Morepen files atorvastatin patent in 33 countries
Morepen Laboratories Limited has filed patent for new polymorphic form VI of atorvastatin calcium, a cholesterol-lowering drug, in 33 countries including US, Canada and other European countries.

Strides in pact with Mayne for anti-infective
Strides Arcolab Ltd, a leading developer and manufacturer of pharmaceuticals for the export market, entered into a strategic tie-up with Mayne Pharma of Australia to develop and produce six anti-infective drugs for the US and European markets.

Indian sumo rat may hold key to anti-obesity drug
The world’s fattest rats at the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) here — that are believed to contain hitherto undiscovered obesity genes — are the focus of a new joint project for scientists from india and the US.

New Indian IPR regime to bug global generics industry
“Every time a new drugs enters the market, it is a wait of long 20 years before you could get access to it,” said William Haddad, father of US generics & generic biotech industries. “I am damn angry,” he said while talking at a press conference on the impact of Patent Amendment Ordinance 2004 in Delhi organised by Indian Drug Manufacturers Association.

Clinical trials move cheers drug firms
The Centre’s notification amending Schedule Y of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act is expected to open floodgates for multinational drug companies to tap India’s large resources for clinical trials. The schedule refers to clinical trials in India.

Kerala submits patent data on 966 herbs
Kerala has furnished a defensive patenting database on 966 Ayurveda herbs to Centre’s WTO desk. The data was dove-tailed in tune with the norms of the Geographical Indicator Act, according to chief minister Oommen Chandy.

India begins clinical trial of AIDS vaccine
India began its first human clinical trial of an investigational vaccine designed to prevent sHIV-AIDS, Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said here.