Pharmaceutical Sector

India, latest haunt for pharmaceutical firms worldwide

CM GulhatiMultinational pharmaceutical firms including Roche, Pfizer and Astra Zeneca are waiting for the official approval to conduct clinical trails in India. DCGI received 100 applications for conducting such trials in 2005 this grew to 350 in 2008. Experts estimate that during the next three years, the clinical research industry in India will be worth about two billion dollars. Different experts have different opinion about this boom in clinical research industry.

Some attribute this to financial profits due to low cost while other believes this is due to growing interest of pharma majors in emerging markets like India.

Genentech agrees to Roche buyout

Basel, Switzerland  - Roche, the Swiss drug manufacturer, has struck a deal to buy out Genentech, a United States based biotech group, the two companies announced Thursday.

The move would cost Roche approximately 46.8 billion dollars for the 44-per-cent stake it does not already have in the biotech firm.

Under the agreement, the Swiss group would pay 95 dollars a share. It was only reached after months of negotiations, which at one point led Roche to go directly to shareholders with an offer that Genentech urged them not accept. Analysts felt the San Francisco company was holding out for a better price, as it was insisting on 112 dollars a share, far above market value.

Aurobindo Gets Tentative Approval For Lopinavir/Ritonavir Tablets

Aurobindo Gets Tentative Approval For Lopinavir/Ritonavir TabletsIndia’s Aurobindo Pharma has notified that it has secured tentative approval from US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for marketing generic lopinavir/ritonavir tablets.

It should be noted that the drug are generic equivalent of Abbott Laboratories' (ABT) Kaletra tablets and falls under anti-retrovial (ARV) segment.

The drugs are prescribed for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults and children above the age of two years. The tablets are used together with other anti-retroviral agents.

Merck to buy rival Schering-Plough for 41.1 billion dollars

Merck to buy rival Schering-Plough for 41.1 billion dollars New York  - Drug maker Merck & Co will merge with rival Schering-Plough Corp in a deal valued at 41.1 billion dollars, the companies announced Monday.

The deal would double the number of medicines under the final stages of development by Merck to 18 and create the second-largest US pharmaceutical firm.

Under the agreement, Schering-Plough shareholders will receive 0.6 shares of Merck and 10.50 dollars for each share, amounting to a total of 23.61 dollars per share.

Microsoft to aid Guj pharma SMEs

Project Vikas to enhance efficiency of around 1,000 A'bad-based pharma SMEs

Pharmaceutical manufacturing clusters in Ahmedabad received a booster dose in form of the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC) and Microsoft India's joint initiative 'Project Vikas', aimed at building their skill and increasing efficiency and reliability. Under this project, launched in Gujarat on Wednesday, Microsoft India will provide support through its customised software to around 1,000 Ahmedabad-based small and medium scale units engaged in pharma sector.

Aurobindo Pharma gets tentative nod for Escitalopram Oxalate Tablet

Aurobindo PharmaAurobindo Pharma, one of the largest API manufacturers in Asia, has in

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