Articles By Marcus Johnson
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Stanford Engineer Creates Electroceutical Device To Fight Illness
6/4/2014
Stanford assistant professor of electrical engineering Ada Poon has developed a wireless system that can transfer energy to the rice-sized chips in various electronic medical devices, including pacemakers, nerve stimulations, sensors, and other devices which have not yet been developed. Poon has stated that her wireless system uses the same power as a cell phone, and the energy transmitted will be safe. Poon believes that her system can replace the need for large batteries and cumbersome recharging systems that stop medical devices from being more widely adapted in medical treatment. She also believes that the use of electronic devices can eventually replace some forms of drug treatment.
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Genzyme's MS Treatment Approved For UK Reimbursement
5/29/2014
Genzyme’s newest multiple sclerosis drug, Lemtrada, has been made available for reimbursement through the UK’s National Health Service. The company made the announcement earlier this week, as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) releases its final guidance recommendation for the MS drug.
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ASCO Updates Treatment Guidelines For Breast Cancer Drug Tamoxifen
5/29/2014
Tamoxifen, the breast cancer drug which works by blocking the ability of cells to use the estrogen hormone, was recently given new treatment guidelines by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, or ASCO. The ASCO has deemed that the drug should be used for a period of as long as ten years, depending on the type of breast cancer being treated.
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Relypsa Enters Into Manufacturing Deal With DSM Fine Chemicals
5/22/2014
Relypsa Inc. has announced that it has entered into a manufacturing contract with DSM Fine Chemicals. The multi-year commercial manufacturing and supply contract will be for the production of the active pharmaceutical ingredient, or API, of patiromer, which will be used in the development of hyperkalemia treatment.
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Novasep Boosts Manufacturing Capacity At Le Mans Facility
5/16/2014
Novasep announced that it invested $5.5 million to increase the manufacturing capacities at its Le Mans facility in France, and that the plant is now fully qualified. The investment has expanded the company’s ability to manufacture highly potent active pharmaceutical ingredients (HPAPI). The new extension to the facility is now being used to scale up an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) payload.
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WuXi PharmaTech Completes St. Paul Facility, Begins New R&D, cGMP Facility Construction
5/15/2014
WuXi PharmaTech, a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and research and development company based out of China, has announced that it has completed construction on a new facility in St. Paul, Minnesota. The St. Paul facility, which is expected to be in operation by the end of June, will give the company added capacity for current services such as particle identification and extractable/leachable testing.
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Late Stage Trials Prove Lilly Diabetes Drug Set To Battle Sanofi's Lantus
5/15/2014
Eli Lilly has announced that its type 2 diabetes drug served as an effective treatment for lowering patients’ blood sugar levels. The Eli Lilly drug, basal insulin peglispro, was in three late-stage trials. The three trials tested three types of patients: those who had not previously taken insulin, those who were taking insulin at meals, and those who were taking another type of basal insulin. Following the trials, the company has found that the drug met its primary endpoint of non-inferior reduction in hemoglobin A1c compared to insulin glargine.
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Lannet and Sunshine Lake Enter Into CMO Agreement
5/15/2014
Lannett Company has announced that it is entering into a distribution and contract manufacturing services (CMO) agreement with Sunshine Lake, which is the US based subsidiary of the HEC Pharm Group. HEC is based out of the Guangdong Province in China. Under the terms of the deal,
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CSL Opens New Manufacturing Facility For Hemophilia Therapies
5/14/2014
CSL, which is based out of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, has announced that the company has opened the CSL Behring Biotechnology Manufacturing Facility in Melbourne, Australia. This new facility will be located directly adjacent to the company’s plant dedicated to manufacturing plasma products in Melbourne. The new expansion cost the company $250 million and was part of the overall expansion of the company’s Broadmeadows site. The new facility will be used primarily for the late stage development of hemophilia products. The advanced technology at the facility will allow for the large-scale production of therapies for international clinical trials.
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Biolyse Pharma Voices Concerns About Temporary Cessation Of Paclitaxel Productionq
5/14/2014
Biolyse Pharma, a Canadian drug manufacturer, has stated that it is working with safety regulator Health Canada to reopen its manufacturing plant following a temporary shutdown. However, the company is also expressing concerns about the effect the closure has had on the production of Biolyse’s important cancer drug paclitaxel.