Pharmaceutical Processing articles from January 2008

Pharmaceutical Processing archives from January 2008

Feeling better in 2008.(From The Editor)
January 1, 2008... There's a scene in the movie. Monty Python And the Holy Grail, that comes to mind every time I hear someone talk about the supposed dismal outlook for the pharmaceutical industry. In this scene the "The Dead Collector" is doing his rounds...

NIR system combats counterfeiting.(What's Hot)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The SyNIRgi system can rapidly distinguish real from counterfeit products, with limited sample prep, and often without even the need to remove packaging. Flexible sampling options allows the unit to look at capsules,...

Meter offers extra large display for improved productivity.(What's Hot)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The LDP63100 Series is a versatile extra large display meter that can increase productivity by offering the plant floor or production area a visible display of their current temperature or process status. The unit is...

Orbital welding power supply is easy to operate.(What's Hot)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The M200 offers ease of use, portability, and 200 amp capability, all at a weight of less than 50 lbs. A 12.1 in. color touch screen gives users a simple, intuitive pathway to enter weld programs. Users can choose...

Filter receivers provide automatic air filtration.(What's Hot)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Customizable filter receivers provide automatic air filtration and dust control for dry bulk materials that are conveyed pneumatically. Unwanted airborne material is trapped by the filter media, located within the...

Convergence in the life sciences industry can partnering make a significant impact?(Special Section: Industry Outlook)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Life sciences and health care continues to be a dynamic marketplace shaped by forces from many fronts, with changes that span the spectrum from incremental to market-disrupting One strategy being pursued by many to...

Pharmaceutical manufacturers set sights on best-in-class operations performance: benchmark study reveals practices of top performing manufacturers.(Special Section: Industry Outlook)
January 1, 2008... Pharmaceutical organizations, large and small, face unprecedented pressure to balance innovation with operational excellence. In the past it was much easier to achieve margins acceptable to Wall Street, given the high margins and relatively low...

Pharmaceutical resolutions for 2008: solve problems before they occur.(Special Section: Industry Outlook)
January 1, 2008... Last year was filled with a myriad of issues that the pharmaceutical industry has had to combat and rise above. However, with the implementation of a few proactive programs to address lessons learned while applying foresight to industry trends,...

Customized airlocks can be sized for many applications.(New Products)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Airlocks are available in customized fabricated and machined models for pneumatic systems, gravity feeds, and volumetric discharge devices. Fabricated models handle dust collection, plastics, feeds, and corrosive...

Conveyor eliminates belt pinch points for greater worker safety.(New Products)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The 5200 Series QWIK Conveyor system comes with a completely contained belt. This design feature improves worker safety by eliminating catenary sag and reducing pinch points of the belt as it moves around the pulley...

Infrared thermometer offers working ambient temperatures up To 392 [degrees] F.(New Products)
January 1, 2008... The Rayomatic 6 infrared thermometer is the ideal replacement for J and K-type thermocouples on a variety of applications with the benefit of non-contact IR measurements. Features include: compact dimensions 0.7" x 5"; measures temperatures up...

Squeeze play 2008: price pressure and declining R&D productivity.(Special Section: Industry Outlook)
January 1, 2008... Pharmaceutical companies are caught in a vise. On the one hand, a confluence of factors, both political and demographic, are pressuring drug prices down while on the other hand, thin pipelines and declining R&D productivity make the prospect of...

Automatic package wrappers handle difficult and thin films.(New Products)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Wrappers are available in a number of models that offer choices in wrapping speed, machine footprint, and package size to meet any pharmaceutical application. The machines meet cGMP requirements and offer a balcony...

Low-profile, sanitary screener achieves high rates.(New Products)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The V1BROSCREEN[R] FLO-THRU model K24-1FTSS, is a 24 in. diameter screener sanitary screener that employs two unbalanced-weight gyratory motors mounted on opposing exterior sidewalls of the unit, reducing minimum...

X-ray powder diffraction system offers "Walk-Up" functionality.(New Products)
January 1, 2008... The CubiX Walk-Up system for XRPD (X-ray powder diffraction) offers a simplified interface for anytime access. The system enables users to perform fully automated XRPD measurement, analysis and reporting in a multi-disciplinary environment....

Label Inspection System reduces need for human inspection.(New Products)
January 1, 2008... The AVIA Clinical Trial Label Inspection System is a complete hardware and software solution that inspects the variable and fixed label content of clinical trial labels up to A4 size (210 x 297 mm). The system self-learns from printed samples,...

Glassware washer offers maximum capacity in a small footprint.(New Products)
January 1, 2008... A double chamber model has been added to the company's line of Vertical SpaceSaver glassware washers. The Vertical SpaceSaver Double Stack Washer provides up to four loading levels in two independently microprocessor controlled washing...

Plastic seal gauge comes ready for installation.(New Products)
January 1, 2008... The Series PLG combines a plastic diaphragm seal with an industrial pressure gauge, creating an isolated pressure sensing solution. This unit comes from the factory mounted, filled, and ready for installation. The plastic diaphragm seal is...

Vertical conveyor offers enhanced sanitation.(New Products)
January 1, 2008... The AquaPruf LPZ Series Platform provides a high level of sanitation with virtually no spillage of product on incline or decline applications. The sprocket-driven LPZ Series can be disassembled for cleaning by one person, without tools, in a...

Wall Station maximizes workspace.(New Products)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Wall Station is a compact, wall-mounted operator interface system that is ideal for process areas and plant floors where space is at a premium. In order to maximize floor space, the Wall Station attaches directly...

Scale/bag feed system eliminates mezannine and vibratory feeders.(New Products)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The KLEENIine[R] Vertical Lift System can incorporate up to six lifting lanes for transferring "products-on-demand" into a scale and/or bagger from a central location at floor level by one operator. Eliminating the...

Updated software extends particle size analyzers capabilities.(New Products)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Updated software for the Spraytec particle size analyzer extends the system's data capture and processing capabilities. Spraytec uses the technique of laser diffraction to measure spray particle size distributions...

Isolation glove boxes create a particle-free environment.(New Products)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Glove boxes circulate process gas through 99.99% efficient HEPA or 99.999% efficient ULPA filters to create a particle-free environment and allow safe exhaust release. Openloop configurations remove particles from...

Printer applicator is RFID-ready.(New Products)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Printer applicator labels various products, shipping cases and pallets up to 100 ppm. Unit features all quick disconnect electronics and pneumatics. An apply-only module can be configured to apply preprinted labels...

Controllers ideal for wash-down use.(New Products)
January 1, 2008... The Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 40 AC drive and the ArmorStart product lines have packaging options that are now rated NEMA/UL Type 4X/12 (IP66/54) for indoor use. The PowerFlex 40 AC drive and ArmorStart NEMA/UL Type 4X/12 rating provides...

AAPS and FDA announce signing of a cooperative R&D agreement.(Industry News)
January 1, 2008... The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) has announced the recent signing of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). The document was signed by Janet Woodcock,...

FDA approves new beta blocker to treat high blood pressure.(Industry News)
January 1, 2008... The FDA has approved Bystolic (nebivolol) for the treatment of high blood pressure. Bystolic is a beta blocker, a well-established class of medications that reduces blood pressure by reducing the force with which the heart pumps. It is a...

Millipore and Nvozymes form alliance to supply animal-free cell culture supplements for bioprocessing.(Industry News)
January 1, 2008... Millipore Corporation and Novozymes have agreed to develop, market, and sell new, animal-free cell culture supplements for biopharmaceutical manufacturing. The new products, to be marketed under the brand name CellPrime[TM] will be...

FDA approves Kuvan for treatment of phenylketonuria (PKU).(Industry News)
January 1, 2008... The FDA has approved Kuvan (sapropterin dihydrochloride), the first drug of its kind approved to slow the effects of a rare genetic disorder that causes mental retardation, smaller brain size, delayed speech and other neurological problems....

Carbamazepine prescribing information to include recommendation of genetic test for patients with Asian ancestry.(Industry News)
January 1, 2008... The FDA has announced that the manufacturers of drugs containing the active ingredient carbamazepine have agreed to add to the drugs' labeling a recommendation that, before starting therapy with the drugs, patients with Asian ancestry get a...

Safety agreement entwines FDA/China reg process.(Regulatory Update)
January 1, 2008... Chinese manufacturers of certain drugs or active pharmaceutical ingredients selected by FDA will have to meet new registration standards as part of a memorandum of understanding signed Dec. 11 in Beijing by HHS, FDA and China's State Food and...

Critical path trickles downstream to FDA reviewers.(Regulatory Update)
January 1, 2008... A lack of interest from agency review staff impedes progress of FDA's Critical Path Initiative, industry members observe. "What I have seen in my own personal interactions, both when I was at the agency and when I left the agency, is there...

Injectafer advisory committee.(Noted)
January 1, 2008... FDA's Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee will convene Feb. 1 to discuss the efficacy and safety of Luitpold's iron deficiency anemia therapy Injectafer in patients with postpartum hemorrhage or heavy uterine bleeding. Luitpold...

Biogen Idec has no buyer.(Noted)
January 1, 2008... After completing a sales process review and finding no "definitive offers to purchase the company," Biogen Idec will remain independent, the biotech firm said on Dec. 12. Despite big pharma's growing interest in biotech, the announcement...

FDA groups create "stronger" alliance.(Noted)
January 1, 2008... The Coalition for a Stronger FDA and the FDA Alliance will join forces as the Alliance for a Stronger FDA, the groups announced Dec. 14. The Alliance for a Stronger FDA "will have more resources to cover more activity," FDA Alliance Executive...