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industry news Merck KGaA to buy Sigma-Aldrich DARMSTADT, Germany—Seeking to boost its presence in the life-science industries, Merck KGaA agreed to ac - quire Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, for $17 billion. Sigma-Aldrich supplies organic and inorganic chemicals, bio- chemicals, lab ware, and related products. Merck is the world's oldest pharmaceuti- cal and chemical firm. It does business in the USA and Canada under the name of its life-science division EMD. FDA OKs combo tablet to treat obesity; Novo Nordisk treatment advances LA JOLLA, CA—The FDA ap proved Contrave extended-release tablets to curb food cravings in overweight and obese adults. The product, developed by Orex- igen Therapeutics, combines naltrexone, prescribed to treat alcohol and opioid dependence, and bupropion, prescribed to treat mood disorders and nicotine addiction. In related news, the FDA's endocrinology and metabolic drugs advi- sory committee voted 14 to 1 in favor of approving Novo Nordisk's weight-loss drug product, Saxenda (liraglutide 3-mil- ligram tablets), which mimics a hormone that induces satiety. Generics makers, IPEC-Americas urge FDA to improve IID, GDUFA HYATTSVILLE, MD—At a Sep tember hearing about the implementation of the Generic Drug User Fee Amendment (GDUFA), representatives from generic manufacturers and the International Phar- maceutical Ex cipients Council (IPEC- Americas) asked the FDA to update the Inactive Ingredients Database. The repre- sentatives also pointed to problems with GDUFA and the process for submitting abbreviated new drug applications. Survey gauges difficulty of swallowing pills PULLACH, Germany—A survey of more than 2,000 people shows that 50 percent of Americans and more than 60 percent of Germans report difficulty swal- lowing tablets and capsules. The study— commissioned by Hermes Pharma and conducted by Spiegel Institut Mann - heim—found that the most common dif- ficulties stemmed from pills that were too large, stuck in the throat, or had an unpleasant taste or odor. As a result, many patients crushed the tablets or did not take them. Hermes, which manufactures effervescent and chewable tablets, lozenges, and orally disintegrating gran- ules, published a summary of the results under the heading "Conventional tablets may no longer be the go-to solution." EastGate invests in self-nanoemulsifiers SALT LAKE CITY, UT—EastGate Acquisitions, which focuses on new meth ods of delivering known bio-phar- maceutical molecules, plans to broaden the delivery options of its self-nanoemul- sifiers. The platform can be used in a range of dosage forms, including com- pressed tablets. The company is in the midst of acquiring licensing rights to develop and manufacture an intraoral insulin formulation. Survey: Pharma MDs in UK favor clinical trial transparency LONDON, UK—The Faculty of Phar- maceutical Medicine's survey of 400 of its members shows that 95 percent of those polled favor registration of all clinical tri- als; 89 percent believe increased publica- tion of trial results will lead to improved healthcare; 69 percent support the retro- spective release of trial data. Briefly noted… The FDA approved Movantik (naloxegol) 12- and 25-milligram tablets to treat opi- oid-induced constipation in adults taking narcotic pain relievers. They were devel- oped by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, London, UK. The FDA approved Setlakin (levonor - gestrel oral/ethinylestradiol) 0.3-and 0.15-milligram tablets made by Novast Labs, Nantong, China, to prevent preg- nancy. Like wise, Opcicon One-Step (levonor gestrel 1.5-milligram tablet) from Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Mumbai, India, was approved as an oral contraceptive. Jardiance (empaglifloxcin) was approved as an adjunct therapy for type 2 diabetes. It is available in 10- and 25-milligram tablets and is made by Boehringer Ingel- heim, Ridgefield, CT, and Eli Lilly, Indi- anapolis, IN. 6 October 2014 Tablets & Capsules USA +1 973 467 8140 CAN +1 514 667 6777 UK +44 (0)1782 597540 BB-1243 SCREEN DISASSEMBLE RAPIDLY, AND SANITIZE MANUALLY OR IN AN AUTOCLAVE SMALL BATCH QUICK-CLEAN SIFTERS SCALP MATERIAL LOADED INTO PROCESS EQUIPMENT, CONTAINERS OR VESSELS PORTABLE BATCH SIFTERS BULK PHARMACEUTICALS AND NUTRACEUTICALS 5 SPECIALIZED WAYS SCALP OR DEDUST, THEN CLEAN OR STEAMINPLACE, OR DISASSEMBLE IN MINUTES C.I.P/S.I.P. VIBRATORY SCREENERS BATCH OR INLINE CENTRIFUGAL SCREENERS SLIDE INTERNALS FREELY FROM THE DISCHARGE END OF CANTILEVERED SHAFT FOR SANITIZING BAG DUMP VIBRATORY SCREENERS REMOVE BAG SCRAPS AND OTHER OVER SIZE MATERIALS DUSTFREE • Contamination-free • Sealed, dust-tight systems • Crevice-free designs • Highest sanitary standards • Virtually zero residual • Fast, thorough wash down • Capacities from grams to tons/h • Batch or continuous • Standard and highly custom designs