Generic manufacturers sign pact to supply Merck COVID pill to lower-income countries

The licenses will help make molnupiravir available to people in more than 100 countries, giving public health authorities a needed tool despite the drug's limited effectiveness.

By Jonathan Gardner • Jan. 20, 2022

German Merck buys manufacturer of key component in mRNA medicines

Merck KGaA is buying Indianapolis-based Exelead, a specialist in the lipid nanoparticles used to ferry mRNA into the body, for $780 million in cash. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • Jan. 6, 2022

Pfizer opens gene therapy plant in $800M North Carolina expansion

The new facility cost nearly $70 million to build, and is part of a major push by the pharma giant to become a leader in genetic medicine manufacturing.

By Kristin Jensen • Dec. 16, 2021

Moderna cuts vaccine sales, delivery targets for 2021

The biotech now expects to deliver between 700 million and 800 million doses this year, down from a previous forecast of 800 million to 1 billion.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Nov. 4, 2021

Gates Foundation pledges $120M to bring Merck COVID-19 drug to lower-income countries

Anticipating regulatory clearance of the pill, the group aims to speed access by investing in the manufacturing of generic versions of the drug.

By Kristin Jensen • Oct. 20, 2021

Emerging therapeutic oligonucleotides – analytical challenges accepted

A relatively new class of parenteral drug products on the market - therapeutic oligonucleotides – poses new challenges to the pharmaceutical manufacturing process.

By Alexandra H. Heussner, Ph. D., Laboratory Manager ASL, and Melanie Zerulla-Wernitz, Ph. D., Head of ASL, Development Service, Vetter Pharma-Fertigung GmbH & Co. KG • Oct. 18, 2021

Under pressure to share technology, Moderna to build vaccine factory in Africa

The biotech company expects to make its coronavirus vaccine and mRNA shots for other diseases at the planned plant, into which it will invest $500 million.

By Kristin Jensen • Oct. 7, 2021

US stocks up on COVID-19 antibody drugs amid shortage concerns

Deals with Regeneron and Eli Lilly will secure nearly 1.8 million additional doses of the companies' respective treatments over the next four months.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Sept. 15, 2021

CureVac scales back mRNA manufacturing for coronavirus vaccine

The German biotech, which announced disappointing results for its shot in June, said the move was done in response to reduced demand. 

By Shoshana Dubnow • Updated Sept. 15, 2021

Moderna expands mRNA vaccine supply in deal with new biotech producer

The company has previously said it could make up to 3 billion vaccine doses in 2022, depending on how booster shots are authorized.

By Shoshana Dubnow • Sept. 8, 2021

Eyeing future outbreaks, Moderna partners with Canadian government on vaccine plant

While Canada has already secured more COVID-19 vaccine doses than it needs, the factory to be built is geared toward combating future pandemics.

By Jonathan Gardner • Aug. 10, 2021

Amgen, expecting higher demand for its medicines, to build plant in North Carolina

The biotech is also constructing a new factory in Ohio and, between the two, expects to investment nearly $1 billion over the next few years.

By Kristin Jensen • Aug. 4, 2021

A pharma merger's impact ripples across West Virginia as Viatris plant closes

One of the country's oldest and largest drug manufacturing plants shut down Saturday, a consequence of the 2019 merger between Mylan and Pfizer's Upjohn unit. The impact will be felt by a West Virginia city for years to come.

By Shoshana Dubnow • July 30, 2021

Bluebird preps for split by selling manufacturing plant to well-funded startup

The startup manufacturing specialist National Resilience, which raised $800 million when it launched last year, will pay Bluebird $110 million for the North Carolina facility, bringing its North American network up to 10.

By Kristin Jensen • July 29, 2021

BioNTech, WHO hatch plan to bring mRNA vaccines to Africa

Responding to criticism, the German biotech plans to develop a malaria shot and build manufacturing infrastructure on the continent. 

By Jonathan Gardner • July 26, 2021

Trends shaping biopharma's role in the healthcare ecosystem

Four trends are shaping the healthcare ecosystem. These present new opportunities for biopharma.

By Pratap Khedkar and Jude Konzelmann • July 26, 2021

Unique commercial experience primes Avid Bioservices for growth

Discover the bioservices and manufacturing efforts that have made an impact within the biological manufacturing field.

By Nick Green, Chief Executive Officer, Avid Bioservices • June 28, 2021

Lyophilized products are on the rise: Here's what you need to know

To extend the shelf life and improve stability of biopharmaceuticals, a freeze-drying process—and a partner—can help.

By Kate Silver • June 14, 2021

UK drug contractor to be sold to private equity firm in $1.4B deal

Through a subsidiary, The Carlyle Group will pay a 27% premium to acquire Vectura, a CDMO that specializes in inhaled medicines.

By Kristin Jensen • May 26, 2021

Emergent CEO defends company from criticism of error that ruined vaccine doses

The company expects to respond within days to a long list of findings FDA officials made in an inspection of Emergent's Baltimore plant earlier this month.

By Ned Pagliarulo • April 30, 2021

Moderna plans to triple coronavirus vaccine production next year

The biotech aims to double capacity at plants in Switzerland and Spain, and by 50% at U.S. sites. The total number, however, will depend on the mix of primary and booster doses.

By Jonathan Gardner • April 29, 2021

Gilead, Merck to help India access COVID-19 drugs as country's crisis deepens

Gilead will donate at least 450,000 vials of Veklury, while Merck licensed its experimental antiviral molnupiravir to five generic drugmakers in India. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • April 27, 2021

Sanofi to aid Moderna on final steps in manufacturing coronavirus vaccine

The French pharma has agreed to "fill and finish" up to 200 million vials of Moderna's shot at its New Jersey plant, the third such manufacturing deal it struck with other vaccine developers. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • April 26, 2021

FDA cites Emergent for failings at plant that contaminated J&J doses

A recent nine-day inspection by agency officials found numerous breaches of manufacturing standards and inadequate training for factory employees. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • April 22, 2021

J&J to oversee vaccine production at Emergent factory that ruined doses

The change, which follows the contractor's costly manufacturing mix-up, will displace production of AstraZeneca's unauthorized shot at the Baltimore site.

By Ned Pagliarulo • April 5, 2021