The year that was

Dr Reddy's buys German major betapharm

Dr Reddy's Laboratories has acquired the fourth-largest German generic drug maker betapharm for 480 million Euros (approximately Rs 2,550 crore). It has signed a definitive agreement with 3i, the private equity house that controls betapharm to acquire 100 percent equity of the German drug major. Dr Reddy's said that the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to close in the first week of March 2006.

Dr Reddy's forms Perlecan Pharma

Dr Reddy's Laboratories announced the formation of India's first integrated drug development company, Perlecan Pharma with equity capital commitment of $52.5 million from Dr Reddy's and from venture capital investors, Citigroup Ventures and ICICI Ventures. Perlecan Pharma's early priorities will be to advance the clinical development of NCE assets received from Dr Reddy's through Phase II and thereafter seek out-licensing, co-development or joint commercialisation opportunities.

Zydus and Bharat Serums set up JVC

Zydus Cadila and Bharat Serums and Vaccines have signed an agreement to set up a 50:50 joint venture company. The joint venture company will develop, manufacture and market a non-infringing and proprietary Novel Drug Delivery System of an approved anti-cancer product, for the global market. The Drug Controller General of India has approved the product for commercialisation in India.

Glenmark makes its mark in the US

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, USA, the wholly owned subsidiary of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, India (GPI), signed a supply and marketing agreement with Lehigh Valley Technologies for the manufacturing and marketing of two liquid generic pharmaceutical products for the US market. In accordance to the agreement, LVT will manufacture and supply the products to GPI, which will market them under the Glenmark label. Glenmark expects to launch these products over a three-month period starting August 2006.

Metal traces in ayurvedic medicines

Much to the dismay of the practitioners of the traditional Ayurvedic system of medicine, safety concerns have been raised on Ayurvedic drugs. A report published in JAMA claimed that the heavy metal content in Ayurvedic drugs exceeds safety levels and henceforth might prove detrimental to a patient's health. The exports of this class of medicine have been affected following this development. Ayurvedic products will now have to sport labels on the presence of heavy metals like lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and mercury and information on the therapeutic application of these products. The mandatory labelling norm for ayurvedic exports had been prompted by the adverse reports on ayurvedic products from markets such as Canada, the US, parts of Europe, and Singapore. These markets had raised concerns over the toxicity that can be caused by the presence of heavy metals.

However, a number of practitioners of Ayurveda contradict the report. They maintain that Western systems and methods of assesment cannot be employed to estimate Ayurevedic products. In addition, they say that the form in which heavy metals exist in these drugs do not cause toxicity. Nevertheless, this controversy has increased examination and quality checks in Ayurvedic drugs.

Name of medicine in Hindi

The Drugs Controller General of India has forwarded a proposal to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India, to print information such as brand name, manufacturing date, expiry date, MRP, in Hindi, in addition to English on medicine labels. They have deliberated on this issue and informed the Ministry that it would be possible for them in the interest of the patients, to print the name of the product in Hindi. They have, nonetheless, made it very clear that printing of MRP, manufacturing and expiry date, in Hindi would not be possible due to paucity of space.

Ranbaxy in pact with Gilead

Ranbaxy Laboratories entered into a licensing agreement with Gilead Sciences covering manufacturing and marketing of API and formulations containing Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF). While the API will be made available to other Gilead licensees in India, TDF formulations can be marketed in 95 developing countries including India. Both API and formulations will be manufactured at Ranbaxy's manufacturing facilities in India. The license allows for technology transfer from Gilead to Ranbaxy.

Ranbaxy launches Volix

Ranbaxy announced the launch of its branded product Volix (Voglibose), for the treatment of diabetes. The product, a novel Alpha-Glucosidase inhibitor introduced for the first time in India, will be available in dosages of 0.2 mg and 0.3 mg tablets. Voglibose is indicated for improvement of post-prandial hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus. The evasion of high post-prandial (aftermeals) blood glucose level is one of the main advantages of the drug.

Ranbaxy acquires Terapia

Ranbaxy and Terapia of Romania signed a definitive agreement providing for the acquisition of Terapia by Ranbaxy. Ranbaxy acquires 96.7 percent of Terapia from Advent International for $324 million. The transaction is funded from the proceeds of Ranbaxy's recent FCCB issue and its completion is expected by the second quarter of 2006.

People movement

Ranbaxy's Board of Directors promoted Dr Brian Tempest to Chief Mentor and Executive Vice-Chairman of the Board. Simultaneously, Malvinder Mohan Singh, President Pharmaceuticals and Executive Director, succeeded Brian Tempest as CEO and Managing Director of the company.

Dr Swati Piramal, was conferred the Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite (Knight of the Order of Merit) by the French Government for her contribution towards the development of Indo-French relations in medicine and trade, Hasit Joshipura, previously President and Executive Director of the pharma business at Johnson & Johnson, Mumbai, joined GSK as Vice-President and GM designate.

Viagra now available in India

Pfizer announced the launch of Viagra (sildenafil citrate), their breakthrough treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED), in the Indian market. With one tablet being sold every six seconds worldwide, Viagra is a blockbuster and a globally recognised drug that has treated more than 27 million men with erectile dysfunction.

NPIL to buy stake in Boots Piramal

NPIL announced its acquisition of the balance equity stake in Boots Piramal Healthcare, a 49:51 JV between NPIL and Alliance Boots. NPIL has acquired the balance 51 percent equity stake, which was held earlier by The Boots Company, a subsidiary of Alliance Boots. Also, as a part of this arrangement, Nicholas Piramal has received a one-time sum of Rs 178 million.

Mylan buys stake in Matrix

Mylan has acquired up to 71.5 percent of Matrix shares outstanding for Rs 306 per share. Under the terms of the transaction, Mylan will purchase 51.5 percent of Matrix's shares outstanding pursuant to an agreement with certain selling shareholders. Additionally, it will make an open offer to Matrix's remaining shareholders to acquire up to an additional 20 percent of Matrix's shares outstanding.

Wockhardt launches Hepatitis vaccine

Wockhardt has launched a new generation Hepatitis A vaccine under the brand name of Biovac A, in collaboration with Zhejiang Vaccine. The international vaccine Zhepu, was first developed by Dr Mao, the main inventor of the vaccine in the year 1987 and introduced in China in 1992. Till date over 120 million people have been administered the vaccine successfully in China.