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Private pharmaceutical technology services firm Solvias (Basel, Switzerland) says it has enjoyed steady growth since it was formed in October 1999 via a management buyout from Novartis. Solvias began life [...]

This explains that contract manufacturers are finally beginning to reap financial rewards from their investment in large-molecule therapeutic drugs, also known as biologics or biopharmaceuticals. Contract fine chemical firms say that today they are experiencing very strong demand for their biologics manufacturing services. Lonza, a leader in biopharmaceuticals, says that the future for the industry looks bright. Market forecasts estimate that the total biopharmaceutical market will increase from $56 billion in 2006, to $115 billion in 2012.

The article discusses the aggressiveness of Indian companies in acquiring of Western custom fine chemical firms. The acquisitive activity of Indian pharmaceutical manufacturing companies have increased dramatically in recent months, spurred by the desire to expand into the European and U.S. markets. Expect Dishman Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals and Punjab Chemicals and Crop Protection to make more acquisitions in the West.

The article deals with the entry of Indian custom fine chemical contract manufacturing organizations in the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) sector in February 2006. The organizations are no longer satisfied with increasing their share of the pharmaceutical intermediates market and have started to target the high-value and high-technology API sector, which until now was served only by European and North American competitors.

Reports on the growth of sales from hazardous chemistry services outsourced by the pharmaceutical industry. Efforts of Aerojet Fine Chemicals to add capacity to keep up with demand for hazardous chemistry services; Risk posed by handling hazardous chemicals highlighted by the accident in one of hazardous chemistry production units of DSM in Linz, Austria; Information on Lanxess' activities in high-energy chemistry.

Focuses on the concern on the occurrence of overcapacity and price pressure in the high-potency active pharmaceutical ingredient (HPAPI) industry as of June 8, 2005. Potential of the HPAPI contract cost to increase by 2010; Intensification of the competition in the industry; Information on the HPAPI facilities of Aerojet in Rancho Cordova, California according to president Joseph Carleone.

Reports on a legislation to be introduced by the Japanese government that would allow pharmaceutical companies to outsource manufacturing processes for drugmaking. Information on an authorization system through which companies will outsource production under the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law; Importance of bridging the cultural divide between companies in Japan and custom manufacturers in the U.S. and Europe; Opportunities found by BASF in the Japanese pharmaceutical market.

Discusses the results of a survey conducted by "Chemical Week" magazine which deals with the leading pharmaceutical intermediate manufacturers in 2004. Challenges facing the industry, including the impact of regulatory changes on active pharmaceutical ingredients; Expectations of BASF for the sales of its pharmaceutical finishing services; Pretax losses incurred by companies in the life science and electronic chemicals business for the first nine months of the year.

Focuses on the efforts of Western pharmaceutical intermediate companies to enter the Chinese market. Opportunities to be offered by the Chinese market for Western companies; Weakness of Chinese pharmaceutical producers; Increase in China's production of pharmaceutical intermediates as of September 30, 2003.

Examines the market condition of the custom biologics industry. Firms which increased their production capacity in anticipation of rapid biologic drug development; Comment from Suzanne J. Griffiths, principal consultant for life sciences at Wood Mackenzie, on the supply and demand for mammalian cell cultures; Measures taken by companies to improve yield or output in manufacturing plants.

Reports on the threat faced by western chemical companies from their Asian counterparts. Struggles of western pharmaceutical intermediates producers; Action taken by the companies in response to the problem; Requirements needed by western companies in order to survive in the industry.

Discusses the market condition and economic growth plans of several pharmaceutical intermediates companies. Sales increased posted by Hovione, a private-owned custom synthesis and generics active pharmaceutical intermediates (API) manufacturer; Market opportunities for the API business of Clariant; Information on the substantial business of Cambrex in generic API market; Challenges facing API manufacturer Helsinn.

Reports on the cost-cutting efforts of pharmaceutical intermediates producers in the U.S. in 2003. Factors attributed to the declining market condition of the industry; Cost-cutting and employee downsizing move of Lonza, Rhodia, and Clariant; Forecast on the sales performance of the company DSM in its pharmaceutical products business.

Reports on the investments made by chemical companies in building biologics capacity and acquiring biomanufacturing firms. Factors that may lead to short-term overcapacity in the biologics sector; Problems facing the biologics intermediates sector; Questions raised about the level of biologics outsourcing by the pharmaceutical industry.

Discusses the possible performance of the pharmaceutical intermediates sector for the year 2003. Business opportunities in the biopharmaceutical sector; Possible decline of innovative projects; Strategic plans of several pharmaceutical companies. INSET: Opportunities and Risks in Biopharmaceuticals.

The article highlights the efforts launched to address the increasing global prevalence of counterfeit medicines. Various industry sources claim that counterfeiting is prevalent in the pharmaceuticals supply chain. Guy Villax, head of Hovione, argues that tougher auditing of pharmaceutical plants in developing countries should be implemented to prevent counterfeiting and poor quality drug production. He notes that effective ways to catching fraudesters and criminals should be established to deal with pharmaceutical falsification.

The article discusses the growth in opportunities for contract manufacturing of biologics. According to HighTech business Decisions president William Downey, the biologics contract manufacturing market is set to grow at an average compounded annual growth rate of 16 percent over the next five years and reach 5.4 billion U.S. dollars. As an example, Reliance Industries is growing its activities in biologics manufacture, in part through Reliance Genemedix. In addition, Wacker Chemie says its biologics business is expanding capacity to meet higher demand.

The article reports on the manufacturing projects or partnerships announced by leading contract pharmaceutical fine chemical firms in China. Multinationals including Lonza, Sigma-Aldrich Fine Chemicals, and Pfizer CenterSource say that these initiatives will enable them to remain competitive with China, India, and other low-cost production regions. INSET: China and India Play to Different Strengths.

The article deals with the need for fine chemical companies to adjust their business models, highlighted at the Informex fine and specialty chemicals exposition in Orlando, Florida. Degussa and Nicholas Piramal India Ltd. say they are developing business models to address changes in the pharmaceutical industry. Companies are also restructuring to enhance their responsiveness to the pharmaceutical market.

Discusses the growth of custom pharmaceutical intermediates manufacturers in North America and Western Europe. Competition between contract researchers in the U.S. and India; Annual cost savings from outsourcing active pharmaceutical ingredients; Number of molecules in various phases of drug development.

Presents highlights of the Convention of Pharmaceutical Ingredients pharmaceuticals exposition held in Frankfurt, Germany in October 2003. Agreement formed by Cambrex and Dextra for a propriety enzyme carbohydrate technology; Introduction of hydrolytic kinetic resolution and aromatic bond-forming technologies by Rhodia at the event; Information on the new product offering of Siegfried, a company involved in generic active pharmaceutical ingredients production.

The article reports on the separate plans of U.S. drugmaker Merck & Co. and German diagnostics firm Qiagen to make major investments in Great Britain despite concerns about Brexit or Britain's withdrawal from the European Union. Topics include the decision of Merck to build new headquarters and drug research center in the London area, the plan of Qiagen to establish a genomics research campus in Manchester, and the initiative of the British government to attract more life sciences investments.

The article offers information on the decision of chemical company Merck KGaA based in Darmstadt, Germany to continue its chemical and pharmaceutical businesses despite separation of several companies such as Solvay and Hoechst. It mentions insight from Stefan Oschmann, chief executive officer (CEO) of Merck, regarding the financial performance of the company along with its expansion in the health care sector.

The article discusses the increasing housing prices and tight laboratory space in Cambridge, England following the expansion of big drug companies and biotechnology firms. Other problems noted in the growth of biotechnology hub include high housing rents, traffic congestion, and even homelessness. Also noted are the number of biomedical companies, research institutes, and public health care organizations.

The article focuses on the court battle by pharmaceutical companies Merck KGaA in Germany and Merck & Co. Inc. in the U.S. regarding the use of Merck name. Topics mentioned include the lawsuit filed by Merck & Co. against Merck KGaA due to improper use of Merck name and cybersquatting, the agreement by two firms in 1955, and the establishment of U.S. Merck as a subsidiary of Merck KGa.

The article launch of the Library of Initiatives for Novel Collaborations (LINC), an online database that allows researchers from British universities and other organizations to identify opportunities for collaborating with major drug companies like GlaxoSmithKline and Roche.

The article reports on the plan by British Prime Minister Theresa May to increase funding for research and technology starting 2020. Topics covered include the estimated amount that the science enterprise could lose when the country exits the European Union and the response by Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry chief executive officer (CEO) Mike Thompson to the plan.

The article reports on the increase of research and development (R&D) spending of chemical and pharmaceutical industries in Germany in 2016.

The article reports on the strict intellectual property (IP) regulations covering pharmaceutical companies and chemical companies imposed by China. The country's IP regulations are now among the toughest in the world, and in the past few years have been underpinned by a significant increase in prosecutions of IP infringements. The shift in China's handling of IP means that international chemical companies should be confident that they can take their IP to China safely.

Focuses on an increase in the demand for fine chemicals of the Indian custom research and manufacturing organizations from overseas pharmaceutical companies as of February 16, 2005. Information on the report "India-Outsourcing Destination for the Global Pharmaceutical & Biotech Companies," prepared by Ernst & Young; Significance of a legislation on intellectual property rights to the custom pharmaceutical sector in India; Advantages of being located in India to the business transactions of Jubilant Organosys, a fine chemicals research and manufacturing firm.

Focuses on the action of pharmaceutical companies to expedite their drug development systems to cope with the challenges facing their industry. Challenges facing pharmaceutical companies; Remarks made by executives of fine chemical companies at the Informex exhibition; Significance of strategic partnerships among pharmaceutical companies in dealing with the challenges.

Presents a market outlook for the pharmaceutical industry of the U.S. for 2004. Review of the industry's performance in 2003; Demand for biologic drug manufacture.

Deals with the biopharmaceutical manufacturing capacity of pharmaceutical companies. Findings of a survey on the improvement of biopharma manufacturing capacity in the chemical industry by 2005; Capacity expansion move of major contract manufacturer; Prediction of HighTech Business Decisions on another shortage of capacity; Investment capital of contract manufacturing firms in biologic drug production.

Provides information on the deregulation of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law of Japan. Impact of the deregulation on pharmaceutical intermediates producers; Market condition of the Japanese pharmaceutical industry; Operation of Avecia company in the country.

Features private pharmaceutical technology services firm Solvias AG, based in Switzerland. Increase in sales the company achieved in 2001; Firm's core businesses; Two advantages of being a private company.

Features the privately owned Peakdale Molecular, a fast-growing pharmaceutical contract manufacturer in Great Britain. Sales the company achieved in 2002; Reason the firm changed its name from Peakdale Fine Chemicals in 2001; Firm's process chemistry expertise.

Presents a market outlook for the pharmaceutical industry for the year 2001. Forecasted global drug sales through 2003; Trend in mergers and acquisitions; Introduction of blockbuster drugs.

Presents information on the growth potential of biopharmaceuticals, despite its smallness in comparison with organic synthesis market. Growth of global market for biopharmaceuticals; Information on companies best positioned to take advantage of the market growth; Why pharmaceutical companies are also stepping up internal capacity for biopharmaceuticals.

The article discusses efforts by German chemicals manufacturer BASF to strengthen its pharmaceutical excipients business through an alliance with New Jersey-based Catalent Pharma Solutions of Somerset. An overview of BASF's dominance in the global pharmaceutical excipients market, specifically in the applications of excipients for enhancing drug solubility in humans such as active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), is presented.

The article focuses on Ampac Fine Chemicals LLC (AFC), a wholly owned pharmaceutical fine chemicals, in Las Vegas, Nevada. It provides an overview of the financial performance of the company wherein it has a loss of 1.2 million dollar and sales of 21.5 million dollar for fiscal first quarter of 2012 ended December 31, 2011. Moreover, it also notes the company's outlook wherein its product pipeline in key areas means that AFC is set to turn losses into profits.

The article reports that SNPE is looking for a buyer of its fine chemicals business, Isochem. In 2006, SNPE hired a bank to determine which companies are interested in acquiring all or part of Isochem, or in partnering with the business. Isochem specializes in contract manufacturing for the pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and agchem sectors.

The article reports on the optimism expressed by Sigma-Aldrich Fine Chemicals' (SAFC) incoming president Gilles Cottier about the company's prospects in 2009, despite the challenging economic outlook. Cottier says they have to be careful in their approach in the next year or two to come, but, absolutely, they are looking to continue to grow the business. The ongoing large-scale restructuring and cost-cutting initiatives taking place among major pharma companies should present opportunities for SAFC to capture more business, Cottier adds.

The article reports on the decision of Hovione to buy Pfizer's multipurpose active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) plant at Loughbeg, Ireland. The site, to be renamed Hovione Cork, manufactures intermediates for APIs for Pfizer's cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor. Hovione says it will continue to provide manufacturing services for Pfizer under the deal. Hovione plans to transfer products from its Loures site during the next two years, to Loughbeg where it will validate processes for new compounds in anticipation of drug approval.

The article looks at the strategic plans of Evonik for its chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing units. Its production capacity for pharmaceutical ingredient is expected to increase with the sale of the company's Seal Sands in Great Britain and the opening of a pharmaceutical ingredient facility in China. According to Rudolf Hanco, head of Exclusive Synthesis & Amino Acids business line, the company's objective is to focus on strategic business alliances.

The article reports on the announcement by Sigma-Aldrich Fine Chemicals (SAFC) that it is adapting its business model to the significantly changing business environment. A fundamental change is the shift by big pharmaceutical companies away from blockbuster pharma products toward lower-volume, specialty drugs. Pharma companies stand to lose $55 billion in sales during the next five years as a slew of drugs go off patent. SAFC says it is looking to embrace regulatory challenges as an opportunity to assist its customers.

The article reports that rising energy and raw material costs as well as product quality issues are forcing some pharmaceutical industry suppliers to implement significant price increases, according to fine and specialty chemical firm executives. Lanxess says it is implementing across-the-board price increases, citing higher energy and raw material costs. Specialty chemical firm SF Chem says it has been impacted by raw material costs, in particular.

The article reports that Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd., India's largest pharmaceutical company, has signed a share purchase and subscription agreement with Daiichi Sankyo, under which Daiichi will acquire a 34.8 percent share of Ranbaxy from the Singh family. Daiichi will pay a total of $3.4 billion-$4.6 billion for the stakes, depending on the cost of the ordinary shares. The total transaction values Ranbaxy at about $8.5 billion.

The article reports on the introduction of the U.S. Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) Globalization Act of 2008 by Democrat Representative John Dingell of Michigan that aims to increase FDA resources and authority to protect the food and drug supplies in the country. The bill also requires FDA to inspect foreign manufacturing plants that export drugs in the country. It calls for the establishment of a foreign inspection force in certain countries. Dingell stresses that FDA lacks adequate resources to meet its basic responsibilities.

The article reports on the $15,000 in fines that will be faced by Cambrex if it will be found guilty of health and safety violations related to an explosion in 2007 at its Charles City, Iowa complex. The citation is related to an October 2007 fire and explosion in Cambrex's pharmaceutical drying room. The incident resulted in five employees being treated for smoke inhalation and a sixth with burns covering 70%-80% of his body.

The article reports on the steady financial growth of Arkalon Chemical Technologies, a fine chemical custom synthesis startup in Meriden, Connecticut. According to the company, it is generating sales of about $2 million/year after just two years in business, partly attributed to an increase in outsourcing by the pharmaceutical industry. The firm is targeting sales of $10 million/year in 3-4 years.