BioPharm International Editors

Bayer completed its acquisition of Monsanto, the largest in Bayer’s history.

The companies will partner in research for HIV and hepatitis B immunotherapies, and Hookipa will manufacture arenavirus-based vectors for clinical development by Gilead.

WuXi Biologics will invest $60 Million to establish a biologics production facility in Massachusetts.

Alexion Pharmaceuticals and Complement Pharma will partner to develop a preclinical C6 complement inhibitor to treat neurodegenerative disorders.

Siemens will become a preferred supplier for Sartorius Stedim Biotech’s automation solutions, and SSB will create a globally standardized automation platform for its biopharmaceutical manufacturing systems.

MilliporeSigma targets emerging biotechs with US development center and global grants.

A new report released at the BIO International Convention shows that the US bioscience industry has had a $2-trillion economic impact and has accelerated venture capital investment and job growth.

The company will provide the first FlexFactory manufacturing platform for cell therapy manufacturing.

Vetter anounced the Open Innovation Challenge to examine the applicability of digital trends to injection systems.

The International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) is field-testing the design principles of a comprehensive, industry-led program of self-evaluation of pharmaceutical quality that will align with the purpose of FDA’s quality metrics.

The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) board of directors announced the candidates for the 2018 AAPS board.

The agency has approved Mylan’s Fulphila (pegfilgrastim-jmdb) as the first US-approved biosimilar to Amgen’s Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) to reduce infection risk during cancer treatment.

The FDA commissioner announced proposed steps to modernize the organization and functions of CDER’s Office of New Drugs.

EMA has recommended marketing authorization for Aimovig (erenumab), a new treatment for migraine.

The company is recalling two lots of Naloxone Hydrochloride Injection, USP, 0.4 mg/mL, 1 mL in 2.5 mL, Carpuject Single-use cartridge syringe system due to particulate matter on the syringe plunger.

The agency has recommended approval of three biosimilar adalimumab products from Novartis, referencing AbbVie’s Humira, and a biosimilar trastuzumab from Pfizer, referencing Roche’s Herceptin.

The Future Vaccine Manufacturing Hub will work with CPI as well as other UK institutions to address challenges of vaccine production and distribution so that the spread of new diseases can be effectively tackled.

Lonza has added four liver cell types to its hepatocytes portfolio for testing of in vitro drug models.

TxCell announces manufacturing agreement with Lonza for its HLA-A2 CAR-Treg cellular product.

Catalent’s GPEx technology was used to develop antibody for anti-methamphetamine clinical study.

Madison Dearborn Partners will acquire a majority ownership position in CDMO Alcami.

FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies opens Cambridge, MA center to promote collaboration with biotech companies.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) researchers combine two microscope technologies to create sharper, faster images.

Agilent Technologies expects the acquisition to improve its current software portfolio.

Mettler Toledo and SOTAX partnered to develop a new dissolution solution system line for R&D and quality control laboratory processes.

The Amgen Foundation and Harvard University will develop LabXchange, a free online science education platform that will provide digital instruction and virtual lab experiences.

Rentschler Fill Solutions and Ultragenyx announce fill and finish agreement for the US commercial supply of Mepsevii.

Ingenza, in partnership with the University of Dundee and Drochaid Research Services, will work on a project to recycle CO2 emissions from bioprocessing plants to serve as feedstock and energy inputs.

The agency published two guidance documents to address brand drug makers’ use of REMS to block generic-drug development.

Bayer received conditional approval from the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice to acquire Monsanto in a deal worth $66 billion.