Manufacturing

Portola secures FDA approval for Andexxa generation 2 manufacturing process

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Portola Pharmaceuticals’ Prior Approval Supplement (PAS) for the manufacturing process of second generation Andexxa [coagulation factor Xa (recombinant), inactivated-zhzo].

Pfizer, GSK to create $13bn consumer healthcare joint venture

Pfizer and the UK-based GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have agreed to merge their respective consumer healthcare businesses into a new joint venture (JV), which will be majority owned by the latter.

AstraZeneca divests asthma and rhinitis drug rights to Covis Pharma

AstraZeneca has completed its $350m sale of its rights to asthma drug Alvesco (ciclesonide) and nasal sprays Omnaris and Zetonna (ciclesonide) to Switzerland-based Covis Pharma.

Cambrex to acquire contract drug developer Avista Pharma for $252m

Life sciences company Cambrex has agreed to acquire Avista Pharma Solutions, a North Carolina-based contract development, manufacturing, and testing organization, for about $252m.

AstraZeneca to sell asthma and rhinitis drug rights to Covis Pharma for $350m

AstraZeneca has agreed to offload its rights to asthma drug Alvesco (ciclesonide) and nasal sprays Omnaris and Zetonna (ciclesonide) to Covis Pharma for $350m.

Quotient Sciences extends formulation and manufacturing operations in UK

Quotient Sciences, a global pharmaceutical development, clinical pharmacology and clinical and commercial manufacturing organization, has significantly expanded its formulation development and clinical trial manufacturing operations at its Reading facility, UK.

Grünenthal to buy AstraZeneca’s European rights to two drugs for $922m

German pharma company Grünenthal has agreed to acquire certain rights to AstraZeneca’s Nexium (esomeprazole) and Vimovo (naproxen/esomeprazole) for a sum of up to $922m.

EQT offers to buy Karo Pharma for $654m

Private equity firm EQT has proposed to acquire 100% of Karo Pharma, a Swedish pharma company, for around SEK5.97bn ($654m).

Quotient Sciences opens early-phase formulation and manufacturing plant in US

Drug development services provider Quotient Sciences has opened a 45,000ft² manufacturing facility near Philadelphia, in Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania.