As an editor for Pharmaceutical Technology, I often hear about novel drug-delivery mechanisms. Often they’re high-tech materials such as polymers, hydrogels, or nanoparticles. But a recent Associated Press story revealed a biological-based drug carrier that I hadn’t thought of: fish. Read more »
I haven’t been involved in the pharmaceutical industry too long, but long enough to have learned that regulations are the bane of manufacturers’ existence. I’m actually a proponent of stringent regulations—perhaps because I’m somewhat of an outsider and don’t have to deal with the actual paperwork or inspection process. But given the extreme cases of contamination (e.g., heparin, melamine, DEG) and violations of late, even among large, well-respected pharmaceutical companies (e.g., Bayer’s unapproved drug marketing, Ranbaxy’s GMP-facility violations), it seems that strict oversight and controls are truly necessary.
One of the US Food and Drug Administration’s most important jobs is to provide the public with clear information about drug safety. Representative Joe Barton’s (R-TX) recent letter to the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) raises questions about whether FDA is telling us everything it knows. Read more »
Flexibility in bulk-solids handling is an important trend in pharmaceutical manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients and dosage forms, an issue addressed by Richard Denk, director of the pharmaceutical department for Hecht Anlagenbau (Pfaffenhofen/Ilm, Germany) at the conference session, “Disposable Containment Technologies for Bulk Solids,” at Interphex. Read more »
As a law in my state, drivers are not “allowed” to pump their own gas. I suppose it has helped the Oregon economy with providing additional (read: low wage) jobs. In turn, our gas taxes may be a little higher than the rest of the country’s. Last week, however, as I pulled up to take another hit to the family budget with another fill-up, I noticed a sign at the station declaring “diesel customers: you are responsible for making sure the right gas is pumped into your vehicle.” Read more »
From PharmTech.com