India’s leading drug manufacturer Ranbaxy Laboratories has decided to sign up a significant research deal with US-based drug maker, Merck in order to discover new medicines.

The tie-up may generate substantial revenues for the Indian firm.

The recent deal will be operationalised through Ranbaxy Life Sciences, the new R&D division of Ranbaxy.

Malvinder Mohan Singh, Ranbaxy CMD had dropped a hint regarding a possible research affiliation with an international drug major a few weeks ago.

Pune based biotech company Advance Bio Agro Tech Ltd (ABTL) has signed global marketing and manufacturing agreement with European pharmaceutical company Huvepharma. The Bulgaria based company has been growing rapidly in global pharmaceutical sector.

The new venture would focus on developing, manufacturing and marketing human and animal health product which will be beneficial to the Indian consumers.

 Drugs and chemicals maker Jubilant Organosys Limited has informed that it has acquired 100% stake in Specialty Molecules Limited, a niche manufacturer of Specialty Intermediates with manufacturing facilities located at Ambarnath near Mumbai, for Rs 19.95 crore.

The acquired company is engaged in the business of developing, manufacturing and selling of specialty intermediates, which include primarily pyridine derivatives that are used in pharmaceuticals and other life science industry.

FDC Limited, one of the leading drug makers in the country, has informed that the company has received the US Food and Drug Administration approval for its Timolol Maleate eye solution.

Timolol Maleate Ophthalmic Solution is indicated in the treatment of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma.

Mumbai-based SME-focused fund BTS India Private Equity Fund Limited has informed that it has invested US$ 7 million in Parabolic Drugs, a fast growing pharmaceutical company based in Chandigarh. This is the second investment by BTS group, a fund sponsored by Swiss Tec Group of Switzerland in the Indian pharmaceutical sector. It had earlier backed Arch Pharma Labs, a fast growing pharmaceutical company.

Hyderabad-based Pharmaceutical firm Suven Life Sciences has received European product patent for its clinical candidate SUVN-502, which will be valid till June 2023.

European Patent Office (EPO) granted the product patent -- EP 1581492 -- which is an exclusive intellectual property (IP) of Suven and was achieved through the internal discovery research efforts.

The said drug candidate is being developed for treatment of neuro-generative disorders like Alzheimer's disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, memory impairment associated with ageing and Schizophrenia.

India’s well-reputed pharmaceutical firm, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Pharma has informed that the company has entered into a collaboration agreement with Japan based Astellas Pharma Inc. for exclusive rights for the latter's Injectable anti-fungal agent Micafungin (brand name Mycamine) in the Indian market.

Micafungin, an original research product of Astellas, belongs to a new class of anti-fungal agents that work against deep seated Candida infections. It was initially approved by Japanese Agency in 2002, by the USFDA in 2005 followed by other countries.

Nicholas Piramal India (NPIL), one of the largest pharmaceutical and healthcare companies in India, has informed that the company has entered into a long-term strategic alliance with US-based DxTech, a subsidiary of XL TechGroup.

The strategic alliance includes a product development and licensing agreement, a distribution agreement and the establishment of a joint venture sales and marketing company in India.

The deal gives Nicholas Piramal an exclusive license to DxTech's Vantix platform in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan.

Mumbai-headquartered Lupin Limited has informed that the company launched Suprax 400 mg tablets (Cefixime USP) in the US market. The product is a line extension of Lupin’s flagship anti-infective Suprax in an oral suspension form.

Suprax® 400 mg tablets will help company to increase its share in the $450-million antibiotic market for the treatment of urinary tract infections. It will also extend the use of Suprax® to the patient population including children of the age of 12 yrs and above.

India's largest hospital and pharmacy chain, Apollo Hospitals has announced that it will be investing around Rs 10 billion in the next two years to set up about 15 hospitals in tier II and III cities in the country.

Apollo plans to take its total hospital bed count to 10,000 from 8,000 now over the next 18 months.

Apollo, which is looking for overseas expansion as well, is also planning to enter Sri Lanka for a second time, besides expanding its operations in African continents.

The hospital chain is working at reducing the average length of stay of patients to 4.9 days from 5.4 days by adopting methods like shifting patients to leisure hotels.

Hyderabad-based, Dr Reddy's Laboratories has informed that the company has acquired BASF's pharmaceutical contract manufacturing business and related facility in the US for an undisclosed amount.

The acquisition will include relevant business, customer contracts and trademarks as well as the manufacturing facility and assets of BASF at Shreveport.

The 42-acre Shreveport facility currently manufactures and packages prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical products, liquids, tablets and creams for the North American market. The deal also includes a tolling and supply agreement.

Dr. Reddy's plans to finance the deal with internal cash reserves or other committed credit facilities.

Drugmaker Strides Arcolab Ltd has signed up a definitive contract to raise its holding stake in Genepharm Australasia to 55 percent for Rs 230.80 crore.

According to the deal, Strides will vend its Australian and Asian businesses in exchange for the issue of shares in Genepharm.

The company said, “On successful completion of the Genepharm transaction, Strides may emerge with a shareholding of approximately 55 per cent of the expanded capital base of Genepharm.”

Span Diagnostics Ltd has informed that the Company has promoted a new Company namely Span Nihon Diagnostics Pvt. Ltd (SNKD) under the joint venture agreement signed with Nihon Kohden Corporation of Japan (NKC).

Nihon Kohden Corporation (NKC) is Japan's leading manufacturer, developer and distributor of medical electronic equipments with subsidiaries in the USA, Europe and Asia and distributors in nearly every country in the world.

Under the deal, SNKD will manufacture High Quality Reagents for Hematology Analyzers for distribution and sale in India under a license agreement with NKC.

India’s largest pharmaceutical company Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (RLL) has received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA) to manufacture and market Cetirizine Hydrochloride Oral Solution (Allergy) and Children’s Cetirizine Hydrochloride Oral Solution (Hives-Relief), 1 mg / mL (OTC) in the US market.

Cetirizine Hydrochloride is indicated for the temporary relief from running nose, sneezing, itching of the nose or throat, and itchy, watery eyes due to hay fever or other upper respiratory allergies. Other indications include relief from itching due to hives (urticaria).

India’s biggest drugmaker, Ranbaxy Laboratories got final nod from the US food and drug administration to make and promote a respiratory allergy drug, Cetirizine hydrochloride oral solution (allergy) and children’s Cetirizine hydrochloride oral solution (Hives-Relief), 1 mg / mL (OTC).

The office of generic drugs, USFDA, has found out the Ohm formulation to be bioequivalent and have the same curative effect as that of the reference listed drug children’s Zyrtec oral solution (allergy) and children`s Zyrtec oral solution (hives-Relief), 1mg / ml. of McNeil Consumer Healthcare.

Ranbaxy is close to finalize a plan to declare an open offer for Chennai-based Orchid Chemicals.

Ranbaxy-promoter company Solrex was reported to have raised its holding stake in Orchid to 14.72% till Friday last week, which is slightly below the 15% limit needed to make an open offer for an extra 20% stake in the company.

When contacted Ranbaxy chief executive officer and managing director, Malvinder Singh refused to comment.

Last week after news erupted that Solrex had bought more than 11% stake, Ranbaxy stated that it did not trust in unreceptive bids.

Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd has announced the formation of its wholly-owned subsidiary in Japan called Orchid Pharma Japan, headquartered in Tokyo.

The company claims that newly formed subsidiary will help Orchid foray into the high potential and growing Japanese generics market.

Chennai-based Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Limited engages in the development, manufacture, sale, and export of active pharmaceuticals ingredients and finished dosage forms or formulations.

The company estimates that the generics market in Japan currently estimated at $2.5 billion could double itself in a span of 5 years.

Opto Circuits India Ltd has informed that the company has successfully completed acquisition of Wisconsin based Criticare Systems Inc. ("Criticare"). Criticare Systems, Inc. will now onwards be a wholly owned subsidiary company of Opto Circuits India Ltd.

The acquisition has given access to the expanded product line and technology offered by Criticare Systems, which will allow Opto Circuits to enter new markets and compete more effectively with leading manufacturers of Vital Sign Monitors, Anesthesia Monitors, pulse Oximeters and Patient Monitors and accessories.

As per views of Karvy Stock Broking Limited, the investors can purchase Ranbaxy stock between Rs 450-455 in order to achieve a target of Rs 478 in 5-6 days.

The stop loss for the suggested counter is Rs 441.40. The stock pricing becomes more attractive, and reach above Rs 480, if the stock markets remain positive.

On Thursday (10 Apr), the company’s shares closed at Rs 450.65, down 4.2%, on BSE. The total volume of the shares traded was 387,540. Current EPS and P/E ratio stood at 16.70 and 26.99 respectively. The stock has also seen 52-week high of Rs 492.9 and low of Rs 299.9 on BSE.

India’s leading oncology player Dabur Pharma Limited has signed an agreement with Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) of Thailand for generic version of one of its key anticancer products.

The agreement with GPO has been signed for generic Docetaxel Injection at a very special price. Under the pact, Thailand will import the product and distribute it among 'needy patients' as part of Thailand's efforts to provide access to essential medicines for low-income patients.