Category: Business and Finance
HKSTP and AstraZeneca employees at the co-incubation program signing ceremony. The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and AstraZeneca have launched a co-incubation program to support biomedical startups as they look to develop integrated oncology solutions to further accelerate innovation in oncology, foster local biomedical technologies and heighten Hong Kong’s status as a […]
The FDA has granted emergency use authorization (EUA) for the investigational monoclonal antibody therapy bamlanivimab (LY-CoV555) 700 mg and the antibody etesevimab (LY-CoV016) 1,400 mg together, Eli Lilly and Company announced. This comes after an EUA was previously issued for bamlanivimab alone, last November. The combination therapy is approved for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Covid-19 in patients aged 12 […]
During a week in which Johnson & Johnson submitted an application to the FDA for emergency use authorization (EUA) of its one-dose vaccine, GlaxoSmithKline plc and CureVac N.V. announced a new $180 million (€150 million) collaboration to jointly develop mRNA vaccines for Covid-19 with the potential for a multi-valent approach to address multiple emerging variants […]
Ocugen, Inc., a biopharma company, and Bharat Biotech, a vaccines specialist, have entered into a definitive agreement to co-develop, supply and commercialize COVAXIN, Bharat’s Covid-19 vaccine candidate, for the US market. Per the deal, Ocugen will be granted US rights to the vaccine candidate and will be in charge of clinical development, regulatory approval (including emergency use authorization, […]
WuXi STA—a subsidiary of WuXi AppTec and a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) serving the life sciences industry—has agreed to purchase Bristol Myers Squibb’s manufacturing facility in Couvet, Switzerland. This site marks the CDMO’s first facility in Europe. Subject to regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of other closing conditions, the companies envision a Q2 […]
Verista, a compliance, automation and packaging solutions organization for the life sciences industry, has acquired Hawkins Point, a provider of life sciences business and technology services. The deal expands upon Verista’s capabilities, adding research and development (R&D) and commercialization technology services for large pharma, early-stage biotech and medical device companies. The addition of Hawkins Point […]
URAC, an independent healthcare accreditation organization, has launched a partnership with Acentrus Specialty, a specialty pharmacy network for hospitals and health systems. The Acentrus network embodies 111 hospitals and health systems across the US, ranging from academic medical centers to community hospitals. The deal, which grants Acentrus customers with discounted pricing for URAC Specialty Pharmacy […]
In today’s joint press briefing alongside German Health Minister Jens Spahn, minister-president of North Rhine-Westphalia, Armin Laschet, and CEO of CureVac N.V., Franz-Werner Haas, Bayer AG and president of Bayer’s pharmaceuticals division, Stefan Oelrich, announced that the big pharma will indeed be manufacturing CureVac’s Covid-19 vaccine at its Wuppertal, Germany facility. Bayer, which has not […]
Novartis will assist in the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine production effort, signing an initial contract manufacturing agreement, the company announced today. The deal will have Novartis use its aseptic manufacturing facilities at its Stein, Switzerland site. Per the contract, Novartis plans to take bulk mRNA active ingredient from BioNTech and fill this into vials under aseptic […]
Ashfield, a part of UDG Healthcare plc, announced the formation of three business units to help boost its integrated healthcare offerings across the strategic consulting, benchmarking, commercialization, customer engagement, events, marketing and communications categories. These include Ashfield Advisory, Ashfield Engage and Ashfield Health, in a move that comes after Ashfield’s acquisition of 22 businesses over […]
Komodo Health, a software platform company, and IT provider Blue Health Intelligence (BHI) have reached a multi-year agreement to integrate BHI’s patient data into Komodo’s Healthcare Map, which provides a view of patient encounters with the US healthcare system. Together, the combined Komodo database captures the patient journeys of more than 325 million de-identified individuals, […]
IntegriChain, a provider of data and business process market access support for the life sciences, announced a partnership with Datavant, a company that helps healthcare organizations safely connect their data. IntegriChain will use Datavant’s patient de-identification and tokenization solutions to improve the patient-level integration of specialty pharmacy, hub, nurse, co-pay program, lab and claims data […]
Pfizer and BioNTech SE announced an advance purchase agreement with COVAX for up to 40 million doses of their Covid-19 vaccine. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but the doses are expected to delivered throughout 2021, beginning in Q1. COVAX is a global initiative coordinated by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization […]
SkyCell, a manufacturer of data-driven temperature-controlled containers for the pharma industry, has partnered with Korean Air Cargo as it focuses on business development in Korea. The partnership comes at a time when there is an increase in demand for Covid-19 vaccines and treatments this year. Cold-chain maintenance for vaccine transportation is one of several challenges […]
Prealize Health, an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled predictive analytics company, announced a new partnership with VirtualHealth, provider of HELIOS, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) care management platform. The two companies will incorporate Prealize’s healthcare insights into VirtualHealth’s HELIOS program. HELIOS, according to VirtualHealth, connects the end-to-end healthcare ecosystem, gathering medical, behavioral, social and service data to deliver a […]
Pelican BioThermal, creators of the “School of Cool” online learning platform, has formed a partnership with South Korea-based Asiana Airlines, which helps expand the packaging company’s growing global network of locations and sector alliances. In the ongoing rapid response to support the fight against Covid-19, the new partnership provides Asiana Airlines access to Pelican BioThermal’s […]
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Mesa Biotech, Inc., a molecular diagnostic company, for approximately $450 million in cash. Per the deal, Thermo Fisher will pay up to an additional $100 million in cash if certain milestones are completed, following the close of the transaction. The deal is expected to be completed in the first […]
Cure Genetics will collaborate with pharma company Boehringer Ingelheim to form novel adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors, which will use Cure Genetics’ branded VELP platform to develop gene therapies. The new partnership combines Boehringer Ingelheim’s disease biology and gene therapy development experience with Cure Genetics’ AAV knowledge in library construction and in vivo AAV screening. The aim […]
Fujifilm Corporation and The Massachusetts Center for Advanced Biological Innovation and Manufacturing (CABIM), whose goal is to ensure new therapeutics, medicines and technologies reach patients quicker, have secured $76 million in financing, signing a lease for a 40,000 square-foot site in Watertown, MA, at The Arsenal on the Charles. The center, which will debut in […]
etectRx, Inc., a digital health company, has entered into an agreement with Pear Therapeutics, Inc., a prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs) provider. The objective: develop up to two product candidates in the central nervous system (CNS) sector that combine PDTs and adherence sensors. The companies say that this partnership is the first to explore the use of […]
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. and Groupe Novasep SAS, a services and technologies supplier for the life sciences industry, announced that Thermo Fisher has acquired Henogen S.A., Novasep’s viral vector manufacturing business in Belgium, for approximately €725 million (about $876 million) in cash. Henogen S.A. will be part of Thermo Fisher’s pharma services business within the […]
Amalgam Rx, Inc., which specializes in digital therapeutics and patient support, has acquired Avhana Health, a clinical decision support (CDS) company with tools that are directly integrated into the electronic health record (EHR) workflow, for an undisclosed amount. The software as a service (SaaS)-based CDS tool allows for two-way interactions within the EHR and can […]
CareMetx, a technology-enabled hub services company whose goal is to improve patient access to specialty medications; General Atlantic, a global growth equity firm; and The Vistria Group, a private investment firm, have formed a strategic partnership. Although terms of the deal were not disclosed, General Atlantic will become the majority owner of CareMetx. The Vistria […]
EVOQ Therapeutics has signed a license and collaboration contract with Amgen around the discovery and development of novel drugs for autoimmune disorders. Under the terms of the agreement, Amgen and EVOQ will team up when it comes to preclinical development, while Amgen will be responsible for clinical development and commercialization. In exchange for exclusive rights […]
Sanofi has acquired Kymab, a biopharma immunotherapy company. Under the deal’s terms, the drug manufacturer will purchase Kymab for an upfront payment of approximately $1.1 billion and up to an additional $350 million for completion of specific milestones. Sanofi will have full global rights to KY1005, a fully human monoclonal antibody that has a novel […]
Liveo Research and Plásticos DISE SA have entered into a strategic partnership to provide Argentinian pharmaceutical manufacturers and contract packagers with Liveo’s blister film portfolio. DISE’s local pharma business unit in Córdoba, Argentina, provides access to Liveo’s blister films while maintaining Liveo’s standards. As a result of the collaboration, Argentinian customers will be able to […]
SK Capital Partners LP, a private equity firm that focuses on the specialty materials, chemicals and pharma sectors, has signed an agreement to acquire the Blow-Fill-Seal (BFS) sterile contract development and manufacturing business from Catalent Pharma Solutions, LLC. The deal is expected to close in April 2021, which is when the contract development and manufacturing […]
Bayer has signed an agreement with CureVac N.V., a biopharma company that manufactures medication based on messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA). Per the deal, Bayer will help with development, supply and territory operations of CureVac’s Covid-19 vaccine candidate, CVnCoV. As of Dec. 14, the vaccine has been in Phase IIb/III. Bayer will offer its perspective in […]
In an effort to speed up the growth of its biopharma contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), Fujifilm Corporation will invest over $2 billion to build a new large-scale cell culture production site in the US. This news comes only two days after the company announced a $40 million investment toward the construction of a […]
Nearly three years after Pharmaceutical Commerce began reporting on what was only a rumor at the time (albeit details were reversed), drug wholesaler AmerisourceBergen Corp. (ABC) will be purchasing the majority of Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA)’s Alliance Healthcare businesses for approximately $6.5 billion, consisting of $6.275 billion in cash and 2 million shares of ABC […]
Angelini Pharma, an international pharma company that is part of the Angelini Group, has acquired Swiss-based biopharma Arvelle Therapeutics, which focuses on advancing treatments for patients suffering from CNS disorders. The deal is valued at up to $960 million, in an all-cash transaction. Per the agreement, $610 million will be initially paid out. Later on, […]
Taysha Gene Therapies, Inc., which focused on developing adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapies for the treatment of monogenic diseases, has entered into a lease agreement for an approximately 187,000-sq.-ft. current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) manufacturing facility in Durham, NC. The company will invest $75 million and create an estimated 200 jobs over two and a […]
Technology giant Honeywell has agreed to acquire Sparta Systems for $1.3 billion in an all-cash deal, which is expected to close by the end of Q1 2021. Sparta Systems is a provider of enterprise quality management software (QMS)—including its own software as a service (SaaS) platform—for the life sciences industry. Honeywell plans to leverage the […]
LSBio, a supplier of antibodies and life science research reagents, has acquired Absolute Antibody, Ltd. and its sister company Kerafast. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Specifically, LSBio provides immunohistochemistry (IHC)-validated reagent antibodies and offerings to academic, pharma and biotech researchers. With more than 750,000 reagent antibodies, assay kits, proteins and biochemicals, the company’s […]
Aceto, a virtual manufacturer of specialty materials for the life sciences and advanced technology end markets, has acquired New York-based IsleChem. The latter’s specializations include chemical manufacturing, contract research and development, analytical services, and technical and support services. Founded in 1947, Aceto distributes over 1,100 chemical compounds used principally by the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, agricultural, and specialty chemical […]
Syneos Health, a biopharma solutions organization, has acquired Illingworth Research Group, a clinical research home health services provider. Illingworth’s specialization is in-home and on-site research nursing services (including mobile research nursing) for clinical trials. The company works with biopharma and medical device companies supporting studies in more than 46 countries. The current pandemic has further […]
Eversana and Experic, a contract manufacturing organization (CMO) and pharmaceutical supply service company, announced a partnership to enhance clinical development, manufacturing, launch planning and commercialization efforts for life sciences companies. Per the deal, Experic’s clinical and commercial scale manufacturing and packaging services will be available within Eversana’s platform, which is currently under contract to manage […]
The FDA identifies more than 20,000 prescription drug products as approved for marketing, and there are approximately 900,000 active physicians in the US who can prescribe those drugs. Accounting for all of the pharmaceutical products that ultimately reach patients requires a massive effort, and this complexity directly impacts pharmaceutical manufacturers who contract with, and sell […]
Private equity firm EQT AB has made an offer to acquire Recipharm AB, a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), for $2.1 billion, EQT announced. The offer is expected to be made public on or around Dec. 17. As Bloomberg reported, Sweden-based EQT has already secured ownership of about 25.7% of the shares and 74.3% […]
Real Endpoints (RE), an advisory and analytics firm focused on market access within the pharma industry, has launched RE Marketplace, a platform the company says will boost the efficiency and reach of value-based contracting for drugs for rare and orphan disease, providing significant benefits for patients, payers and manufacturers. The founding members consist of four […]
Tjoapack, a contract packaging organization (CPO) for the pharma industry, has invested $12.1 million into its packaging and supply chain facility in Etten-Leur, Netherlands over the next two years. The location will expand from approximately 90,417 sq. ft. to about 123,785 sq. ft. in size, adding eight new production lines to double capacity for primary […]
DoKaSch Temperature Solutions and Air Europa have signed a master rental agreement for the use of DoKaScho’s temperature-controlled Opticooler packaging solution. The partnership opens up new direct routes between Europe and Latin America, giving forwarders and pharma producers additional transport options. DoKaSch’s Opticooler RAP container. Credit: DoKaSch Temperature Solutions DoKaSch’s airfreight container comes in two […]
Eversana, a provider of global commercial services to the life sciences industry, and ArisGlobal, a drug development software company, have officially reached a partnership that Eversana says will “digitally transform end-to-end pharmacovigilance services, leading to safer, more effective healthcare for patients worldwide.” Per the agreement, Eversana will use ArisGlobal’s LifeSphere cloud platform for clinical and […]
Bora Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd has officially acquired GlaxoSmithKline’s Mississauga, Ontario (Canada) facility in a minimum five-year supply agreement. The deal is part of a long-term growth strategy that has seen Bora, a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), complete three M&As in the past five years. Bora Pharmaceuticals’ Mississauga facility. Credit: Bora Pharmaceuticals Originally announced […]
CarepathRx, a pharmacy management company, has partnered with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)’s Chartwell subsidiary in a deal that executives say will expand patient access to specialty pharmacy and home infusion capabilities. Per the $400 million agreement, CarepathRx will acquire the management services organization responsible for the operational and strategic management of Chartwell, […]
DHL Global Forwarding is growing its 72,000 sq.-ft. certified life science station in San Juan, Puerto Rico by investing over $650,000 in further cold storage space and technology for the life sciences and healthcare sector. This comes after previously announcing its $70 million US life sciences investment earlier this year, and the completion of a […]
It is probable that Amazon’s Nov. 16 announcement of the long-awaited Amazon Pharmacy has had a bigger impact on Wall Street than in drug distribution, at least for now. The day of the announcement, the prices of the leading chain pharmacies dropped by 6-10%, and the Big 3 wholesalers by 1-2.5%. Amazon’s entry into pharmacy […]
Pharma Logistics, a service provider operating out of its new Illinois-based reverse-distribution center, and ConsortiEX, a health care pharmacy IT company in Wisconsin, launched a strategic collaboration program, whose aim is to improve inventory efficiency and patient safety, reduce cost, manage cash flow and compliance for their customers. Highlights of the program include: ConsortiEX’s Drug […]
Conduent Incorporated, a patient support company, has reached a commercial agreement with Experian Health, a data aggregator that provides revenue cycle management products involving patient engagement, access and collections. The deal allows Conduent’s IntelliHealth program to connect with Experian’s consumer data and electronic income verification tool. The combination, companies say, can help speed up prescription drug assistance approvals […]
Eli Lilly’s investigational monoclonal antibody (mAb) bamlanivimab, which recently was issued emergency use authorization (EUA) by the FDA for Covid-19, is unlikely to face payer pushback, despite its broad label, GlobalData reports. The data and analytics company notes that drug prices have been closely examined during the Covid-19 pandemic, but, citing feedback from EUA experts, given bamlanivimab’s […]
According to a recent report by Polaris Market Research, the worldwide active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) market valuation is projected to reach $306.1 billion by 2027. An increase in occurrences of chronic ailments such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), arthritis and diabetes, along with growing prevalence of infectious diseases such as influenza, hepatitis and Covid-19, are boosting […]
In its biggest move yet in the tech giant’s steadily building but aggressive entrance into healthcare and the lucrative pharmacy market, Amazon today officially launched two new ways to help customers purchase their prescription medications. One is the unveiling of Amazon Pharmacy, which allows customers to complete an entire pharmacy transaction on their desktop or mobile […]
Following an agreement Pharmaceutical Commerce originally reported being reached in late October, Catalent Pharma Solutions, Inc. has officially completed its acquisition of Bone Therapeutics’ manufacturing subsidiary, Skeletal Cell Therapy Support SA (SCTS), for $14.2 million USD ($12 million EUR). With the transaction closing, SCTS’ manufacturing infrastructure and production operating teams are now part of Catalent’s Cell & […]
Italian multinational Antares Vision, which offers customized inspection and track-and-trace systems, has been selected by the French judicial authority as the winner of the tender for the purchase—directly or indirectly through its subsidiaries—of the assets of the French company Adents High Tech International, which is in liquidation. The closing will occur within two months for […]
Envision Pharma Group, a UK-based scientific communications company, has acquired Two Labs, a strategic consulting and commercialization provider with a footprint in the US pharma domestic market. Two Labs is known for helping pharma companies develop and execute customized launch strategies for products, a process that may include selecting a third-party logistics provider (3PL). Howard Miller, […]
J. Knipper and Company, Inc., a supplier of pharma healthcare marketing services, and its affiliates (including its three-year-old specialty pharmacy, KnippeRx), have finalized the acquisition of Eagle Pharmacy, LLC, a full-service, direct-to-patient (DTP) pharmacy. KnippeRx and Eagle Pharmacy are approved to ship and dispense prescription medications throughout the US, the District of Columbia and US […]
Descartes Systems Group, a supply chain software firm that offers its technology to the pharmaceutical space, has purchased ShipTrack, a Canada-based provider of e-commerce final-mile (last-mile) solutions for $19 million. ShipTrack offers cloud-based mobile resource management and shipment tracking solutions. These tools are able to assist users with automating dispatch, updates on shipment status and […]
Eversana, a provider of global commercial services to the life sciences industry, has solidified partnerships with a pair of comprehensive data and infrastructure companies, Symphony Health and Compile. The deals establish what Eversana calls the industry’s “first single, streamlined claims, formulary and physician dataset.” Eversana and Symphony Health, a PRA Health Sciences company, reached a multi-year […]
OPINION The novel coronavirus has challenged the notion that our US supply chains were prepared, exposing limited logistics models, shuttering manufacturing lines, and causing personal protection and medical equipment shortages worldwide. Reliance on other global powers has become a national security concern and prompted a push to reshore life-critical manufacturing. Puerto Rico is at the […]
Proposed moves aimed at gaining ‘most-favored nation’ drug pricing so that Medicare pays the same drug prices as other developed countries would face significant barriers to implementation, according to results of a survey released this week by Model N, Inc., a technology provider for many large pharma companies. Model N fielded its survey to more […]
Stevanato Group has expanded its collaboration with Catalent to include delivery of advanced visual inspection systems to help with potential Covid-19 pandemic programs, biologics and sterile injectable products. Under the expanded arrangement, Catalent has ordered Plus 400 LKD automatic and PWL semi-automatic visual inspection machines from Stevanato and will install the equipment at its sites […]
Catalent has signed an agreement with Bone Therapeutics to acquire its cell therapy manufacturing subsidiary, Skeletal Cell Therapy Support SA, including all of its assets located in Gosselies, Belgium. The transaction is expected to close in November. The Skeletal Cell Therapy Support manufacturing facility in Gosselies, Belgium. (Image courtesy of Catalent) Under the terms of […]
Trebor Rx, a new venture in Canada, is launching PRO+ Dual Respirator masks, a patent-pending mask made of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) that can provide more than 300 hours of usage and replace hundreds of disposable masks, according to the company. The PRO+ Dual Respirator masks (Image credit: CNW Group/Trebor Rx Corp.) The respirator body is […]
Rapid Reshore & Development (RR&D), an alliance of three specialized firms working together to provide professional services for the life sciences and biopharmaceutical industries, has formed to address logistical challenges facing companies developing drugs, vaccines and medical devices. The three firms—Facility Logix, EwingCole and Biggins Lacy Shapiro & Co.—intend to maximize efficiency, minimize risk and […]
Strategikon Pharma is expanding its Clinical Maestro business operations platform for biopharmaceutical participants with two new offerings, a full-service model and an operator model. The company provides a Software as a Service (SaaS) product license for clinical trial RFP planning and budgeting, which includes implementation and training. The Clinical Maestro cloud-based platform enables participants in […]
Endo International plc will acquire BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. in an all cash transaction totaling an estimated $658 million in equity value. The transaction was unanimously approved by the boards of both companies and is expected to close during the current quarter. Under the terms of the agreement, Endo, through a wholly owned subsidiary, will commence […]
The Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) and Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP) are joining to form a single company providing accreditation and certification services to providers. Under the October 19 merger agreement between ACHC and Accreditation Association for Hospitals/Health Systems (AAHHS)—HFAP’s parent company—HFAP will operate as a brand within ACHC. Formally approved by the Centers for […]
AGC Biologics, a biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), has announced leadership changes at its US and Copenhagen, Denmark operations. The changes became effective October 15. Jeffrey D. Mowery, formerly general manager of the Copenhagen site, joins the global executive team at the company’s headquarters in Seattle as senior vice president of US operations. Mowery, with more […]
Many businesses trading abroad ‘are in the dark’ about what they should be doing to prepare financially for the Brexit January 1, 2021 deadline, according to feedback received by Hamilton Court FX, a UK-based consulting firm that provides foreign exchange (FX) transactional advice and delivery. Importers and exporters, including those in pharmaceuticals, shipping, logistics, insurance […]
Over the last few decades, many scientific and technological advancements have helped the healthcare landscape to flourish and change—and no more so than in the area of patient engagement. With the advent of digital communication platforms, patients are now able to engage more closely with the work of the pharma industry, and subsequently take more […]
BioLife Solutions, Inc.’s recently acquired SciSafe division has been awarded a two-year contract estimated at $2.7 million from an unnamed ‘large pharmaceutical company’ for cold chain management and storage of Covid-19 vaccines. SciSafe, a provider of biological materials storage founded in 2010, maintains four cGMP-compliant facilities located in New Jersey, Massachusetts and Utah, with an expansion plan focused on […]
IntegriChain, a Philadelphia-based data and managed services company, has introduced GTN Analytics, a service for life sciences manufacturers to improve visibility to the market access datasets that power the accuracy of accruals and forecasting processes, delivers best practices reports and metrics, and offers visualizations of gross-to-net, or GTN, trends. The new service is complementary to […]
Momentive Technologies and Stevanato Group agreed to supply Momentive’s Pur Q fused quartz vials in Stevanato’s EZ-fill packaging format. The Pur Q vials are ultra-high-purity fused quartz vials available for pharmaceutical packaging. The EZ-fill secondary packaging provides a fully integrated, ready-to-use option for aseptic fill-finish operations. Pur Q fused quartz vials. (Image courtesy of Momentive […]
Authentix, Inc., an authentication and information service based in Addison, TX, has acquired the Traceless Authentication Group from Bibliotheca, Inc. a library systems company serving libraries worldwide. Rochester, NY–based Traceless delivers anticounterfeiting and diversion control options to customers in the global pharmaceuticals, spirits, and apparel industries. The acquisition includes the company’s complete portfolio of patented […]
India’s Ministry of Corporate Affairs has granted formal approval to Balaxi Ventures Ltd to change the company’s name to Balaxi Pharmaceuticals Ltd. The move received shareholder okay last month at the company’s annual general meeting. Hyderabad, India-based Balaxi supplies “frontier” markets in Angola, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic with branded, generic and over-the-counter medicines that […]
Biosimilar medicine availability and use are growing and on track to reduce drug costs by $100 billion over the next five years, according to a new report from the IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science. The development and approvals of biosimilars have been accelerating in the U.S. over the past two years, bringing a total […]
Abzena, a contract provider of integrated services for biologics and bioconjugates, has invested $60 million into a new facility for late phase and commercial current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) production. The new 50,000 square foot ‘Lusk’ facility at the company’s site in San Diego houses a process development laboratory and two new cGMP manufacturing cleanrooms for […]
Omnicell, Inc. is rebranding its Population Health Solutions division into EnlivenHealth, a unit dedicated to enabling retail pharmacies and health plans to improve patient outcomes while reducing costs through software-as-a-service technology. The newly named division serves nearly 30,000 retail pharmacies across the country, delivering patient engagement and personalized communications tools to pharmacists. Technology services offered […]
Progress continues on MilliporeSigma’s new $165-million membrane production plant in Darmstadt, Germany, part of an overall $1.2 billion global headquarters investment that Merck KGaA announced last year. New membrane production plant. (Image courtesy of MilliporeSigma) The membranes are critical components in Millipore Express aseptic filters that help ensure the sterility of biological drug products. “This […]
The Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) has selected Indiana-based Continuity Pharma, a Purdue University-affiliated company, to receive a $1.5 million grant to develop continuous manufacturing technology. The COVID-19 pandemic has created supply chain gaps in critical drug products, especially those needed for the most critical patients in intensive care units across the country. DARPA […]
Cryoport, Inc. has completed the acquisitions of MVE Biological Solutions, a global supplier of manufactured vacuum insulated products and cryogenic freezer systems, and CryoPDP, a provider of temperature-controlled logistics for the clinical research, pharmaceutical and cell and gene therapy markets. In 2019, MVE generated revenue of approximately $84 million and CryoPDP generated approximately $47 million […]
It’s taken nine months, but the Trump administration has delivered on one of its politically popular proposals: drug importation from Canada. HHS issued a Final Rule (soon to be published in the Federal Register), “Importation of Prescription Drugs,” [Docket No. FDA-2019-N-5711], scheduled to go into effect after 60 days. The original proposed rule appeared last […]
On the heels of what would normally be considered a major acquisition by a relatively small company—Cryoport’s purchase of Paris-based CryoPDP—the company is now leaping ahead with a new acquisition: the life sciences business, MVE Biological Solutions, of Chart Industries. The purchase price is $320 million, which Cryoport is swinging by combining its own cash […]
A privately held pharmacy benefit manager, RxAdvance, has the No. 1 spot among 10 specialty pharmacies listed in this year’s Inc. 5000 (see table). With publication of the Inc. 5000, readers get a view of some of the elements of privately-held companies, whose financials are usually not apparent. RxAdvance’s news release does reveal that the […]
The latest sector report from the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM), covering the first half of 2020, has a surprising finding: Despite the arrival of a global pandemic at the beginning of the year, new investment in cellular and genetic therapies (CGTs) and tissue engineering topped $10.7 billion globally—more than all of 2019. ARM expects […]
Drug pricing has always been a controversial topic, but as controversies go, it is one of the hottest ones in healthcare today. Readers of The Price of Global Health will get the perspective of a pharmaceutical industry manager (who is but one player in the multiperspective dynamic going on)—but the book is not a simplistic […]
Kalderos, a Chicago analytics company, attracted new attention a year ago as it garnered a round of funding and won business from 7 of the top 15 pharma companies to help them manage their interactions with providers over the 340b program. That program, which represented $30 billion in 2019 drug revenue according to DrugChannels.net, enables […]