Reflect Scientific’s Cryometrix T-160 ultra-low temperature freezer is designed to be a safer, more reliable and more efficient option for the pharmaceutical and medical industries than cryogenic freezers requiring liquid nitrogen. The refrigerator also replaces the compressor and refrigerant design present in most biorepositories. The upright liquid nitrogen freezer boasts adjustable temperatures from +20°C to…
Why remote ketamine prescribing could change in May
Ketamine continues to gain in popularity as an off-label treatment for mood disorders. During the pandemic, remote telepsychiatry companies have gained in popularity, facilitating remote prescribing of sublingual ketamine. That practice may change on May 11, when the White House plans to end the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). The PHE enabled companies such as…
Pharma layoffs in 2023: Companies making cuts
A recession in 2023 is highly probable. Some two-thirds of economists surveyed at the World Economic Forum in Davos said they anticipated an economic downturn this year. Given the difficult economic situation, a growing number of pharmaceutical firms are reducing staff. Several companies announced cuts at the end of 2022, including Catalent and Novartis. The…
Vaccitech names Nadège Pelletier as chief scientific officer
The clinical-stage biopharma Vaccitech (Nasdaq:VACC) has appointed Nadège Pelletier as its new chief scientific officer. She will lead scientific teams in drug discovery and platform development at the company and will oversee its technical strategy. Vaccitech is a UK-based biotech that develops vaccines and immunotherapies. “It’s an exciting time to be joining Vaccitech,” Pelletier said in…
Why is there an Adderall shortage? And what does it mean for patients?
A widespread shortage of Adderall (amphetamine and dextroamphetamine) in the latter part of 2022 left millions of patients looking for an alternative treatment strategy or dealing with withdrawal symptoms. A Sermo survey found that about half of 348 physicians had encountered patients dealing with the Adderall shortfall. Of the physicians surveyed, 82%, were concerned about the impact…
Athenex to layoff 92 workers as it closes New York plant
The biotech Athenex (Nasdaq:ATNX) plans to close a facility in Clarence, New York, by March 17, according to a notice from the New York State Department of Labor. It will cut 92 jobs in the process. The company also noted it would close its 503B sterile compounding business to focus on cell therapy. In the third…
10 prominent drugs recalled over nitrosamines
In recent years, a number of drug companies have carried out prominent recalls of hypertension, heartburn and diabetes medications due to the presence of nitrosamines, organic compounds shown to cause cancer in animal studies. The problem could cost Big Pharma companies billions of dollars, but proving the cancer-causing role of nitrosamines in drugs may be difficult.…
Why Servblock is still banking on blockchain for pharma and biotech
In recent years, interest in blockchain distributed ledger technology has crescendoed and crashed. Boosters of the technology proclaimed that it could revolutionize everything from the pharma supply chain to business contracts. However, critics lamented that the technology often appeared like an expensive solution in search of a problem. “There’s been a lot of false promises…
HHS to offer Tamiflu doses from national stockpile
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced that it would provide the prescription flu treatment Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) to jurisdictions with an elevated demand for the antiviral during the flu season. The move would make millions of treatment courses available. Roche is the developer of Tamiflu. Several generics are also available…
Scorpion Biological Services changes name to Scorpius BioManufacturing post-expansion
The contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) Scorpion Biological Services will adopt the name Scorpius BioManufacturing after unveiling expanded manufacturing capabilities earlier this year. The company opened a new biomanufacturing facility in San Antonio in October. Scorpius will be headquartered in the same city. A string of companies have also changed their name in 2022. The smoking…