> Almac is doubling capacity with expansion of a non-GMP formulation development facility and two new analytical laboratories at its U.K. headquarters in Craigavon. Release
> Mitsubishi Chemical's $630 million deal to buy capsulemaker Qualicaps is now set to close in March. Item
> A government official is asking the U.K.'s National Health Service to buy more of the blood thinner Brilinta from AstraZeneca ($AZN) in hopes of saving manufacturing and other jobs at the London-based company. Story
> The FDA has issued a warning letter to St. Jude Medical ($STJ) over manufacturing problems at its Sylmar, CA, facility. Story
> The U.K.'s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is asking drugmakers to identify the source of their APIs to help the EU figure out which plants need to be inspected before a new law takes effect in July. Item
> Merck ($MRK) is pulling the plug on Tredaptive, its once-ambitious drug for raising good cholesterol, which the company acknowledged turned out to be generally ineffective and to have elevated health risks. Story
> Opposition from European antitrust regulators has led UPS to drop its bid for Holland-based logistics company TNT Express, whose services included its temperature-controlled drug logistics operation Pharmasafe. Story
And Finally... GlaxoSmithKline ($GSK) is being criticized for reportedly bumping its lag time for paying suppliers by another month, taking it to 95 days from 60 days. Story