How pharmaceutical companies should plan to catch up after the pandemic and explain what happened to inspectors. It is important to start planning for post-COVID-19 recovery even as the pandemic continues to impact pharmaceutical manufacturing operations, an expert panel told Food and Drug Law Institute members during a 19 May webinar. Manufacturers should set priorities in advance so they can attack the most important backlogged activities first. They also should approach recovery with the right mindset: the need to act…

Swiss biomanufacturing had a “resurgence” in 2019 according to an industry group which cited plant investments by drug firms and CDMOs as growth drivers. The Swiss Biotech Association – which represents biopharmaceutical companies, biotech and the services sector – made the comments in a recently published report. It wrote that, “Switzerland’s manufacturing prowess has experienced a revival in 2019, following years of “exporting” manufacturing capabilities aboard.” The organization highlighted Biogen’s decision to invest CHF 1 billion ($1 billion) in a…

Takeda says it is looking to partner to enter the COVID-19 vaccine race but warns industry of the difficulties of developing and manufacturing such products. Industry’s response to the coronavirus pandemic has been unprecedented. According to data provided by Pharma Intelligence, there are – as of Friday 15 May – 116 vaccines in development against COVID-19, nine of which are being trialed in humans. But while pharma giant Takeda has welcomed the surge in COVID-19 programs, CEO Christophe Weber has…

Academics developing gene therapies often struggle to source vectors say the MRC and Lifearc, which plan to set up UK viral vector production network. The Medical Research Council (MRC) – a non-departmental government agency – and Lifearc – a research charity – announced plans for the network and a £16 million ($20 million) fund for the project on May 4. The idea is to provide grants UK-based research organizations can use to expand vector suites or repurposed facilities to make…

Biopharmaceutical manufacturing is weathering COVID-19 relatively unscathed thanks to multi-sourcing strategies and newly available transport capacity. The coronavirus pandemic and the social distancing measures used to slow the spread of the virus have seen biopharmaceutical companies suspend trials and revise financial forecasts. Manufacturing, in contrast, appears to have suffered less impact judging by recent comments by leading manufacturers. For example, last week Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla told analysts the firms manufacturing sites and related distribution channels operational are operating “without…