Blue Cross Blue Shield partners with Civica on generic drug mission

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, along with 18 affiliate companies, will invest $55 million to create a new unit of the generic drug company.

By Kristin Jensen • Jan. 23, 2020

Lilly to invest $470M in new North Carolina drug plant

The facility, which will employ more than 400, is part of a broader build-out by Lilly of its manufacturing network.

By Kristin Jensen • Jan. 22, 2020

Civica advances drug supply strategy with Thermo Fisher deal

The seven-year partnership will initially focus on nine critical medicines vulnerable to supply chain interruptions.

By Jonathan Gardner • Jan. 16, 2020

Nationwide Children's, a gene therapy leader, launches manufacturing spinout

Andelyn Biosciences, named after two children treated with gene therapy at Nationwide, will operate as a for-profit subsidiary of the Ohio-based hospital.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Updated Jan. 15, 2020

Mylan recalls common antacid after detecting carcinogen

The generic drugmaker will pull some nizatidine after tests found low levels of N-nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA, a probable human carcinogen.

By Andrew Dunn • Jan. 9, 2020

Lilly, Strateos open remote-controlled robotic research lab in San Diego

The lab, which is part of a $90 million investment Lilly made in its San Diego site two years ago, will be accessible to emerging drug discovery companies.

By Kristin Jensen • Jan. 9, 2020

Belgian CDMO Ardena gets new private equity owners

The U.K. group GHO Capital Partners bought Ardena, which has expanded in Europe via several acquisitions under the ownership of Mentha Capital.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Jan. 9, 2020

Charles River Labs to buy HemaCare for $380M, expanding in cell therapy

The contract researcher expects HemaCare will boost a cell therapy business that earns it about $100 million in annual revenue. 

By Kristin Jensen • Dec. 19, 2019

Paratek wins US contract to develop anthrax treatment

A BARDA contract will provide Paratek with up to $285 million, some of which would go toward to acquiring the biotech's antibiotic for a national stockpile.

By Kristin Jensen • Dec. 19, 2019

Novartis still hasn't solved its CAR-T manufacturing issues

Lingering difficulties in making all Kymriah product to FDA specifications has meant Novartis can't always charge for the cell therapy. New data at ASH could help the pharma's case.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Dec. 11, 2019

Novartis partners with Amazon to revamp manufacturing

The collaboration is one of many efforts underway at the Swiss pharma to more effectively manage a sprawling network of clinical and manufacturing sites. 

By Kristin Jensen • Dec. 5, 2019

Thermo Fisher opens $90M viral vector manufacturing plant in Massachusetts

The CDMO expects to create more than 200 jobs at the site, which is part of the company's plans to expand its gene therapy business.

By Kristin Jensen • Dec. 4, 2019

Fujifilm to invest $120M in gene therapy, build center in Texas

The Japan-based company plans to spend $55 million on the center while also outfitting its joint venture with new clean rooms and bioreactors.

By Kristin Jensen • Nov. 21, 2019

Lilly to invest $400M in Indianapolis manufacturing facilities

The drugmaker expects its investment to create 100 new, highly skilled jobs based in Indianapolis.

By Kristin Jensen • Nov. 20, 2019

Lonza CEO Funk to step down after 9 months on job

Funk is leaving for personal reasons, Lonza reported in a brief statement, and will be replaced on an interim basis by chairman Albert Baehny.

By Kristin Jensen • Nov. 14, 2019

Mylan plant warned by FDA over valsartan manufacturing

Regulators said Mylan's ways of identifying, testing and handling raw materials at an Indian plant aren't enough to prevent contamination.

By Kristin Jensen • Nov. 14, 2019

Teva to restart production of cancer drug after shortages stressed treatment

Vincristine, a drug used to treat childhood cancers, has been in short supply since Teva stopped producing it and manufacturing woes hit Pfizer, the sole other supplier.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Nov. 14, 2019

Sanofi cuts chemical, water use in switch to continuous manufacturing

While the pharma industry had been slow to adopt continuous manufacturing, Sanofi's new plant in Framingham, Massachusetts, is one example of the benefits possible.

By Matt Leonard • Nov. 12, 2019

What pharma manufacturing can learn from M&Ms

As pharmaceuticals companies look to shift from batch to continuous production, manufacturers may take a page from the food industry's playbook.

By Gary Wollenhaupt • Nov. 12, 2019

Takeda opens vaccine plant as dengue shot shows promise

A site in Germany will produce Takeda's dengue vaccine, newly supported by data that appears to show the drug as effective in protecting against the virus.

By Kristin Jensen • Nov. 7, 2019

Lonza taps Cryoport to bolster cell and gene therapy delivery

The Swiss manufacturer inked a deal with the cold chain specialist, which works with sector leaders like Gilead, Novartis and Bluebird bio.

By Kristin Jensen • Nov. 7, 2019

7 questions about ethylene oxide as FDA panel convenes

Agency advisers met again Thursday, having already encouraged the FDA to incentivize lower industry reliance on the controversial chemical.

By David Lim • Updated Nov. 7, 2019

Merck again borrows Gardasil supplies from CDC

Tapping the CDC's stockpile will lower sales of the HPV vaccine by about $120 million in the fourth quarter, Merck said. 

By Kristin Jensen • Oct. 31, 2019

FDA blames market failures for drug shortages

High-profile shortages of drugs like EpiPen and the chemotherapy vincristine have brought attention to a chronic problem, one that's spurred in part by what the FDA termed a "broken marketplace."

By Kristin Jensen • Oct. 31, 2019

BD suspends sterilization plant after FDA warning on device shortages

Public health concerns tied to ethylene oxide, a chemical used on half of medical devices requiring sterilization, have jeopardized sterilization facilities and the products they process.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 28, 2019