Joe C Mathew &Amp; P B Jayakumar

Stories by Joe C Mathew &Amp; P B Jayakumar

Ranbaxy deal may spur hostile bids in India

Ranbaxy deal may spur hostile bids in India

Rediff.com   12 Jun 2008

Aurobindo pharma, cipla, orchid chemicals are the prominent takeover targets.

Patent offices come under lens

Patent offices come under lens

Rediff.com   9 Jun 2008

The medicines include tuberculosis drug moxifloxacin, antipsychotic olanzapine and valgancicloivir, a medicine often needed for HIV/AIDS patients. The groups allege that none of these drugs qualified the criteria specified under the Indian Patents Act and were given patent protection because the patent examiners overlooked the legal safeguards meant to avoid grant of patents to known substances or their mere improvements.

NPPA revises prices of 440 medicines

NPPA revises prices of 440 medicines

Rediff.com   7 Jun 2008

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority has revised prices of 440 medicines. Around 300 medicines have seen price cuts, while the others have seen a hike, sources said. The extent of the revisions is not known as yet.

Unwell? Get counselling before treatment

Unwell? Get counselling before treatment

Rediff.com   6 Jun 2008

Health experts point out that it will take decades for India to reach the level of health education and infrastructure in developed countries. Our per capita health expenditure is estimated at $23, which is only 6.1 per cent of the gross domestic production.

Counterfeit definition worrys pharmas

Counterfeit definition worrys pharmas

Rediff.com   21 May 2008

The domestic drug industry is concerned over ongoing World Health Organisation negotiations that aim to bring non-health issues, having no direct implications on the safety of a drug, within the ambit of the definition of "counterfeit medicine".

Wanbury eyes contract research firms in US

Wanbury eyes contract research firms in US

Rediff.com   16 May 2008

"We are looking at targets with a bottom line of Rs 50-60 crore (Rs 500-600 million) to expand our CRAMS business in various markets," said Ashok Shinkar, director, Wanbury. The company plans to increase its turnover to over Rs 900 crore (Rs 9 billion) within the next three years.

Pharmaceutical firms opt for inlicensing

Pharmaceutical firms opt for inlicensing

Rediff.com   15 May 2008

According to analysts, Indian drug makers are forging alliances with overseas companies such as CD Pharma, Gnosis SpA, Crawford Healthcare and Syrio Pharma to sell drugs for chronic and acute cases. According to analysts, Indian drug makers are forging alliances with overseas companies such as CD Pharma, Gnosis SpA, Crawford Healthcare and Syrio Pharma to sell drugs for chronic and acute cases.

Novartis' Voveran regains top position

Novartis' Voveran regains top position

Rediff.com   5 May 2008

Voveran, Novartis India's flagship pain killer medicine, has become the largest selling domestic drug with sales of more than Rs 11 crore (Rs 110 million) in March 2008, displacing Pfizer India's cough and cold syrup Corex, which had sales of Rs 10 crore (Rs 100 million). Cipla, on the other hand, maintained its leadership position as the largest domestic pharmaceutical company edging out Ranbaxy Laboratories with a market share of 5.24 per cent.

Beijing, Milan, Paris on Jet radar

Beijing, Milan, Paris on Jet radar

Rediff.com   28 Apr 2008

Jet Airways is all set to spread its wings to Beijing, Milan and Paris within a year. The airline currently flies to London it is the market leader on this route with a robust share of 33 per cent and Brussels, which is also its second hub after Mumbai. Jet will be operating flights to Dubai from New Delhi and Mumbai. Taking on Air India's other strategic market, Goyal also announced the date for the launch of the airline's Mumbai-Shanghai-San Francisco flight.

Bad times for pharmacy chains in India

Bad times for pharmacy chains in India

Rediff.com   28 Apr 2008

Even as a heated debate goes on in the corridors of power and academic circles on the impact of large retail chains on small shops, in one sector it is clear that the big players are close to biting dust. At least two large pharmacy chains are up for sale, industry sources said. Some others have shaken up their top management, while a few have cut back on their expansions. One is trying to rediscover its business model by looking at rural markets. And all are woefully short o

What Dabur promoters plan to do

What Dabur promoters plan to do

Rediff.com   25 Apr 2008

In a move to focus on its core FMCG strength, the Burman family, promoters of Dabur India, last week announced their exit from the pharma business.

R-Power's Butibori project to begin soon

R-Power's Butibori project to begin soon

Rediff.com   24 Apr 2008

The 300 mw Group Captive Power Project (GCPP) being set up by Vidarbha Industries Power (VIPL), a special purpose vehicle (SPV) formed by Reliance Power, at Butibori near Nagpur in Maharashtra, will soon enter the construction phase. Sources said the required land has been acquired and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has given the green signal for setting up the project. Reliance Power will soon award the EPC contract for the Rs 1500 crore project.

'Ranbaxy will gain from Orchid's R&D'

'Ranbaxy will gain from Orchid's R&D'

Rediff.com   23 Apr 2008

Ranbaxy Laboratories on Tuesday announced a business alliance with Orchid Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals across multiple geographies and therapies, for finished dosage formulations and bulk drugs. The new alliance will explore new products and markets without disturbing the existing alliances. The deal is independent of any commitment related to management control and is a pure arm's length, independent strategic biz alliance. Ranbaxy will benefit from Orchid's future products

Tatas to set up ayurveda centre

Tatas to set up ayurveda centre

Rediff.com   21 Apr 2008

In a move to catapult ayurveda to the main stream of healthcare in the country, the Tata Group is setting up the Indian Institute of Ayurveda Integrated Medicine in Bangalore. The institute will function in association with the Department of Science and Technology, and the Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions, a Bangalore-based NGO that supports traditional healing methods.

New pricing plan has drug cos in a tizzy

New pricing plan has drug cos in a tizzy

Rediff.com   19 Apr 2008

A government committee is looking at going beyond mere economic considerations and recommend an essentiality-linked pricing structure, it is learnt.

GoM to finalise pharma policy soon

GoM to finalise pharma policy soon

Rediff.com   18 Apr 2008

A group of ministers (GoM) headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar is scheduled to meet on April 30 to finalise its recommendations for a policy that would attempt to balance the interests of the common man and the industry. The GoM is also expected to give recommendations on the regulation of trade margins on all medicines, public procurement of drugs, price negotiation of patented drugs and medical devices, in addition to the legislation of new Acts.

Reliance ropes in E&Y for Sasan upgrade

Reliance ropes in E&Y for Sasan upgrade

Rediff.com   17 Apr 2008

Anil Ambani-promoted Reliance Power (R-Power) has roped in international consultancy firm Ernst & Young (E&Y) to upgrade its Sasan ultra-mega power project (UMPP) in Madhya Pradesh to conform to the norms for receiving carbon credits.

Dr Reddy's, Strides exposed to raiders?

Dr Reddy's, Strides exposed to raiders?

Rediff.com   11 Apr 2008

Dr Reddy's Laboratories & Strides Arcolabs are at a risk of raiders as their promoter holdings are less than 26%. Promoters of Dr Reddy's have 25.15% stake as on Dec 31, 2007 and the share value of the company has dipped 19.9 per cent since January 1 this year. The Bangalore-based Strides Arcolab had only 18.82% promoter-holding as on Dec 31, 2007. The stock price of the company has gone down 34% in the same period. The promoters are taking steps to correct the situation.

MNC drug firms in a fix over duty cut

MNC drug firms in a fix over duty cut

Rediff.com   8 Apr 2008

Multinational firms, which import country-specific packs of medicines from their parent companies.The reason is that the medicines reaching Indian arms of multinational pharma majors now are the consignments for which orders were placed during December 2007, two months before the government cut CVD from 16 per cent to 8 per cent (on February 29). overseas, say they will not be able to cut prices of medicines till June.

German baby foodmaker to enter India in a big way

German baby foodmaker to enter India in a big way

Rediff.com   8 Apr 2008

Germany-based Humana Milchunion eG, one of the largest baby food products and therapeutic multivitamins manufacturers, will soon foray into India and neighbouring markets in a big way.