Merck has issued a statement saying that the company "firmly believes its patent for Nasonex nasal spray is valid and infringed and will vigorously defend its intellectual property rights in a bench trial against Apotex Inc. and Apotex Corp. that began in US federal court today." Merck is suing Apotex for infringing U.S. Patent No. 6,127,353, issued to Schering in … [Read more...] about Merck issues statement on Nasonex patent trial
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Two inhalers finalists in the Medical Design Excellence Awards
Two dry powder inhalers have been named as finalists in the 2012 Medical Design Excellence Awards sponsored by Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry. Sun Pharmaceutical's Combitide Starhaler and Novartis's TOBI Podhaler with Pulmosphere technology are both nominated in the "General Hospital Devices and Therapetic Products" category. Cambridge Consultants received … [Read more...] about Two inhalers finalists in the Medical Design Excellence Awards
European rights to aclidinium bromide to Menarini, review period extended by the FDA
Almirall has licensed European rights to aclidinium bromide, both as a monotherapy and in combination with formoterol to Italian pharmaceutical company Menarini. The agreement covers most of the EU except for the UK, the Netherlands and the Nordic countries, plus several additional countries, including Russia and Turkey. Almirall CEO Eduardo Sanchiz explained, … [Read more...] about European rights to aclidinium bromide to Menarini, review period extended by the FDA
Bausch + Lomb to acquire ISTA Pharmaceuticals
After spurning repeated offers from Valeant, ISTA Pharmaceuticals has agreed to be acquired by Bausch + Lomb for $9.10 per share in cash, a total of about $500 million. Valeant had offered $7.50 per share. In addition to its eyecare products, ISTA has been developing two bepotastine nasal sprays for allergic rhinitis, one a single therapy product and the other a … [Read more...] about Bausch + Lomb to acquire ISTA Pharmaceuticals
Engineering firm discloses DPI filling technology
A Massachusetts engineering firm called Enginasion has disclosed details of proprietary DPI-filling technology it says that it developed for a pharmaceutical client that needed accurate dispensing of a highly cohesive inhaled dry powder formulation into cartridges. Enginasion Founder and CEO David Bonneau is the co-author of several patents assigned to MannKind … [Read more...] about Engineering firm discloses DPI filling technology
GSK still going ahead with Relovair marketing applications
According to GlaxoSmithKline and Theravance, the two companies have now completed all studies for the Relovair fluticasone furoate (FF)/vilanterol (VI) DPI for both COPD and asthma, and they plan to move forward now with regulatory submissions. GSK had previously announced that it would submit marketing applications for Relovair despite the fact that the FF/VI … [Read more...] about GSK still going ahead with Relovair marketing applications
Next Breath now a WHO PQS accredited facility for nasal spray vaccine testing
OINDP testing specialist NextBreath has successfully completed an evaluation by the World Health Organization (WHO) Performance Quality System (PQS) as a testing facility for nasal spray vaccine administration. The company is now accredited to perform analytical testing of PQS products, making it one of only two accredited labs in the US and one of only eleven … [Read more...] about Next Breath now a WHO PQS accredited facility for nasal spray vaccine testing
Ablynx extends its alliance with Boehringer Ingelheim
Belgian biopharmaceutical company Ablynx has announced that Boehringer Ingelheim will extend funding for discovery, development, and commercialization of Ablynx's Nanobody therapeutics for an additional two years, until September 2014. One of the Ablynx programs ALX-0171, which began Phase 1 trials in December 2011, is an inhaled therapy for respiratory syncytial … [Read more...] about Ablynx extends its alliance with Boehringer Ingelheim
Novartis launches the Arcapta Neohaler in the US
Novartis has launched its once-daily Arcapta Neohaler indacaterol inhalation powder 75 mcg for the maintenance treatment of COPD in the US. The FDA approved the indacaterol product at the 75 mcg level in July 2011 but rejected higher doses. The agency explained its reasoning in an article in the New England Journal of Medicine in December 2011. In Europe, where … [Read more...] about Novartis launches the Arcapta Neohaler in the US
Omega Pharma acquires Beconase nasal spray from GSK
Belgian over the counter (OTC) specialist Omega Pharma has acquired several OTC products from GSK, including Beconase beclomethasone nasal spray. The deal, which also includes brands Lactacyd, Abtei, Solpadeine, Zantac, and Nytol totaled €470 million in cash. GSK CFO Simon Dingemans commented, "The divestment of our non-core brands in Europe builds on the recent … [Read more...] about Omega Pharma acquires Beconase nasal spray from GSK