Packaging and Distribution

Brief pharmaceutical news items for May 2009.

Products at INTERPHEX focused on protection, compliance, and deterring counterfeiting. This article contains bonus online-exclusive material.

Technology can solve enterprise-level problems.

Also, Roche's Avastin trial does not meet endpoint; Innate Pharma names regulatory VP; more...

Also: Sanofi-aventis acquires BiPar Sciences; FDA issues Warning Letter to Chinese heparin manufacturer; Halo Pharmaceutical appoints chief scientific officer; more...

Also, Sanofi-aventis acquires Medley and Laboratorios Kendrick; Eli Lilly's Cook to retire from board; more...

Also, Genzyme and Bayer HealthCare form agreement; FDA releases draft guidances; TransMolecular appointed Robert Radie president and CEO

Also, SOCMA changes name; two FDA approvals; Biogen Idec names chief operating officer; more...

On March 26, the Michigan House of Representatives passed House Bill 4316, effectively repealing part of a 1996 law that provides drug companies immunity from liability lawsuits involving products that have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Obama's cost-containment and science-innovation initiatives need to overlap.

The financial and economic downturn is likey to have long-term implications for outsourcing.

Also, Hospira to reduce workforce; WuXi AppTech makes senior appointments; more...

Also, Genzyme receives warning letter; Mesa Laboratories appoints John J. Sullivan CEO and a member of the board of directors; more...

Also, Penn Pharma to expand; stem cell research funding ban lifted; Bristol-Myers Squibb made senior appointments; more...

On March 3, the US Food and Drug Administration released a draft guidance for Industry entitled "Clinical Pharmacology Section of Labeling for Human Prescription Drug and Biological Products: Content and Format."

Also, Schering-Plough's vaccine unit, Nobilon, formed an agreement with the World Health Organization; Ore Pharmaceuticals named president and CEO; more...

USP's revised chapter on injectables could harm anticounterfeiting efforts and drug administration.

Industry has changed, but its basic tenets have not. INTERPHEX's RJ Palermo discusses a 7-step process to keep pharma moving forward.

Contract manufacturers of APIs and intermediates report gains, but express caution.

Integrated lines, flexible machines, and high-barrier materials enhance packaging options.

Also, GPC Biotech AG and Agennix to merge; BASi appoints COO of scientific services; more...

Also, Sandoz received approval for its third biosimilar from the EU, WuXi PharmaTech's CFO Benson Tsang to leave at month's end; more...

Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI) introduced HR 759, known as the Food and Drug Globalization Act of 2009, which would amend the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to address food, drug, and device safety, including registration of producers of drugs and applicable fees, documentation for admissibility of drug imports, country of origin labeling, and the inspection of producers of drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients (API).

Also, PPD to acquire AbC.R.O.; Bilcare Global Clinical Supplies named Tony Moult general manager of Bilcare GCS Europe; more...

GS1 UK, an independent organization that develops supply-chain standards, successfully completed the Pharma Traceability Pilot program and demonstrated the viability of a complete track-and-trace system for pharmaceutical products in a live, international supply-chain environment.

Also, recalls for two KV Pharmaceutical subsidiaries; Human Genome Sciences delivers anthrax drug to US Strategic National Stockpile; Akorn president and CEO leaves the company; more...

A recent reader poll focused on predictions for the industry's future.

FDA's role should not be overlooked as it has been in years past.

Also, UCB will divest certain business in emerging markets to GSK; the KineMatik Group named Michael G. Jarjour president and CEO; more...

Also, Elan explores strategic alternatives; NanoGuardian appoints John D. Glover to lead its Security Advisory Board; more...