Adventrx and Patheon have entered into a manufacturing agreement under which Patheon will formulate, fill, and finish ANX-188 drug product for use in clinical trials, including the Phase III study of ANX-188 that AdventRX plans to initiate this year. Read More

Advertisement: Ropack, provider of solid dose contract packaging services, celebrates its 35th anniversary by expanding its production campus to nearly 250,000 sq. ft. The fully licensed site adds 36,000 sq. ft. of validated ambient and cold storage warehousing as well as five new Class 100000 clean rooms – bringing Ropack's total clean rooms to 32 – to accommodate increasing customer needs.Contact: Paul Dupont, [email protected]  www.ropack.com

Bend Research and Catalent Pharma Solutions have agreed to provide services for pharmaceutical companies seeking to develop and manufacture specialized multiparticulate oral controlled-release products. Under the agreement, the companies will provide an integrated approach designed to bring complex controlled-release products to market faster and more efficiently with optimal therapeutic and release profiles. Read More

Merck Serono and Compugen, a therapeutic product-discovery company, has established Neviah Genomics, a start-up company focused on the discovery and development of novel biomarkers for the prediction of drug-induced toxicity. Neviah Genomics will be operating out of the Merck Serono Israel Bioincubator. Merck Serono Ventures will provide the initial funding for Neviah Genomics. Compugen will use certain proprietary predictive discovery technologies and receive an equity ownership in the new company and a right to royalties from potential future sales. Read More

The CRO Quintiles has agreed to establish a regional headquarters in Shanghai, to significantly expand laboratory-testing capabilities in China. Under a joint venture agreement, Quintiles will engage Shanghai Clinical Research Center to provide laboratory-testing services to local customers. To provide the infrastructure essential for its growth strategy in China, Quintiles is investing $14 million to establish a new 4000-m² (43,000 ft²) headquarters in Shanghai to serve China and nearby Asian countries. Read More

Advertisement: Get a Working Knowledge of All Aspects for Effective Packaging Attend CfPA’s training course July 26-27 for an intensive look at how all types of packaging are developed, manufactured, tested, filled, transported, stored and used. Emphasis placed on the characteristics of packaging materials which can influence the packed product; protection, compatibility, safety, compliance, design, performance on the filling and closing lines, distribution, marketing and use. Read More

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

Advertisement: Come to the BIO International Convention, June 18-21, 2012, Boston, Mass., for the connections, partnerships and innovations to get business done. Join 15,000+ biotech leaders for a BIO Program offering perspectives on issues and a BIO Exhibition with 1,800+ companies showcasing the latest technologies and services. BIO One-on-One Partnering™ makes it easy to set up face-to-face meetings in the BIO Business Forum and the BIO Exhibition. http://convention.bio.org