Reliance Power Limited, the flagship company of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG), plans to invest about Rs 2,500-3,000 crore (Rs 25-30 billion) over a period of three years, to develop three coal mines to fuel its Sasan Ultra Mega Power Project in Madhya Pradesh. Reliance Power currently has access to coal reserves of about one billion tonnes in India and abroad, including a coal mine in Indonesia, which it acquired recently.
The US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has asked Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories, the US subsidiary of Mumbai-based Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries, to withdraw many batches of its generic Metformin Hydrochloride tablets used for treating diabetes, citing efficacy and quality issues. According to a USFDA Class II withdrawal announced on March 19, Caraco will have to withdraw seven lots of Metformin Hydrochloride in bottles of 100, 500 and 1000 tablets each.
German luxury carmaker BMW is evaluating over 100 component manufacturers in India to outsource engines and chassis for its global manufacturing operations, according to a board member. "We are impressed with the quality of die casts and forgings in India that we use for our global operations. The quality of products from second- and third-tier is impressive," said Ind Herbert Diess, who is on the BMW AG board.
The next time you buy a shirt or trouser that claims to be stain- and wrinkle-free, thank nanotechnology for it. The Indian government has allocated Rs 1,500 crore (Rs 15 billion) for the development of nanotechnology which involves studying and working with matter on an ultra-small scale. The nanotech market globally is expected to cross $1 trillion by 2010. In India, the maximum research in nanotechnology is taking place in the biotechnology and medicine segments.
Analysts feel this decision is yet another example of big-ticket acquisitions turning sour for Indian pharma firms, as happened in the case of Dr Reddy's acquisition of Betapharm of Germany for Rs 2,250 crore (Rs 22.5 billion).
Mumbai-based Sun Pharmaceuticals has filed a post-grant opposition with the Mumbai patent office against a product patent granted to the extended release version of Johnson and Johnson's (J&J) blockbuster drug Risperdal, used in the treatment of psychological disorders and schizophrenia.
"The compact petrol 1.2 litre car will be configured to international markets and will not compete with the small cars available in India. Depending on market conditions, we will import the hybrid version from Japan later," M Takedagawa, president and CEO, said on Monday.
Sun Pharma has increased its stake in Israel's Taro by buying 9.5% more, raising its total holding to 34.4 per cent.
Last week, US aircraft manufacturer Boeing signed an agreement with Tata Automobile Limited Manufacturing Solutions, a wholly-owned Tata Motors subsidiary, for manufacturing structural components for Boeing's 787 Dreamliner airplane programme.
The initiative will include special training for Customs and drug regulatory officials to identify spurious drugs, their origin, distribution chain and follow-up action to raid premises and book culprits, in coordination with regulatory and police officials of various countries.
Pharma majors are collaborating with foreign companies to develop newer drugs.
Say lower duties could enhance demand.
More than half of the small-scale pharmaceutical units operational in India have either closed down or indefinitely suspended business activities in the last two years, having being struck by un-favourable government policies and the inability to compete with big companies in the changing business environment.
Call it the "Nano effect" but less than a month after Tata Motors displayed its competitively-priced small car at the Delhi auto show, prices in the 1.3-million used-car market crashed 15 to 30 per cent, if not more.
Tata Chemicals has undertaken experiments with biofuel. If these efforts are successful, the company will take up large scale manufacturing of biofuel at its Nanded plant.
Suzlon Energy is relocating its management team to Amsterdam to span their global business.
According to sources, the company will invest $350-400 million in the proposed plant. This will be the first foray by an Indian company for manufacturing cement in West Asia which was so far viewed as an export market.
Multinational drug manufacturers such as Pfizer and DSM are increasingly getting into contract manufacturing alliances with emerging bulk drug makers in the country, bypassing established players such as Ranbaxy and Dr Reddy's.
Oil India chief reveals plans of the upcoming IPO and future investment strategies.
Cipla tops pharma rankings with 5.42% market share, ahead of Ranbaxy and GSK.
