Novartis has announced the construction of a new biotechnology facility in Singapore with an investment of over $500 million. The new facility will focus on drug-substance manufacturing based on cell-culture technology, and will be colocated with the pharmaceutical production site in Tuas, Singapore. Read More

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The CDMO Patheon has agreed to acquire Banner Pharmacaps, a specialty pharmaceutical business dedicated to the research, development, and manufacturing of gelatin-based dosage forms. The acquisition will be structured as a purchase of all of the shares of the entities through which Banner conducts its operations, for $255 million, subject to working capital and other adjustments. The acquisition is subject to applicable regulatory approvals and other customary terms and conditions, and is expected to close by the end of 2012. Read More

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Pfenex has awarded Althea Technologies a contract for the cGMP manufacturing of circumsporozoite protein from plasmodium falciparum, a malaria antigen. Althea Technologies will implement the cGMP-ready Pfenex Expression Technology-based production process that was developed at Pfenex over the past several months. Processes for several additional malaria antigens are currently being developed at Pfenex. Read More

A roundup of additional company and people news from pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies, their suppliers, and contract-service providers. Read More