Joe C Mathew And Vandana Gombar

Stories by Joe C Mathew And Vandana Gombar

Bloggers drive Indian IPR agenda

Bloggers drive Indian IPR agenda

Rediff.com   31 Dec 2007

Rathod, an IP professional attached to a global generic pharmaceutical company, draws hundreds of readers from across the IP space to his genericpharmaceuticals.blogspot.com.

Global medical tool makers throng India

Global medical tool makers throng India

Rediff.com   28 Dec 2007

Even as a lack of clarity in regulations is preventing Indian medical device manufacturers from making their presence felt in the $2 billion domestic medical equipment market, foreign players, mostly from the United States, are increasingly finding the country a preferred destination.

Drug cos, medical reps lock horns

Drug cos, medical reps lock horns

Rediff.com   26 Dec 2007

Days after medical representatives said their employers were flouting the government's drug-pricing norms, the pharmaceutical industry has decided to clip their wings. These companies want them to be no longer recognised as "workmen," a classification that gives them the right to form trade unions.

Eli Lilly drug patent deflated

Eli Lilly drug patent deflated

Rediff.com   14 Dec 2007

In another setback to Big Pharma, US drug major Eli Lilly's blockbuster erectile dysfunction drug Cialis (generic name:Tadalafil) has failed to qualify for a product patent in India after the basic constituent of the medicine was found to be a known substance, developed and patented by Indian scientists 32 years ago.

Indian food, drugs 2nd on US refusal list

Indian food, drugs 2nd on US refusal list

Rediff.com   11 Dec 2007

With 1,610 cases of detention of food and medicine consignments at various US ports of entry during the last 11 months, the products of Indian origin received the second largest number of import refusal reports (IRRs).

Medical reps accuse drug firms of overcharging

Medical reps accuse drug firms of overcharging

Rediff.com   10 Dec 2007

Pharma makers 'making a mockery' of price control, they say.

'Corruption in construction sector is larger'

'Corruption in construction sector is larger'

Rediff.com   16 Nov 2007

The companies that have signed these pacts with the India chapter of the Berlin-based Transparency International include PSU majors such as GAIL (India), Coal India, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Steel, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, Steel Authority of India, National Mineral Development Corporation and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam. In fact, 12 of the 14 companies that signed the pact, did so in the last six months.

Healthcare does not promise good returns

Healthcare does not promise good returns

Rediff.com   16 Nov 2007

Continuous investment in capacity expansion, slow pick-up of medical tourism, increasing competition among corporate healthcare entities and lack of health insurance are thus driving away small players and attracting deep-pocketed corporate entities that can afford to sustain on a long-term basis.

Ramkey Group plans first pharma SEZ

Ramkey Group plans first pharma SEZ

Rediff.com   8 Nov 2007

Andhra Pradesh is to house the country's first Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The first phase of the project, meant to house about 60 SME pharmaceutical manufacturing units in 200 acres of land is to be ready by mid-2008.

Testing times for Indian drug makers

Testing times for Indian drug makers

Rediff.com   24 Oct 2007

Sixty firms' business worth Rs 1,000 crore at stake.

It's turnaround time for Ranbaxy Labs

It's turnaround time for Ranbaxy Labs

Rediff.com   22 Oct 2007

The company recorded a net profit of Rs 426.9 crore (Rs 4.26 billion) in the first nine months against Rs 366.5 crore (Rs 3.66 billion) for the same period in 2006. With another quarter to go, the company expects profits close to Rs 739.3 crore (Rs 7.39 billion).

Global bio-tech firms on India quest

Global bio-tech firms on India quest

Rediff.com   16 Oct 2007

Of the top-10 global biotech companies, the biggest two -- Amgen and Biogen -- have already set up wholly owned subsidiaries in the country.

200 life-saving drugs to be cheaper

200 life-saving drugs to be cheaper

Rediff.com   25 Sep 2007

The medicines whose prices have been reduced belong to therapeutic categories, like dexametozone, betamethazone, ampicillin and ranitidine. The prices of some multi-vitamins and antibiotics would rise a bit.

WHO works on cheaper R&D for India

WHO works on cheaper R&D for India

Rediff.com   24 Sep 2007

The R&D plan, focused on diseases affecting poor nations, is expected to be ready by 2008 and may benefit Indian drug firms and contract research organisations in a big way.

India no IPR pariah: US drug lobby report

India no IPR pariah: US drug lobby report

Rediff.com   29 Aug 2007

The PhRMA's observation is significant against the backdrop of Swiss pharma major Novartis AG's decision to relocate its R&D investments from India.

Novartis drops AIDS drug plea

Novartis drops AIDS drug plea

Rediff.com   25 Aug 2007

The patent department made this declaration on August 16 after Novartis had failed to respond to its queries within the prescribed time.

Govt reduces MNCs' drug margins

Govt reduces MNCs' drug margins

Rediff.com   21 Aug 2007

The profit margins of multinational companies importing medicines into India have been hit with the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority starting strict scrutiny of price approval applications for imported products.

EU stipulation a hurdle for herbal exports

EU stipulation a hurdle for herbal exports

Rediff.com   21 Aug 2007

Indian exporters of ayurvedic drugs are finding it extremely difficult to tap this high-growth segment

Travel Guru sued for copyright breach

Travel Guru sued for copyright breach

Rediff.com   20 Aug 2007

According to a petition filed by Quadrant in the Delhi High Court, Travel Guru allegedly copied its software solution 'Final Quadrant SuiteCase'.

Patent scrutiny stuck in a groove

Patent scrutiny stuck in a groove

Rediff.com   16 Aug 2007

Absence of operational manual that guides examiners, heavy backlog take a toll.