> Puerto Rican packager Rexam, the Pfizer contractor involved in the recent Lipitor recall, says it has traced the musty odor in bottles to wooden shipping pallets and transportation vessels, a problem "not directly related to Rexam, but that appears to be inherent in the supply chain." Article
> The FDA's Internet Pharmacy Task Force has sent an email warning letter to Rx-promotion for supplying "unapproved and misbranded drugs" via 294 Internet sites. Warning Letter
> Cargo thieves in Dandridge, TN, made off with 480 cases of the Mead Johnson infant formula Enfamil Gentlease Lipil powder and 1,600 cases of Enfamil Premium powder. Item
> Merck has unveiled a directly compressible magnesium salt excipient that eliminates need for binders in tablet production. Item
> Two Montana companies--Risingsun Health and The Center for Complementary and Alternative Health--have agreed via consent decree with the FDA to stop making and selling unapproved topical salves, oils and capsules for skin cancer and other serious diseases. FDA release
> Cardinal Health has expanded its ability to integrate its pharmaceutical distribution services with hospitals' pharmacy technologies and processes for medication dispensing and plans to integrate its services based on each hospital's technology preference. Item
> GlaxoSmithKline Nigeria PLC has upgraded its manufacturing plant to "accelerate Nigeria's leadership role" in African drug manufacturing, and hopes to partner with government "to fast-track truly world-class products and rid Nigeria of fakes." Article
> PharmaSecure has signed up the first customer for its text-message-based drug authentication system in India. Article
> UK-based Intelsius has launched version 1.4 of its ATMOS thermal modeling software, calculates thermal performance of a temperature-controlled packaging system prior to formal performance qualification. Release
> Andre Walker, director for manufacturing engineering and facilities at Biogen Idec in Denmark, has been named chairman of the ISPE board. Release