Synovics Pharmaceuticals announces March 15 it has entered into a binding letter of intent for exclusive, worldwide rights to the development and commercialization of an OTC omeprazole. Contract processor Fluid Air will deliver the product to Phoenix-based Synovics' subsidiary Kirk Pharmaceuticals. Fluid Air's DuraGran technology will allow Synovics to avoid patent infringement, the firm says. Synovics, formerly known as Bionutrics, bought Kirk in July 2005 (1"The Tan Sheet," Aug. 1, 2005, In Brief). Synovics plans to submit an ANDA in the second half of 2007. Perrigo said in a February analyst call it expects to launch an omeprazole product in November 2008 (2"The Tan Sheet," Feb. 5, 2007, p. 5). Under a licensing agreement, Schering-Plough hopes to bring Santarus' immediate release omeprazole product Zegerid to the market as well (3"The Tan Sheet" Nov. 27, 2006, In Brief)...

While endocrine-disrupting evidence was inconclusive, the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety recommends more conservative limits on use of homosalate, octocrylene and benzophenone-3 in cosmetic products compared with current requirements under the European Cosmetics Product Regulation.

The risk of inadvertently growing SARS-CoV-2 virus in cell and gene therapies and possibly infecting patients and workers should be assessed and mitigated, the agency advises.