Pharmaceutical Technology Editors

Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States, and Veeva Systems, a provider of cloud systems for the life sciences industry, announced a ten-year strategic partnership agreement on Nov. 1, 2022. Under the agreement, which builds on an existing 12-year partnership between the two companies, Merck will take a “Veeva-first approach” to new industry-specific software and data. Veeva will provide Merck with a strategic pricing approach and allow Merck input into their product roadmap.

“I am excited to see our partnership with Merck evolve to this strategic level,” said Peter Gassner, CEO, Veeva, in a company press release. “Our teams share a common passion for the industry and an understanding of strategic partnership. I look forward to seeing what we create together over the coming years.”

“Transforming our digital, data, and analytics capabilities is integral to enabling our global colleagues to deliver on our purpose of using the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world,” said Robert M. Davis, CEO and president, Merck, in the release. “Our strategic partnership with Veeva expands our capacity to leverage innovative technology and enhances our ability to deliver value to patients and all our stakeholders—this is key to how we measure success.”

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Under this deal, Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, will select Veeva products for industry-specific software and data.

Merck and Veeva Ink 10-Year Partnership Agreement

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) announced on Nov. 1, 2022 that they are acquiring Abiomed, a US-based medical technology provider specializing in circulatory support and oxygenation, for approximately $16.6 billion. The transaction is expected to close prior to the end of the first quarter of 2023.

Under the transaction, shareholders will be given $380.00 per share in cash, along with one non-tradable contingent value right that entitles them to up to an additional $35.00 per share in cash if certain clinical and commercial milestones are achieved.

According to a company press release, this transaction is designed to broaden J&J’s position in the medical technology field, especially as it concerns cardiovascular care. Abiomed is the owner of the Impella heart pump platform, a breakthrough technology with exclusive FDA approvals for patients with severe coronary artery disease requiring high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention, treatment of acute myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock, or right-heart failure. In addition to the right to Impella, J&J will acquire Abiomed’s pipeline of upcoming therapies.

“The addition of Abiomed is an important step in the execution of our strategic priorities and our vision for the new Johnson & Johnson focused on Pharmaceutical and MedTech,” said Joaquin Duato, CEO, Johnson & Johnson, in the release. “We have committed to enhancing our position in MedTech by entering high-growth segments. The addition of Abiomed provides a strategic platform to advance breakthrough treatments in cardiovascular disease and helps more patients around the world while driving value for our shareholders.”

“We are pleased to have reached an agreement that reflects the remarkable value Abiomed created with our revolutionary Impella heart pump platform and promising pipeline,” said Michael R. Minogue, chairman, president, and CEO, Abiomed, in the release. “This transaction partners us with an organization that shares our patients-first mindset and creates immediate value for our patients, customers, employees, and shareholders. It will enable us to leverage Johnson & Johnson’s global scale, commercial strength, and clinical expertise to accelerate our mission of making heart recovery the global standard of care.”

Johnson & Johnson’s acquisition of Abiomed, a provider of heart pump technologies, is designed to bolster their position in the medical technology sector.

J&J to Acquire Abiomed for $16.6 Billion

Steriline, a European manufacturer of complete lines for the aseptic processing of injectable products, announced on Nov. 1, 2022, that it will be showcasing a vial filling and capping machine (VFCM100) under double-wall isolator at CPHI 2022 being held in Frankfurt, Germany, on Nov. 1–3, 2022. The VFCM100 under double-wall isolator is a solution developed to increase contract development manufacturing organization (CDMO) production capacity for COVID-19 vaccines.

The machine can reach a production capacity of 6000 pieces/hour, according to a company press release. It was developed for injectable drugs and is equipped with four peristaltic pumps, allowing for potentially an infinite filling capacity and a 100% check-weighing. The machine can handle glass vials from 2 mL to 100 mL, and, with an easy format change, can also handle plastic vials.

Meanwhile, the double-wall isolator guarantees sterility throughout the whole aseptic filling process, protecting not only personnel from contact with the product but also minimizing the risk of product contamination. Once vials are capped, they are moved via conveyor belt into a printer where every cap is marked with the relative batch details for tracking purposes. An added benefit of the machine are its space-saving sizes, which comfortably fit in the available processing area, according to the press release.

Although an increase in demand for these types of machines has been seen in Europe and other continents, this increase in demand was not due only to COVID-19 vaccines but also to the manufacture of other drugs. As a result, several companies have expressed plans to convert the VFCM100 under double-wall isolator to the production of other products, such as biotech drugs, over the course of the next few years, according to Federico Fumagalli, chief commercial officer, Steriline, in the press release.

Steriline will be exhibiting its vial filling and capping machine (VFCM100) under double-wall isolator for aseptic filling at CPHI 2022 in Frankfurt, Germany, on Nov. 1–3, 2022.

Steriline Showcases Filling Equipment at CPHI 2022

Winners of the 2022 CPHI Excellence in Pharma Awards were revealed on Nov. 1, 2022 at an awards ceremony that took place on the first evening of the in-person event being held in Frankfurt, Germany.

The awards categories and winners are listed as follows:

 for its novel synthesis of sodium dependent glucose co-transporters (SGLT2) used to treat diabetes

Excellence in Pharma: Finished Formulation—

 for its development of a subcutaneous buprenorphine (BPN) implant, Sixmo, to treat opioid dependence

Excellence in Pharma: Manufacturing Technology and Equipment—

 for its JPOD, an automated current good manufacturing practice facility

Excellence in Pharma: Pharmaceutical Packaging and Drug Delivery—

 for its polymeric nucleic acid delivery systems

Excellence in Pharma: Supply Chain, Logistics, and Distribution—

 for the Intelligent Asset Tracking Management (IATM) Consignment Inventory Management system for medical devices, consumables, surgical items, and kits.

Excellence in Pharma: Regulatory Procedures and Compliance—

 for its Capsugel titanium dioxide-free white gelatin capsule

Excellence in Pharma: Digital Innovation—

 for its blockchain-based vein-to-vein tracking platform for advanced therapies, Haatali

 for Inda-MP, a specialized facility focused on recovering precious metals from liquid waste streams

Excellence in Pharma: Innovation in Response to COVID-19—

 for its development of the SPIKEVAX messenger RNA-based vaccine.

“On behalf of CPHI, I’d like to extend a huge congratulations to all of this year’s winners. The 2022 awards recognize a truly diverse, innovative array of entries which showcase the very best of our industry,” said Tara Dougal, content director—Pharma at Informa Markets, in a Nov. 1, 2022 press release. “I’d also like to thank everyone who submitted an entry this year, all members of our jury for their time and expertise in assessing the 180+ entries received, and everyone who joined us to celebrate in Frankfurt.”

The winners of the 2022 CPHI Excellence in Pharma Awards were announced on Nov. 1, 2022 at an awards ceremony in Frankfurt, Germany.

CPHI 2022 Award Winners Announced

ROSS VersaMix Multi-Shaft Mixers are designed for processing medium-to-high viscosity applications up to several hundred thousand centipoise; this includes thick slurries, pastes, gels, and suspensions. Pictured are the 3000-gallon VersaMix Model VM-3000 equipped with a custom combination of three agitators, each driven by a 60 HP TEFC inverter-duty motor. The three-wing anchor and two screw augers are independently controlled with variable speeds for efficient batch turnover at every ingredient addition and mixing stage.

These vacuum-rated VMC-3000’s are operated from an independent touchscreen control panel. The mixers also feature stainless-steel type 304 dimpled, dual-zone jackets, which are designed for 100 psig at 200°F. VersaMix models range from laboratory- to large-scale capacities of up to 4000 gallons.

The ROSS VersaMix Multi-Shaft Mixers are designed for processing medium-to-high viscosity applications up to several hundred thousand centipoise. 

3000-Gallon  Multi-Shaft Mixers

Freudenberg Medical’s HeliFlex is a high purity thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) tubing that is intended for biopharmaceutical fluid transfer applications. To ensure compatibility with various bioprocessing applications, it can be heat-sealed to allow for easy, fast, and safe fluid transport and transfer.

The tubing is offered with various sterilization options, including autoclave, gamma irradiation, x-ray, and e-beam. It is weldable, sealable, translucent, and can be used in peristaltic pumping applications. Additionally, unlike silicone, which is typically used for single-use fluid transfer applications, TPE is recyclable.

HeliFlex from Freudenberg Medical is a high purity TPE designed for biopharmaceutical fluid transfer applications. 