Pharma manufacturing news in brief
pharmafile | January 17, 2012 | News story | Manufacturing and Production |Â Â Biovest International, Corealis, OctoPlus and Tris Pharma, TorayÂ
Toray buys a stake in MicroBiopharm Japan, Corealis wins a manufacturing contract from Kedem Pharma, plus updates from Biovest International, OctoPlus and Tris Pharma.
Japan’s Toray Industries has acquired a 20% stake in MicroBiopharm Japan, a subsidiary of Mitsui that is involved in the manufacture and sale of active pharmaceutical ingredients, intermediates and fine chemicals. Toray recently implemented a strategic plan designed to increase its position in growth businesses, including ‘advanced materials’ such as pharmaceuticals and medical products. “Toray sees this investment as an opportunity to expand its technology sharing with MBJ, discover new drugs and strengthen its manufacturing infrastructure at the development stage”, said the company in a statement.
Contract manufacturing organisation (CMO) Corealis Pharma has been contracted to produce clinical supplies of Kedem Pharmaceuticals‘ KDM-1102, a new sublingual formulation of the beta blocker propranolol that is being developed as a treatment for anxiety attacks and cardiovascular indications. KDM-1102 is Kedem’s second most advanced project after KDM-1101, a sublingual formulation of sildenafil citrate. The company has also just started development of a sublingual version of Novartis’ cancer drug Glivec (imatinib).
Biovest International, a subsidiary of Accentia Biopharmaceuticals, has signed a research agreement with Germany’s Max Planck Institute to look at the potential of the company’s Hollow Fiber Bioreactor Systems for the cell culture manufacture of viral vaccines. The institute will conduct a series of influenza virus growth studies using the technology, and the two organisations will work together on optimising the conditions required for efficient virus production and to demonstrate large-scale manufacturing potential.
Dutch company OctoPlus says it has expanded an evaluation contract for its proprietary drug delivery technology PolyActive with an unnamed pharmaceutical company. If the project is successful, the contract may transform into a full process development and manufacturing contract, as well as a licensing agreement, according to the firm. The project is focusing on the targeted delivery of a therapeutic compound into joints.
Tris Pharma has been awarded a US patent for its OralXR+ drug delivery technology based on drug-ion exchange resin complexes. The patent covers multiple active ingredients delivered using the technology, as well as manufacturing processes and equipment, according to the company’s president and chief executive Ketan Mehta. Tris has developed a number of novel applications of the technology, including an oral liquid formulation that provides 24-hour sustained release of actives.
Phil Taylor
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