Content about manufacturing

December 20, 2011
Watson, Amgen partner to develop biosimilars

Generic drug maker Watson and biotech manufacturer Amgen will work together to develop biosimilar antibodies for treating cancer, the two companies said.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Generic drug maker Watson and biotech manufacturer Amgen will work together to develop biosimilar antibodies for treating cancer, the two companies said.

December 20, 2011
Webinar: CRN, VIRGO to bridge GMP gap between industry action and FDA expectations

The Council for Responsible Nutrition and VIRGO on Tuesday announced details for an industrywide webinar to examine key elements of good manufacturing practices for dietary supplements and offer advice as to what the industry can do to improve its record of inspections.

WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition and VIRGO on Tuesday announced details for an industrywide webinar to examine key elements of good manufacturing practices for dietary supplements and offer advice as to what the industry can do to improve its record of inspections. 

Moderated by Duffy MacKay, CRN VP scientific and regulatory affairs, the webinar will help companies better understand the intricacies of GMPs and will offer tips and best practices for passing Food and Drug Administration inspections.

December 13, 2011
HHS, Novartis celebrate opening of state-of-the-art, stateside vaccine facility

The Department of Health and Human Services on Monday announced that the first U.S. facility to use a faster and more flexible technology to make influenza vaccine was dedicated as part of an initiative that could provide vaccine supplies sooner in an influenza pandemic.

WASHINGTON — The Department of Health and Human Services on Monday announced that the first U.S. facility to use a faster and more flexible technology to make influenza vaccine was dedicated as part of an initiative that could provide vaccine supplies sooner in an influenza pandemic.

December 13, 2011
Wanda Sykes to represent Gain brand in campaign celebrating scent preferences

Procter & Gamble announced Tuesday that Gain would be partnering with comedienne and actress Wanda Sykes, who will join Gain’s resident “Scenthropologist” Tim Hittle in promoting Gain’s 13 detergents and fabric softener scents.

Procter & Gamble announced Tuesday that Gain would be partnering with comedienne and actress Wanda Sykes, who will join Gain’s resident “Scenthropologist” Tim Hittle in promoting Gain’s 13 detergents and fabric softener scents.

December 9, 2011
Bic models new lighter series after 'Orange County Choppers'

Bic has introduced a new lighter series that features custom motorcycles from "Orange County Choppers."

SHELTON, Conn. — Bic has introduced a new lighter series that features custom motorcycles from "Orange County Choppers."

The Orange County Choppers lighters line includes 10 designs, including one that features an image of the custom-made bike produced for Bic (and themed after the BIC Flex4 men’s razor), which OCC built on-air for an episode of last season’s "American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior."

The new lighters carry a suggested retail price of $1.79.

December 7, 2011
Helen of Troy to acquire P&G's Pur business

Helen of Troy has signed a definitive agreement to acquire all assets of Procter & Gamble's water purification brand.

EL PASO, Texas — Helen of Troy has signed a definitive agreement to acquire all assets of Procter & Gamble's water purification brand.

The acquisition of P&G's Pur Water Purification Products company includes the worldwide Pur trademark, its current and future product line, assets related to the operations of the Pur business, manufacturing equipment and more than 200 patents. Pur's products, which include faucet mount systems and filters, pitcher systems and filters, as well as refrigerator filters, are sold throughout the United States.

December 5, 2011
Nipro Diagnostics named Florida Manufacturer of the Year

Nipro Diagnostics on Thursday was recognized by the Manufacturers Association of Florida with the 2011 Manufacturer of the Year Award.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Nipro Diagnostics on Thursday was recognized by the Manufacturers Association of Florida with the 2011 Manufacturer of the Year Award.

December 5, 2011
Paper cards retain value in digital age

Texting and social media have not killed the traditional greeting card business.

Texting and social media have not killed the traditional greeting card business. “Facebook has caused most people to acknowledge more birthdays than ever before, but they aren’t sending fewer cards as a result,” said Susan January, president of the Greeting Card Association and VP of Leanin’ Tree Cards.

December 2, 2011
Report: Unilever shutting down Alberto-Culver's Melrose Park plant

Unilever is looking to close the Alberto-Culver plant outside of Chicago in Melrose Park in 2013, and, in a few months, will begin laying off at least 600 employees, according to a Chicago Sun-Times report.

NEW YORK — Unilever is looking to close the Alberto-Culver plant outside of Chicago in Melrose Park in 2013, and, in a few months, will begin laying off at least 600 employees, according to a Chicago Sun-Times report.

Unilever spokeswoman Anita Larsen told the Chicago Sun-Times, “This decision was taken as a result of a review of the company’s manufacturing network in order to achieve cost efficiencies.”

December 1, 2011
APAP suppository FeverAll returns to store shelves

Actavis is in the process of bringing FeverAll acetaminophen suppositories back to the market, the company announced. FeverAll had been unavailable while changes were being made at the product's manufacturing facility.

MORRISTOWN, N.J. — Actavis is in the process of bringing FeverAll acetaminophen suppositories back to the market, the company announced. FeverAll had been unavailable while changes were being made at the product's manufacturing facility.

November 30, 2011
National Bio+Green Sciences introduces new HandSan hand sanitizer

National Bio+Green Sciences has created HandSan, which is positioned as the first-ever alcohol-free, organic hand cleanser made solely from purified water and vitamins with no artificial preservatives.

BRANCHBURG, N.J. — National Bio+Green Sciences has created HandSan, which is positioned as the first-ever alcohol-free, organic hand cleanser made solely from purified water and vitamins with no artificial preservatives.

“Like all Bio+Green Crystals products, our HandSan is an eco-friendly product created in America using local components whenever possible, supporting regional and national businesses, and creating quality manufacturing-based jobs,” stated Nik Renieris, founder and CEO of National Bio+Green Sciences.

November 29, 2011
Maxell launches rechargeable lithium ion battery

Maxell has introduced a rechargeable lithium ion battery designed to operate in low temperatures, the company said.

WOODLAND PARK, N.J. — Maxell has introduced a rechargeable lithium ion battery designed to operate in low temperatures, the company said.

With a discharge temperature range of -30 degrees to 60 degrees Celsius and 2300mAh capacity, the cell can operate in various products across various markets, including data capture, mobile computing, portable printing, communications, e-bikes, and gardening tools, Maxell said.

The new introduction follows the July launch of Maxell's zero-mercury, zero-lead silver oxide cell.

November 23, 2011
Shire seeks approval to make Gaucher disease drug at new plant

British drug maker Shire is looking to make a biotech drug for a rare genetic disorder at a new manufacturing plant in Massachusetts.

LEXINGTON, Mass. — British drug maker Shire is looking to make a biotech drug for a rare genetic disorder at a new manufacturing plant in Massachusetts.

The company said Tuesday that it had filed with the Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency for approval to produce the Gaucher disease drug Vpriv (velaglucerase alfa) at its Lexington, Mass., plant. The company expects to win approval to make the drug there early next year.

November 15, 2011
BI announces more than $350 million in U.S. capital investments

German drug maker Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals invested more than $350 million in its U.S. operations this year, the company said Tuesday.

RIDGEFIELD, Conn. — German drug maker Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals invested more than $350 million in its U.S. operations this year, the company said Tuesday.

November 10, 2011
Legislation introduced to 'grandfather' all supplements up to Jan. 2007

Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., last week introduced a bill — the Dietary Supplement Protection Act of 2011 — that would reclassify approximately 25,000 supplements launched between Oct. 15, 1994, and Jan. 1, 2007, as "grandfathered" supplements and not subject to proposed new dietary ingredient regulations.

WASHINGTON — Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., last week introduced a bill — the Dietary Supplement Protection Act of 2011 — that would reclassify approximately 25,000 supplements launched between Oct. 15, 1994, and Jan. 1, 2007, as "grandfathered" supplements and not subject to proposed new dietary ingredient regulations.

November 8, 2011
Murad taps former Guthy-Renker exec to serve as COO

Skin care company Murad, whose products are sold at several locations, including Sephora and Ulta, has named Beverly Parsons as COO.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Skin care company Murad, whose products are sold at several locations, including Sephora and Ulta, has named Beverly Parsons as COO.

Parsons will report to general manager Richard Murad. In this role, Parsons will be responsible for procurement (purchasing, packaging engineering and quality control), as well as supply chain planning, distribution center operations and logistics, and information technology functions.

November 7, 2011
Reports: FDA finds manufacturing problems at Genentech plant

A new report from the Food and Drug Administration indicated that Roche division Genentech may not have followed proper procedures to prevent the contamination of certain drugs, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — A new report from the Food and Drug Administration indicated that Roche division Genentech may not have followed proper procedures to prevent the contamination of certain drugs, according to published reports.

Dow Jones Newswires reported that an FDA report from September regarding an inspection of a plant in South San Francisco, Calif., found problems related to gaskets and caps used to cover vials of the cancer drug Avastin (bevacizumab).

The caps are made by a contract manufacturer, according to the reports.

November 4, 2011
Chobani to break ground on second manufacturing plant

Chobani is forging ahead with its strategic growth initiative by opening a second domestic manufacturing plant.

NORWICH, N.Y. — Chobani is forging ahead with its strategic growth initiative by opening a second domestic manufacturing plant.

The company said it plans to invest over $100 million to build a state-of-the-art, high capacity production facility in Twin Falls, Idaho. The company said it expects its planned investment to garner more than $200 million in regional sales.

Chobani's current South Edmeston, N.Y.-based manufacturing plant, which will be expanded, will not be impacted by the decision to open a second facility, the company noted.

November 1, 2011
Impax reports sales, profit increases in third quarter

Drug maker Impax Labs reported sales of $119.8 million and profits of $20 million in third quarter 2011, according to an earnings report released Tuesday.

HAYWARD, Calif. — Drug maker Impax Labs reported sales of $119.8 million and profits of $20 million in third quarter 2011, according to an earnings report released Tuesday.

The latest sales figures represented a $12.2 million increase over third quarter 2010, while profits were $4.2 million higher.

November 1, 2011
Pharmavite breaks ground on Alabama facility

Pharmavite on Monday broke ground on the company’s new manufacturing and packaging facility in Opelika, Ala.

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — Pharmavite on Monday broke ground on the company’s new manufacturing and packaging facility in Opelika, Ala. Representatives from Pharmavite were joined by Alabama governor Robert Bentley, Alabama speaker Mike Hubbard, U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers and local community and business leaders.

October 31, 2011
Obama issues executive order to address drug shortages

President Barack Obama issued an executive order Monday to address the growing problem of drug shortages.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama issued an executive order Monday to address the growing problem of drug shortages.

October 31, 2011
P&G, NFL partner in search of 2011 'Super Parent'

Procter & Gamble on Monday announced its third year of being an official sponsor of the National Football League in support of its Gillette, Head & Shoulders, Prilosec OTC and Vicks brands.

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble on Monday announced its third year of being an official sponsor of the National Football League in support of its Gillette, Head & Shoulders, Prilosec OTC and Vicks brands.

October 31, 2011
Unilever to sell Culver Specialty Brands division

Unilever has inked a definitive agreement to sell one of its divisions for $325 million in cash.

LONDON and ROTTERDAM, Netherlands — Unilever has inked a definitive agreement to sell one of its divisions for $325 million in cash.

Unilever said it plans to sell its Culver Specialty Brands division — which houses such brands as Mrs. Dash, Molly McButter, Bakers Joy, Sugar Twin and Static Guard, which are sold in the United States and Canada — to B&G Foods. The division, which garnered $90 million in revenue for Unilever for the 12 months ended in September, became part of the company after Unilever's acquisition of Alberto-Culver.

October 28, 2011
EO Products' soap, lotions receive NON-GMO verification

EO Products, a manufacturer of natural and organic body care, has announced that its entire line of soaps and lotions has received NON-GMO verification from the NON-GMO Project.

CORTE MADERA, Calif. — EO Products, a manufacturer of natural and organic body care, has announced that its entire line of soaps and lotions has received NON-GMO verification from the NON-GMO Project.

The Non-GMO Project offers third-party verification for products produced according to rigorous best practices for GMO (genetically modified organism) avoidance.

October 19, 2011
Concepts in Health defends MidNite Sleep Remedy patent

Concepts in Health on Wednesday reported it successfully has defended its MidNite Sleep Remedy patent from possible infringement by Contract Pharmacal, which had been manufacturing a store-brand version.

BLAUVELT, N.Y. — Concepts in Health on Wednesday reported it successfully has defended its MidNite Sleep Remedy patent from possible infringement by Contract Pharmacal, which had been manufacturing a store-brand version.

According to Concepts, Contract Pharmacal agreed to discontinue manufacturing and selling CVS Natural Sleep Aid or any substantially similar product. Additionally, CPC will not challenge the validity or enforceability of the MidNite patent (U.S. Patent 6,703,412).