Merck has exercised its option to use Vaxxas‘ High Density Microarray Patch (HD-MAP) platform as a delivery platform for a vaccine candidate, the companies announced today. The companies did not disclose what the vaccine candidate is supposed to treat. But Merck this month announced two COVID-19 vaccine development efforts: a collaboration with IAVI and plans…
Thermo Fischer Scientific to boost manufacturing for CSL
Thermo Fischer Scientific announced today that it has inked a strategic partnership with biotechnology company CSL to help better meet the growing demand for biologic therapies. Thermo Fisher will support CSL’s product portfolio through its pharma services network, including drug product development, biologics manufacturing, sterile fill-finish, packaging and clinical trials logistics. Thermo Fisher — through…
Phlow lands $354m government contract for COVID-19 medications
Phlow announced today that it received $354 million in U.S. government funding to manufacture essential medicines at risk of shortage, including those involved in the COVID-19 pandemic response. Richmond, Va.–based Phlow’s manufacturing is being funded by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the office of Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR)…
Pfizer to outsource more production as it prepares for COVID-19 vaccine
Pfizer is turning to its 200-strong network of outside contractors to make more of its existing medicines as it prepares for a potential COVID-19 vaccine, according to media reports. The New York–based pharmaceutical giant said May 5 that it will invest at-risk to produce millions of doses of a coronavirus vaccine in 2020, boosting production…
Evonik investing $28m on initial expansion in Germany
Evonik recently announced that it will spend an initial €25 million (equivalent to nearly $28 million) to expand its Dossenheim and Hanau facilities in Germany. The expansion is meant to meet the growing demand for the contract manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and advanced intermediates within Europe. Evonik expects to complete the €25 million…
How Johnson & Johnson is expanding manufacturing for a potential coronavirus vaccine
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) recently announced that its Janssen Pharmaceutical Cos. will collaborate with Emergent BioSolutions to support the manufacturing of its lead investigational COVID-19 vaccine candidate. The New Brunswick, N.J.–based pharmaceutical and medical device giant described the deal as the first in a series of contract manufacturing agreements that it expects to ink as…
Legacy Pharmaceutical Packaging acquires blister production lines from McKesson RxPak
Legacy Pharmaceutical Packaging (Earth City, Mo.) announced this month that it has purchased three high-speed blistering and cartoning lines from McKesson RxPak’s production facility in Memphis, Tenn. Financial terms of the deal were undisclosed. The infrastructure acquisition — which includes serialization and aggregation capabilities — nearly doubles Legacy’s total blister production capacity, which is presently…
Mass flow controllers in bioprocessing: Here are the basics
Exercising greater process control and delivering improved yields are constant challenges for bioprocessing operations. Here’s how mass flow controllers help. Joe Sipka, Brooks Instrument The mass flow controller (MFC) is commonly used in many bioprocessing systems to manage the flow of different gases into bioreactor chambers. Intelligent MFC technology with digital-based flow-control capabilities can help…
ACG Group introduces next-gen pharma production, inspection and packaging equipment
ACG Group (Mumbai) this week rolled out what it described as a comprehensive portfolio of pharmaceutical production, inspection and packaging equipment. The portfolio draws on equipment technology from two of the company’s four business units: ACG Engineering and ACG Inspection. The machines — ranging from tablet presses to blister and carton packing equipment to serialization…
