Industry Overview

Contracts, Mergers, and Announcements

Frost & Sullivan (Naples, FL) recently presented EaglePicher Pharmaceutical Services (EPPS, Phoenix, AZ) with the 2005 Pharmaceutical Services Company of the Year Award at their third annual Excellence in Industrial Technologies Banquet. This award was presented to EPPS for developing superior product and service offerings and building key customer bases in the high-potency active pharmaceutical ingredients market. Millipore Corporation (Billerica, MA) has completed the acquisition of MicroSafe, B.V. (Netherlands), for approximately $9.3 million. MicroSafe is a contract laboratory that develops assays and provides a range of testing services for drug manufacturing process quality and compliance. In related news, Millipore has entered into an agreement to acquire NovAseptic AB (Nödinge, Sweden). The all-cash transaction will result in Millipore acquiring all of the shares of NovAseptic AB. PAL Laboratories, Inc. (Miami, FL) opened a new $20-million, 47,000-ft, CGMP-validated manufacturing facility late last month. PAL Laboratories will manufacture and package nutritional supplements and over-the-counter products at the site using the latest technology and equipment. Melles Griot (Carlsbad, CA) signed a limited global distribution agreement allowing for the distribution of some of Coherent's (Santa Clara, CA) laser measurement and control (LMC) product line. The agreement enables Melles Griot to expand its offering of power and energy measurement products. Honeywell (Phoenix, AZ) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire InterCorr International, Inc. (Houston,TX). InterCorr's proprietary "SmartCET" technology will be integrated with Honeywell's "Experion Process Knowledge System" (PKS) to provide online, real-time data. Closing of the transaction is subject to customary conditions and is expected to occur by the end of the month. Elite Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Northvale, NJ) has entered into a product development and license agreement with Pliva, Inc. (East Hanover, NJ) for a generic, controlled-release anti-infection drug product formulated by Elite. Under the terms of the agreement, Elite will manufacture the product and Pliva will market and sell the product. Pliva and Elite will share the development costs and profits. A pilot bioequivalence study on the drug has been completed and production scale up will begin shortly. Selerity Technologies Inc. (Salt Lake City, UT) has formed a new affiliation with the Research Institute for Chromatography, effective June 2005. The affiliation will consist of a new manufacturing and marketing venture for the "Polaratherm" total temperature controller. Under the terms of the new agreement, manufacture of the Polaratherm controller will relocate to Belgium. Groupe Novasep (Pompey, France) and Rohm and Haas Company (Philadelphia, PA) announced today the formation of a strategic alliance between the Novasep Process network and the Rohm and Haas Advanced Biosciences division. This alliance simplifies access to full solutions including separation media, processes, and systems for biologic drug manufacturers by providing a single interface to the companies; consolidated capabilities. Sherwood Technology (Widnes, Cheshire, UK) has been granted a European patent for its laser-marking method for edible products using its color-change "DataLase Edible" technology, this coding, marking and printing technique is designed to apply a safe, high-contrast image onto edible pharmaceutical products such as tablets. Sherwood was awarded a US patent for this additive, as reported in the February issue of Pharmaceutical Technology. Interpharma (Hong Kong), Quintiles (Singapore), and Temasek (Research Triangle Park, NC) have signed a letter of intent to commercialize pharmaceutical products together in the Asia Pacific region. The partners are expected to make an equal investment in the joint venture and own one third each of the company. The joint venture will draw on each partner's market knowledge, experience, and success in the Asia Pacific and global healthcare markets to acquire existing and new pharmaceutical products from research-based drug companies targeted at the needs of the Asia Pacific region. BASF Aktiengesellschaft (Ludwigshafen, Germany) plans to expand its Pharma Solutions business by acquiring the Swiss fine chemicals company Orgamol S.A. An agreement has already been reached with the private owners, who hold approximately 75% of Orgamol's shares. Approval for the transaction will be required from Orgamol's Swiss employees. In addition, the transaction will be subject to approval by the regulatory authorities. SYSTECH International (Cranbury, NJ) has moved into a new worldwide headquarters in Cranbury, New Jersey. The new facility is twice the size of the previous building, thereby allowing the company to expand training, demonstration, development, and warehouse space. Invensys Process Systems (Foxboro, MA) opened a new technology center in Beijing, China. The new facility includes technology demonstration, customer training, and technical support areas, as well as offices for local sales and engineering staffs. (continued to People)