The Carlyle group has agreed to sell Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation all outstanding shares of pharmaceutical capsule manufacturer Qualicaps. Products manufactured by Qualicaps include both gelatin and hypromellose capsules for use with dry powder inhalers. Mitsubishi will pay approximately ¥55.8 billion, or about $660 million, for the company. Read … [Read more...] about Mitsubishi to acquire Qualicaps
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Discovery Labs launches Afectair system
Discovery Laboratories has announce the launch of its Afectair airway connector for the delivery of aerosolized medications to infants in neonatal or pediatric intensive care units. The disposable device enables delivery of aerosolized drugs to patients on ventilatory support at the patient interface and was initially developed in conjunction with the company's … [Read more...] about Discovery Labs launches Afectair system
Acorda plans to submit 505(b)(2) NDA for diazepam nasal spray
Acorda Therapeutics says that it has completed its acquisition of Neuronex, including Neuronex's diazepam nasal spray formulation, for $6.8 million. The company also announced that it plans to submit a 505(b)(2) NDA in 2013 for the diazepam nasal spray as a treatment for seizures in epilepsy patients. In early 2012, Acorda paid $2 million to Neuronex as an option … [Read more...] about Acorda plans to submit 505(b)(2) NDA for diazepam nasal spray
Matrixx Initiatives recalls single lot of Zicam nasal spray
Matrixx Initiatives has voluntarily recalled a single lot of Zicam Extreme Congestion Relief nasal gel spray due to contamination with Burkholderia cepacia in a single sample. Zicam is a homeopathic product available over the counter in the US. The affected lot, which was distributed to retailers throughout the US, is number 2J23. The 0.5 oz spray bottles are … [Read more...] about Matrixx Initiatives recalls single lot of Zicam nasal spray
SkyePharma gets $8 million settlement from AstraZeneca for Pulmicort deal termination
SkyePharma has announced that AstraZeneca will pay $8 million in January 2013 "to settle certain disputes" resulting from AZ's termination of their licensing deal for the Pulmicort MDI. The deal was terminated after AZ discontinued production of the inhaler in early 2011 due to manufacturing problems. At the time, SkyePharma, which developed the product, said that … [Read more...] about SkyePharma gets $8 million settlement from AstraZeneca for Pulmicort deal termination
Aptar increases production capacity for preservative free nasal pumps
Aptar Pharma has "significantly increased" the production capacity at its facility in Eigeltingen, Germany for nasal delivery pumps for preservative free formulations, the company says, in order to meet continuously rising demand for preservative free systems. According to Aptar, the company has already sold more than 130 million units of the Advanced Preservative … [Read more...] about Aptar increases production capacity for preservative free nasal pumps
Aradigm raises $6 million
Aradigm Corporation has agreed to sell 50 million shares of common stock at $0.12 per share to two existing shareholders, generating net proceeds of approximately $5.6 million after fees and expenses. According to Aradigm President and CEO Igor Gonda, the company will use the funds for product development and finding partners for commercialization. The company's … [Read more...] about Aradigm raises $6 million
Tudorza Pressair now available in US
Almirall's Tudorza Pressair aclidinium bromide dry powder inhaler for the maintenance treatment of COPD is now available in the United States, where it is being marketed by Forest Laboratories. The twice-daily anticholinergic was approved in July 2012, as were the European versions of the product, the Eklira and Bretaris Genuair DPIs. Forest and Almirall will … [Read more...] about Tudorza Pressair now available in US
Aptar’s Landmark dose indicator chosen for Skyepharma’s Flutiform MDI
Aptar Pharma has announced the selection of a customized Landmark dose indicator for Skyepharma's Flutiform fluticasone propionate/formoterol fumarate MDI. Flutiform is available for the treatment of asthma in Germany, the UK, and several other countries. The dose indicator on the Flutiform MDI is based on Aptar's Landmark platform, which was the winner of a 2007 … [Read more...] about Aptar’s Landmark dose indicator chosen for Skyepharma’s Flutiform MDI
New patent for Pearl Therapeutics
The US Patent and Trademark Office has issued Patent number 8,324,266, titled “Compositions, Methods & Systems for Respiratory Delivery of Two or More Active Agents,” to Pearl Therapeutics. The patent covers formulation methods using the company's co-suspension technology in metered-dose inhalers (MDIs). Pearl says that "the technology effectively prevents the … [Read more...] about New patent for Pearl Therapeutics