Almirall S.A., have announced a strategic partnership with Microsoft to drive innovation and digital transformation, advance the research of medical solutions for dermatological diseases, and accelerate the digital transformation of the company. During this three-year collaboration, Almirall and Microsoft Industry Solutions, in collaboration with some Microsoft partners, will create a joint Digital Office to build on Almirall’s unified data platform, and drive digital innovation in drug discovery and development by harnessing generative artificial intelligence and advanced analytics technologies. As part of this agreement, Almirall aims to apply its extensive R&D knowledge and expertise in drug discovery combined with Microsoft’s cutting-edge digital technologies…

We at EPM HQ, with the help of ramarketing, caught up with Uwe Hanenberg, Head of Product Development, Oral Solid Dose, Recipharm to discuss all things OSD! EPM: You’ve recently announced investment in your new analytical lab, can you tell me the benefits that the lab’s testing capabilities will offer your customers? Uwe: Our new analytical lab investment offers customers advanced testing capabilities, ensuring product safety and quality. It enables: a.  Extractables and leachables (E&L) analysis: The US Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA)increasing regulation of medical device materials highlights the importance of extractables, leachables, and impurity studies, especially regarding adhesive-specific…

In the fast-changing and fast-growing world of vitamins and supplements, can packaging keep up? Cristina Dumitru, Segment Marketing Manager Pharma, at Amcor explores. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the vitamins and supplements market continues to boom. In Europe alone, it’s expected to grow annually by 4.81% over the next four years. This surge in the consumer health space comes as people increasingly turn to supplements and nutritional products to support their mental and physical wellbeing. Now, in the spotlight, is the packaging these vitamins and supplements come in. And it holds more power than you might expect. Packaging has…

ACG, the world’s largest integrated supplier and service provider to the pharmaceutical industry, celebrated the inclusion of its capsule manufacturing facility in Pithampur, India, into the esteemed Global Lighthouse Network (GLN) by the World Economic Forum at the 54th Annual Davos Summit.  The World Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse Network has acknowledged the exemplary integration of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies, including artificial intelligence and big data analytics, by select factories globally. These facilities have been distinguished for their commitment to enhancing efficiency, fostering sustainable development, and simultaneously advancing their workforce’s skills and safeguarding the environment. Upon receiving the award, Mr. Karan…

FUSE-AI GmbH, an innovator in artificial intelligence for radiology, have announced its AI software “Prostate.Carcinoma.ai” has received EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) 2017/745 IIa certification. As of January 2024, the company is authorised to distribute its software as a medical product. “Prostate.Carcinoma.ai” significantly aids radiologists by automatically segmenting the prostate gland in MRI scans and independently identifying pathological changes, promising a 30% time saving per patient. This efficiency translates into considerable financial benefits for radiological clinics and practices, fueling strong interest in the deployment of the AI algorithm. The software’s integration into existing clinical software systems ensures user-friendliness and preserves radiologists’…

Sharp has announced that it has committed to the Science Based Targets initiative (STBi) in a significant step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the company. Sustainability continues to be a priority for Sharp, addressing the increasing demand for evidence of verified sustainability progress from clients, employees, owners, and supply chain partners, and a key focus of its long-term growth strategy.  The SBTi, recognised as a best practice in climate-related reporting and target-setting frameworks, aligns directly with climate science to establish emission reduction targets and actions required to limit the increase in global temperatures.  By joining SBTi, Sharp is committed to…

Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. has successfully completed the acquisition of Orchard Therapeutics. The acquisition of all outstanding shares of Orchard Therapeutics by way of a Scheme of Arrangement procedure under the UK Companies Act 2006 was completed on January 24, 2024, and Orchard Therapeutics has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kyowa Kirin. The integrated business will now increase its focus on meeting the needs of people living with devastating genetic and other severe diseases where the burden is immense and current treatment options are limited or do not exist. Orchard Therapeutics’ portfolio comprises Libmeldy (atidarsagene autotemcel), which is intended for the treatment of eligible patients with…

Science Card, the home of Britain’s first e-money current accounts dedicated to accelerating science and innovation, has announced the launch on its platform of a groundbreaking research project on neurodegenerative diseases, in collaboration with UCL’s Department of Mechanical Engineering. This project will be showcased for funding on Science Card’s platform, which – when it officially launches in early 2024 – will be the first to enable people in the UK to directly contribute to impactful scientific research through everyday spending. In the UK, over 1 million people are living with a neurodegenerative condition, which includes demyelinating diseases such as multiple…

Cognizant have announced an expanded agreement with Takeda a global biopharmaceutical company, to support the company’s digital transformation strategy by reinforcing and supporting its technology efforts. Together, Takeda and Cognizant will embark on a new project to attract additional technology talent and help Takeda further expand its Innovation Capability Centre operations.   “Cognizant’s support has complemented our continuous innovation and digital growth,” said Sanjay Patel, Takeda Global Head of DD&T Innovation Capability Solutions. “This continued relationship will enable Takeda to accelerate our digital transformation journey, modernise our operational model, and speed time to market.” Cognizant will help Takeda deliver digital capabilities as a service to the…

Synnovation Therapeutics, a precision medicine company developing small molecule therapies optimised to achieve best-in-class pharmacology against highly validated disease targets, launched with a $102 million Series A. The financing was led by Third Rock Ventures with participation from Nextech, Lilly Asia Ventures, Sirona Capital and Cormorant Asset Management. Synnovation was founded by a world-class medicinal chemistry team with a track record of developing best-in-class therapeutics. Proceeds will fund the advancement of the company’s clinical and preclinical pipeline, including SNV1521 and SNV4818, as well as additional programs. Synnovation’s pipeline is built around highly validated precision oncologic targets where greater potency, selectivity…

Cherwell, cleanroom microbiology solutions expert, has launched the Redipor Beta Bag to ensure the safe transfer of ready-to-use gamma-irradiated prepared media into sterile manufacturing environments. This new multiple-use product transfer bag can reduce risk, cost and time in environmental monitoring (EM) processes during continuous manufacturing of sterile medicinal products. Offered as a tailored solution, customers can specify the media, formulation and plate type contained within Redipor Beta Bags, depending on their sterile workflow needs. The new transfer bags are fully validated and compatible with 190mm Getinge Alpha Ports used in isolators and RABS, enabling contamination-free transfer of the Redipor plated media…

Genetic Design and Manufacturing Corporation (GDMC), a design and manufacturing organisation that focuses on next generation advanced genetic therapies, have announced a Series A funding of $21 million. The funding round is led by Celadon Partners, an Asia private equity firm focused on investments in industries ready to adopt transformative technology and new business models. The round also included premier investors such as WI Harper Group, a leading cross-border venture capital firm, and SEEDS Capital, the investment arm of government agency Enterprise Singapore, alongside global biotech venture capital firms like NSG Ventures. The funds will be used to accelerate novel technology…

Sheffield Hallam University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC) has unveiled the companies set to join the 2024 cohort for its Advanced Wellbeing Accelerator programme.   The prestigious six-month accelerator programme, which will support 10 start-ups and SMEs, was three times oversubscribed and saw a 30% increase in applications on the previous year, reflecting the strength of demand for early-stage R&D support amongst healthtech companies. The successful applicants include a Welsh company that has developed a patented cooling system to enable life saving vaccines to be transported efficiently, and a Chester-based tech company that has developed a bioanalytics engine capable of monitoring…

Virios Therapeutics, Inc have announced plans for advancing IMC-2 (combination of valacyclovir and celecoxib) as a treatment for the fatigue, orthostatic intolerance and other symptoms associated with long covid, also known as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (“PASC”). The Company is targeting the initiation of a Phase 2 program in the second half of 2024, with data expected in 2025. “We believe the profound unmet medical need associated with LC symptoms provides a unique and timely opportunity for Virios to advance our combination therapy, IMC-2,” said Greg Duncan, Chairman and CEO of Virios Therapeutics. “There are currently no FDA-approved LC treatments, thus…