Week of Oct. 24, 2011: Norwich Pharmaceuticals Increases Pilot-Scale Production Capabilities; Sanofi Appoints David Meeker as CEO of its Subsidiary Genzyme; and More

Company Notes

The CDMO Almac has announced the expansion of its manufacturing capacity to over 30 m³ (1060 ft³) at its European Headquarters in Craigavon, United Kingdom. The upgraded facility will include reactor vessels with cleanroom product isolation and drying equipment to allow highly potent API manufacturing up to 600 kg (1320 lbs) of batch size.

Boehringer Ingelheim has awarded the CDMO Patheon two projects with a combined revenue of more than $18 million over a three-year period. The projects are both fixed-dose combination drugs in development for the treatment of Type II diabetes.

Colorcon and BASF have formed a collaboration for the development of film-coating systems using Kollicoat Smartseal 30 D, and a new Colorcon preformulated additive. Colorcon has developed a preformulated additive system for use with Kollicoat Smartseal 30 D which enables efficient preparation and application of this polymer in taste-masking applications. The preformulated additive lowers the number of materials to be dispensed by 50% and reduces the preparation time by almost 40%.

Ferring Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company, has completed the purchase of the specialty pharmaceutical company Cytokine PharmaSciences and its United Kingdom subsidiary Controlled Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company with a particular focus in obstetrics.

Merck KGaA plans to return all rights for safinamide, a treatment for Parkinson’s Disease, to Newron Pharmaceuticals. Merck had acquired exclusive worldwide rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize safinamide pursuant to its agreement with Newron, which was signed in 2006. The termination of this agreement will become effective in April 2012 and will result in approximately EUR 40 million ($55.8 million) of additional costs for the Merck Serono division in the fourth quarter of 2011. These costs will be excluded from both the division’s and the Merck Group’s fourth quarter underlying core operating result.

The CDMO Norwich Pharmaceuticals has increased its pilot-scale production capabilities, including a facility expansion that doubles its current capacity for pilot-scale development and manufacturing. The additions at the Norwich, New York, facility include equipment, surface area, and staff.

Novartis has announced the reduction of approximately 2000 jobs. The company said 1100 jobs will be cut in Switzerland, and an additional 900 jobs cut in the United States. Novartis plans to add approximately 700 new positions in low-cost countries such as India and China.

Following Cobra Biologics' acquisition of Recipharm's biologic business on June 30, 2011, the companies announced that they have relaunched and rebranded under the name Cobra Biologics. The company will operate two GMP approved facilities in Sodertalje, Sweden, and Keele, UK.

People Notes

Bend Research, a CDMO, has appointed John McLeod as chief financial officer. McLeod was formerly director of business development with Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort for six years.

Sanofi has appointed David Meeker as CEO of its subsidiary Genzyme, effective Nov. 1, 2011. He will report to Sanofi CEO Christopher A. Viehbacher and will join the group management committee. Viehbacher will retain the position of chairman of Genzyme.