P B Jayakumar And Sidhartha In Mumbai

Stories by P B Jayakumar And Sidhartha In Mumbai

US FDA tightens screws on sale of diet supplements

US FDA tightens screws on sale of diet supplements

Rediff.com   29 Jun 2007

The US Food and Drug Administration has tightened rules for selling dietary supplements in the US market, making compliance with current good manufacturing practices mandatory for manufacturers.

Nicholas Piramal develops drug leads from Antarcti

Nicholas Piramal develops drug leads from Antarcti

Rediff.com   29 Jun 2007

Indian drug major Nicholas Piramal India Ltd is likely to be among the first pharmaceutical companies worldwide to develop drugs isolated from the flora and fauna of Antarctica.

Pharma majors open new R&D chapter

Pharma majors open new R&D chapter

Rediff.com   28 Jun 2007

Part research being farmed out to medical colleges, universities to cut cost and time.

Apex drug body wants ban on 1,105 brands

Apex drug body wants ban on 1,105 brands

Rediff.com   23 Jun 2007

These brands belong to about 320 drugs of leading Indian pharmaceutical companies. The Drug Controller General of India's (DCGI's) office feels that these have been launched without its approval.

Drug retailers plan co-operative

Drug retailers plan co-operative

Rediff.com   20 Jun 2007

The 550,000 unorganised drug traders in the country are readying to take on the entry of corporate houses like Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group

RPG Life eyes allies to enter US market

RPG Life eyes allies to enter US market

Rediff.com   15 Jun 2007

RPG Life already has marketing tie-ups with Israel's drug major Teva for the EU market and with the US-based Apotex for the Canadian market.

Pharma R&D heads call the shots

Pharma R&D heads call the shots

Rediff.com   13 Jun 2007

The average expenditure of pharmaceutical companies on research and development has increased four times in the last five years.

Roche's Hepatitis C drug patent challenged

Roche's Hepatitis C drug patent challenged

Rediff.com   12 Jun 2007

Swiss pharmaceutical major Hoffmann-La Roche's patents rights over Hepatitis C drug Pegasys has been challenged by public interest groups at the Indian Patent Office.

MNCs, corporates to enter pharma retail

MNCs, corporates to enter pharma retail

Rediff.com   8 Jun 2007

The first off the block appears to be the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (R-ADAG), which is investing Rs 1,200 crore (Rs 12 billion) in setting up a large drug distribution backbone.

VHB Life Sciences plans IPO

VHB Life Sciences plans IPO

Rediff.com   5 Jun 2007

The six-decade-old pharmaceutical company VHB Life Sciences will come out with an initial public offer in July this year to fund its Rs 400-crore

Probiotic drugs mart to grow more

Probiotic drugs mart to grow more

Rediff.com   5 Jun 2007

Alkem, the largest manufacturer of Fructo-Oligo Saccharides, which helps the growth of good probiotic bacteria, is planning to roll out more products in the national and global markets, said Sharad.

Reliance Pharma shaping up for launch in 2 years

Reliance Pharma shaping up for launch in 2 years

Rediff.com   28 May 2007

Reliance Pharmaceuticals, the proposed pharmaceutical manufacturing company promoted by Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Life Sciences, will soon rope in a consultant to give final shape to the project, slated to take off within two years.

Elder to inlicense Thai  brands

Elder to inlicense Thai brands

Rediff.com   21 May 2007

Elder Healthcare, an associated company of Elder Pharmaceuticals, will soon sign an inlicensing agreement with the Thailand-based herbal drug and personal care products manufacturer FCP Company to launch its products in India.

Global standards await 5.5 lakh pharmacies

Global standards await 5.5 lakh pharmacies

Rediff.com   21 May 2007

The World Health Organisation and the International Pharmaceutical Federation have joined hands with the Indian Pharmaceutical Association -- the national body of pharmacists in the country -- to upgrade the quality of services of 5.5 lakh pharmacies

US law moots stiff penalty for spurious drugmakers

US law moots stiff penalty for spurious drugmakers

Rediff.com   21 May 2007

Pharmaceutical industry experts said the US move had come as a boon for the Indian drug exporters as the law could clear the alleged doubts on the quality and the genuineness of Indian pharmaceutical and raw material products.

Dr Reddy's snaps ties with US drug co

Dr Reddy's snaps ties with US drug co

Rediff.com   14 May 2007

The $66 million (Rs 272.8 crore) Leiner Health Products is likely to sue DRL for the early divorce (the agreement has lasted only four years) from the alliance.

J&J to make India R&D hub

J&J to make India R&D hub

Rediff.com   14 May 2007

The world's largest manufacturer of healthcare products, Johnson & Johnson, is making India a global hub of its research and development as it looks to ramp up its pharmaceutical business in the country.

Generic drug makers target US patent mart

Generic drug makers target US patent mart

Rediff.com   9 May 2007

The increasing number of generic players tapping the US market for known molecules has resulted in pricing pressures and lean margins.

Ex-staff plan to take over 6 Kerala PSUs

Ex-staff plan to take over 6 Kerala PSUs

Rediff.com   7 May 2007

D Aravindakshan was the managing director of Kerala State Drugs and Pharmaceuticals at Alleppey for many years before taking over as the head of Agastya Biopharma

US ruling gives Indian pharma a booster dose

US ruling gives Indian pharma a booster dose

Rediff.com   3 May 2007

In a landmark judgment likely to benefit Indian generic drug manufacturers in a big way, the US Supreme Court has ruled against patenting of products with slight modifications.