Catalent's ($CTLT) site in Kakegawa, Japan, has been doing drug manufacturing and development for more than four decades, but never has produced clinical trial supplies. That is slated to change later this year. The Somerset, NJ-based company said it has already begun construction at the 200,000-square-foot facility that it expects to be complete in Q2. When open, it will allow Catalent to handle project management and clinical supply management, comparator sourcing, secondary packaging and labeling, clinical storage, distribution, and drug return and destruction. Release
> Minneapolis-based Biovest International will spin off its automated single-use perfusion bioreactor systems and custom mammalian cell and protein manufacturing services into a wholly owned subsidiary called "Cell Culture Company, LLC." Release
> The FDA is warning consumers not to use Licorice Coughing Liquid, a cough syrup product manufactured by Ma Ying Long Pharmaceutical Group in China and distributed in the U.S. by Master Herbs, saying it contains unidentified morphine. Alert
> A $15.7 million grant from the Atlanta-based Marcus Foundation, has helped launch the Marcus Center for Therapeutic Cell Characterization and Manufacturing (MC3M) at the Georgia Institute of Technology which will work to develop standardized production and quality testing for the manufacturing of cells for biologics. Story
> CMO PaizaBio has partnered with Complya Asia to offer a formal technical education program in Hangzhou, China, in cGMP manufacturing of sterile injectable drugs. Release
> Specialty chemicals company Clariant has started on a £6.5 million packaging plant in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, to manufacture moisture-control products for the generic pharmaceutical industry in India. Report