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Cadila
appeals against stay on using Penegra brand name
New Delhi: Cadila Healthcare Ltd, pinched by the Courts interim
order stopping the marketing of Penegra appealed against the order
passed by the Court on a petition filed by Pfizer Inc, the producers
of anti-impotency drug Viagra. Penegra has a market share of Rs
80 lakh per month.
A division bench comprising justice Manmohan Sarin and justice J
D Kapoor, issued notice to Pfizer on hearing the appeal. The bench
asked Pfizer’s reply within four days time and scheduled the
next hearing for June 27.
While pleading for vacation of the interim order, Cadila’s
counsel Kapil Sibal and Rajiv Nayar said that the US major would
be unaffected by the product as Viagra was not marketed in India.
Stating that Cadila has been manufacturing the drug under the brand
name Penegra since January this year and no action was taken by
the foreign company till now, Sibal said, ‘‘The ex-parte
injunction against Cadila would affect its business, which is at
the tune of Rs 80 lakh per month.’’
Cadila also contended that since the anti-impotency drug was scheduled
drug sold by the chemists under the prescription, there was no chance
of confusion or deception as alleged by the pharma giant.
Pfizer’s counsel Chander M Lall opposed the Indian company’s
appeal saying the court has already fixed July 10 for hearing the
petition of Pfizer.Aurobindo Pharma launches AIDS unit
Kolkata/ Mumbai: Aurobindo Pharma has launched IMUNUS Aurobindo,
an exclusive division to fight HIV/AIDS.
Announcing the launch of the division in Kolkata recently, Rajesh
Patel, company’s zonal sales manager said AIDS related products
in the three groups known as NRTI, NNRI and PI will be offered.
According to Patel, Aurobindo Pharma, which till now has supplied
bulk drugs in the HIV/AIDS related segment, is for the first time
marketing formulations such as Zidovex (Zidovudine), Lamivox (Lamivudine),
Zidovex-L (Zidovudine 300 mg + Lamivudine 150 mg), Nevirex (Nevirapine),
Stavex (Stavudine) and Indivex (Indinavir).
‘‘Together
with these molecules, we have another six available worldwide, in
the pipeline by September this year,’’ Patel said.
He added that the combination of the triple-drug therapy for HIV/AIDS
will be made available by Aurobindo at a monthly cost of Rs 3,468.
The company will also start a ‘‘Helpline’’ soon
to make the medicines ‘‘accessible and affordable’’.
On the occasion S Hariharan, vice president Aurobindo Pharma said
that the major limitation in the HIV treatment in our country is
fewer drug options for the clinicians and exorbitant cost of therapy/
diagnostics.
According to him with the backing of global standard R&D and
manufacturing facilities of Aurobindo Pharma, IMUNUS would be able
to offer wider product options at sensible prices for the benefit
of patients. The prices of IMUNUS brands are atleast 15-20 per cent
economical than existing antiretroviral drugs available.
Infar to sell off diagnostic division
to bioMeriuex
Kolkata: Pharma major Infar (India) Limited has decided to
sell-off its diagnostic division to bioMeriuex India Private Limited,
the Indian subsidiary of French company bioMeriuex SA.
The move follows the parent company-Netherlands based Akzo Nobel’s
decision to divest its diagnostic division world-wide to bioMeriuex
SA of France. Akzo Nobel recently entered into a deal with bioMeriuex
SA for sale and transfer of its diagnostic division spread world-wide
to the latter.
The sale, however, will be subject to the necessary approvals, the
company said in a notice to the Bourses.
PTI & EPP News Bureau
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