dwindling product portfolios, it is vital to achieve efficient and effective compliance of facilities, processes and equipment to retain market competitiveness.