Pharmaceutical Processing articles from January 2009

Pharmaceutical Processing archives from January 2009

So little time--so much to do.(FROM THE EDITOR)
January 1, 2009... Time is a strange thing. When looking ahead it always seems like time drags--waiting for a vacation to come; or when contemplating going back to school--the amount of time to consider can be overwhelming. But once your schooling or vacation is...

FDA forecast-2009: nine recommendations to weather the new year.(INDUSTRY OUTLOOK)(Cover story)
January 1, 2009... This year will bring a tougher attitude toward drug, biologic and device makers by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Congressional critics, long frustrated by an agency seemingly more enamored with manufacturers than public safety,...

Big pharma facing brandjacking battle: study confirms that sales of questionable drugs in illicit online pharmacies and B2B exchange sites continue to rise, putting supply chains and consumers at risk.(INDUSTRY OUTLOOK)(Reprint)
January 1, 2009... The online pharmaceutical market offers enormous potential to make big money and--as a result--has attracted droves of con artists who hijack well-known brands for their own profit and thrive by selling illicit drugs, endangering consumers'...

Industrial PC suitable for use on the plant floor.(WHAT'S HOT)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The D755 line of industrially hardened computers are based on the Dell[TM] Optiplex[TM] platform that is designed for higher temperature environments. The higher temperature specifications allow the D755 to be used...

Flowmeter designed for mass or volumetric energy flow measurement of steam.(WHAT'S HOT)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The DIVA[TM] compact steam flow meter is designed for general metering applications, as well as fiscal metering, product costing and efficiency monitoring. This cost-effective, direct in-line variable flow meter...

Pre-validated pharmaceutical water distribution system eliminates long engineering lead times.(WHAT'S HOT)
January 1, 2009... The NEXUS pre-validated pharmaceutical water distribution system is a range of standard, packaged, pre-validated systems for purified water and water for injection with flow rates up to 30m3/h (132 US gpm). Each package is complete with an...

Tube with applicator combines high-barrier protection with precision dosing.(WHAT'S HOT)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Polyfoil tube with the Pinpoint[TM] applicator, is made completely of pharmaceutical--compliant materials. The high-barrier Polyfoil tube provides protection for sensitive, pharmaceutical grade formulations. It...

Diverter valve available in full or standard port versions.(VALVES)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The 364 Series Diverter valve features "Live Loaded" Stem packing, ISO 5211 direct mount actuation and a variety of seat options. Made to full ANSI class 600 dimensions, this inline valve will perform over a wide...

Angle valves offer high cycle and high speed durability.(VALVES)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The ARES line of angle valves feature a wider and innovative valve stem design, offer ing high flow coefficient (cv) for high cycle, high speed durability and reliability. The angle valve is an excellent selection...

High pressure double block & bleed valves offer cost, space and weight savings.(VALVES)
January 1, 2009... Double block and bleed valves are rated for use with working pressures from 10,000 or 15,000 psi (690 or 1035 bar) and feature a unique trunnion ball design for maximized performance and smooth, low-torque operation. They provide complete...

Sanitary valves designed for most processing needs.(VALVES)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Company offers valve solutions for most process needs ranging from 1/4" to 6" sizes. Angle and offset inline constructions are acceptable for clean in place/steam in place operations, and meet ASME-BPE, 3A, FDA and...

Rust never sleeps: how thinking can save you millions.(TROUBLESHOOTING)
January 1, 2009... The premise of Kepner-Tregoe's critical thinking processes is that spending a little of your time can save you a lot of your money. One of the more spectacular instances of this recently occurred at a large pharmaceutical company. This example...

More than paint and wallpaper: design and equipment considerations for contained tablet press facilities.(TABLETTING)
January 1, 2009... Today's pharmaceutical markets involve the development of highly potent active ingredients where small quantities of product cause pharmacological effects on humans. These new products can be manufactured in small scale manufacturing suites...

Optical inspection system designed specifically for tablets.(TABLET MANUFACTURING)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Optyx[R]SG/P optical inspection system features an integrated dust abatement feature and new KeyWare[R] application software for tablets. OptyxSG/P automatically inspects coated and uncoated tablets at high...

Tablet press ideal for small batch, pilot plant and R&D.(TABLET MANUFACTURING)
January 1, 2009... The 1200i is ideally suited for pilot plant, technology transfer and R&D applications. By simply changing the turret, the same press can be used for scale-up, feasibility and submission batches. Other features include: available in galenic or...

Chemical imaging system enables advanced troubleshooting of dissolution failure.(TABLET MANUFACTURING)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SyNIRgi near infrared chemical imaging (NIR-CI) system is being used for the advanced troubleshooting of dissolution failures in tablets and granules. SyNIRgi provides accurate and reliable measurement of the spatial...

Tablet counter maximizes production speeds in a small footprint.(TABLET MANUFACTURING)
January 1, 2009... The Cremer CF-425 Tablet Counter features a versatile modular design with up to 10 counting heads. This advanced linear tablet counter maximizes production speeds within a space-saving footprint while handling a wide range of tablets, caplets,...

Merck seeks Gardasil approval for boys.(FDA UPDATE: A monthly compendium of news features, announcements, regulatory issues and approvals from the Food & Drug Administration.)
January 1, 2009... Merck & Co. has asked federal regulators to approve use in males for its vaccine against the human papillomavirus, which causes cervical and other sexually transmitted cancers. It was long planned as part of Whitehouse Station, N.J.-based...

Ruling maintains Lipitor Patent term.(FDA UPDATE: A monthly compendium of news features, announcements, regulatory issues and approvals from the Food & Drug Administration.)
January 1, 2009... The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office recently issued a notice allowing drugmaker Pfizer Inc. to correct a technical defect in one of the patents involving Pfizer's cholesterol medicine Lipitor, the world's top-selling drug. The decision will...

FDA approves drug for patients with advanced prostate cancer.(RECENT APPROVALS)
January 1, 2009... The FDA recently approved the injectable drug degarelix, the first new drug in several years for prostate cancer. * Degarelix is intended to treat patients with advanced prostate cancer. It belongs to a class of agents called gonadotropin...