CONTENTS Vol.13 No.1 November 1-15, 2017 Chairman of the Board Viveck Goenka Sr Vice President-BPD Neil Viegas
Conference on 'Ensuring Quality Standards in Generic Drugs' held in Bengaluru ASSOCHAM in association with Department of Pharmaceuticals, Government of India organised the event | 14
Editor Viveka Roychowdhury* Chief of Product Harit Mohanty BUREAUS Mumbai Usha Sharma, Raelene Kambli, Lakshmipriya Nair, Sanjiv Das, Mansha Gagneja, Swati Rana New Delhi Prathiba Raju
MARKET
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BENGALURU TECH SUMMIT TO BE HELD FROM NOV 16-18, 2017
RESEARCH
DESIGN
National Design Editor Bivash Barua
P10: PRE EVENT
Asst. Art Director Pravin Temble
PHARMACONNECT to be held in New Delhi
Chief Designer Prasad Tate
P21: INTERVIEW
Senior Designer Rekha Bisht
‘We are a one-stop solution for all TCL needs’
Graphics Designer Gauri Deorukhkar Senior Artist Rakesh Sharma
RS Subramanian Country Manager, DHL Express
Photo Editor Sandeep Patil MARKETING Regional Heads Prabhas Jha - North Harit Mohanty - West Kailash Purohit – South Debnarayan Dutta - East
P31: INTERVIEW
Marketing Team Ajanta Sengupta Ambuj Kumar E Mujahid Nirav Mistry Rajesh Bhatkal Sunil Kumar
Dr Srinubabu CEO, Pulsus HealthTech
PRODUCTION General Manager BR Tipnis Manager Bhadresh Valia Scheduling & Coordination Santosh Lokare CIRCULATION Circulation Team Mohan Varadkar
MANAGEMENT
‘Our aim is to scout and spot untapped rural students potentials’
P42: ACCOLADE Biocon bags recognition
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CROHN’S DISEASE DIAGNOSED INCIDENT CASES SET TO INCREASE IN THE 7MM TO 2026
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NEW DIABETES THERAPEUTICS TO STEAL GROUND FROM INSULIN THERAPIES: GBI RESEARCH
PHARMA LIFE
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LENGTH OF EXPOSURE TO OBESITY ASSOCIATED WITH NCDS
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CHI-MED, ASTRAZENECA CANCER DRUG SHRINKS TUMOURS
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GSK WINS US SHINGLES VACCINE APPROVAL
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NOVO NORDISK DIABETES DRUG WORKS EFFECTIVELY
SANOFI INDIA CELEBRATES ‘DAANUTSAV’
Express Pharma® Regd. With RNI No.MAHENG/2005/21398. Postal Regd.No.MCS/164/2016-18. Printed and Published by Vaidehi Thakar on behalf of The Indian Express (P) Limited and Printed at The Indian Express Press, Plot No.EL-208, TTC Industrial Area, Mahape, Navi Mumbai-400710 and Published at 2nd floor, Express Towers, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021. Editor: Viveka Roychowdhury.* (Editorial & Administrative Offices: Express Towers, 1st floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021) * Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act. Copyright © 2017. The Indian Express (P) Ltd. All rights reserved throughout the world. Reproduction in any manner, electronic or otherwise, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited.
E T A D I L O S N CO YOUR S E S U O H E R A W The Logistics Experts Call
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EDITOR’S NOTE
Converting growth potential into a reality
T
his year's CPhI Annual Report released a ranking of countries as pharmaceutical destinations on various parameters. The rankings of the CPhI Pharma Reputation League Table attempts to chart the reputational strengths and perceived weaknesses of the 10 main pharma economies based on the insight of 500 international pharma companies from over 40 countries. The rankings show some interesting results. While the US unexpectedly tops the chart, India and China are are the bottom of the table in terms of overall reputation rank. But when it comes to ranking of countries according to their predicted pharma market growth, China, followed by India top the chart, with the US in third position. If we go by these rankings, demographics could negate perceived reputational weaknesses, at least in the case of India and China. Germany tops in their quality of pharma API manufacture and finished product manufacturing, but India and China once again fall to the last two ranks on both these parameters. In the same vein, Germany topped and India and China brought up the rear when it came to transparency index, regulation robustness and corruptness. India was ranked seventh on innovativeness within each country's pharma industry, with the US on top and China at the bottom of this ranking. When it came to overall competitiveness of each country, India was once again ahead of China, but only by a whisker, bagging the third position while the latter came a close fourth. The quality and knowledge of India's pharma professionals is ranked seventh to China's tenth position. The key takeaway message from these scores is that potential to grow is a prediction not fact. And India will need to work on quality concerns, even if they are perceptions, to turn growth potential into reality. In spite of India's rather poor scores on these rankings, the growth potential of the country as a pharma market, as with China, comes through without a doubt. The size of the population which overseas innovator pharma companies saw as a huge market opportunity, is in fact, today being perceived as a threat to profits. As Dilip G Shah, CEO, Vision Consulting Group, one of the contributing experts to the 5th edition of the CPhI Annual Report, explains the tide is now gradually turning in favour of generic companies thanks to pressure from patients on governments to act.
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Demographics could negate perceived reputational weaknesses, at least in the case of India and China
He predicts that the intense battle between innovators and biogeneric companies will rage on with innovators blocking biogenerics through morally dubious means. Innovator companies will face increasing pressure to allow development of the biogeneric version to ensure access to medicines at affordable prices. The regulators and the governments will take on the innovators and force them to facilitate development of biogeneric versions. He alludes to the US FDA FDA Commissioner Dr Scott Gottlieb’s statement on a CNBC programme that while the FDA doesn't play a role in drug pricing, “we do affect drug competition in terms of getting new drugs on to the market, and create competition to older drugs, particularly with generic drugs”. Shah sees this as evidence that both the drug regulator and the competition authorities (in this case the US FDA and the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC)) will be on the same side and this will in time encourage biogeneric companies to be more aggressive than they have been so far. While this could be the future, the present finds the Indian and US governments once again pitted against each other to protect the interests of their consumers and corporates. As the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) expands price caps from stents to knee implants, US-based medical device companies, through the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed), have asked the US Trade Representative (US TR) to step in and withdraw India’s benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). So both governments find themselves, once again, have to balance political strategy with economic imperatives. Both governments will have to work hard to find a middle path, without giving in to posturing by companies on both sides of the fence. The fact of the matter is that patients, be they Indian, American or of any nationality, deserve high quality affordable medicines and medical devices accessible to all strata of society. Can both governments work to create the right incentives to reward companies who deliver on this promise? Having a huge demographic dividend is a natural advantage, but it would not take many years before it turns into a disaster
VIVEKA ROYCHOWDHURY Editor viveka.r@expressindia.com
MARKET PRE EVENTS
PHARMACONNECTto be held in New Delhi The day-long conference will witness five panel discussions where top industry leaders of leading pharma companies will participate
C
ARGOCONNECT, a leading logistics magazine, will organise PHARMACONNECT, which will be dedicated to the logistics segment of the pharmaceutical industry. The event will be held in New Delhi on January 18, 2018. The day-long conference will witness five intriguing panel discussions in which several top industry leaders of leading pharma companies,
supply chain professionals, logistics service providers, airlines and cargo terminal operators will participate and share their knowledge and valuable experience with each other. Panel discussions will be conducted on the following themes – ◗ LSPs role in the growth story of Indian pharmaceutical sector ◗ Impact the GST has created
The day-long conference will witness five intriguing panel discussions
on the pharma supply chain and ways adopted for streamlining of supply chain ◗ Importance of supply chain integrity, end to end visibility and time factor in pharma air cargo shipment ◗ Measures to keep cold chain logistics cost in control for maintaining competitiveness of pharma products ◗ Role of IoT in streamlining of pharma supply chain and cost optimisation
Supply chain professionals of India’s leading pharma companies like Zydus Cadila, Cipla, Sun Pharma, Torrent Pharma, Glenmark, Ranbaxy, Glaxosmithkline, Dr Reddy’s Lab, Lupin, Aurobindo Pharma, Sanofi and other midscale companies will gather under one roof and share their knowledge and logistics experience with logistics industry leaders who are driving the industry. EP News Bureau
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MARKET
Bengaluru Tech Summit to be held from Nov 16-18,2017 17th edition of Bengaluru India Bio to colocate with Bengaluru ITE.biz THE DEPT of IT & BT, Government of Karnataka is co-locating its flagship events 20th edition of Bengaluru ITE.biz and 17th edition of Bengaluru India Bio under one umbrella event Bengaluru Tech Summit with the focal theme ‘Ideate, Innovate, Invent’. The summit will be held in Bengaluru from November 16-18, 2017 The summit will bring together thoughtleaders, technocrats, researchers, innovators, investors and policy makers from different streams paving the way for interdisciplinary dialogue and collaborations leading to emergence of disruptive technologies, path breaking products and unique services. The other organisers of the event are Karnataka Biotechnology and Information Technology Services (KBITS), Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), Vision Group on Information Technology (VGIT) and Vision Group on Biotechnology (VGBT). The summit will have 3000 plus delegates, 250 plus exhibitors, 240 plus speakers, 120 posters, 350 B2B meetings, 10000 visitors, 100 plus start ups and 1500 organisations. Bengaluru India Bio will have over 120 expert speakers with over 1000 delegates which will be developed with the support of leading industry associ-
ations/organisations. The biotech conference will focus on bio therapeutics and health care including diagnostics, personalised medicine, rare diseases and orphan drugs, infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance and vaccines, agri biotech and new technology platforms for better crops, animal BT and aqua marine BT, synthetic biology, bio
Science, Bengaluru; BN Manohar, MD, Stempeutics Research; Dr PM Murali, President, Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE); MD, Evolva Biotech; Prasanth Perugupalli, MD, IMEC India; Anand Madanagopal, Cardiac Design Labs; Pawan K Dhar, School of Biotechnology, JNU New Delhi; Ravdeep S Anand, Founder President, Dystrophy
(DBT) Ministry of Science & Technology Government of India; Dr DP Biradar, Vice Chancellor, UAS, Dharwad; Heajin Jung, President, Smart Avenue, Seoul, Korea; Dr Vikas Sharma, Chief Medical Officer, India & Senior Director Medical Ethics & Research, Quintiles; Vikraman Venu Saranyan, COO, IKP EDEN, Bengaluru; Sushrusha Nayak, Center for Human Ge-
The summit will bring together thoughtleaders, technocrats, researchers, innovators, investors and policy makers from different streams paving the way for interdisciplinary dialogue and collaborations leading to emergence of disruptive technologies, path breaking products and unique services entrepreneurship, bio manufacturing. Speakers include Dr Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Biocon; Prof K Vijay Raghvan, Dept of BT , S&T; Jon Mowles, UK Trade and Investment; Dr Gordon Sanghera, Oxford Nanopore Technologies; Dr Vijay Chandru, Strand Life Sciences; Amit Chopra, Thermofisher; Dr Tomal Dattaroy, Reliance R&D; Dr CD Mayee, ABNE; TATU, Professor, Indian Institute of
Annihilation Research Trust; Sreesha P Srinivasa, Associate VP, Head - Translational Sciences, Biocon Research, Biocon Park; Gundu Rao, Emeritus Professor, Lillehei Heart lnstitute,lnstitute for Engineering Medicine, University of Minnesota & Technology Advisor, Institution of Engineers India, Bengaluru; Dr Ajit Sapre, Group President, R&T Reliance Industries; Dr SR Rao, Advisor, Department of Biotechnology
netics; Dr Shyam Vasudeva Rao; MD, Forus Health; Senthil Chinnasamy, Chief Technology Officer, Aban Infrastructure Biotechnology Division; Satyen Sanghavi, Chief Scientific Officer & Executive Director Regenerative Medical Services Mumbai. Also, present will be Dr Ramaswamy, Senior Professor & Former Dean Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, National Centre for
Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru; Prasanna Kumar B SHIROL, Founder Member, Organisation for Rare Disease India (ORDI), Founder- Inclusive In India. President - Pompe Foundation Founder & Former President - LSDSS; Dr MK Ramesh; Professor of Law, Chair Professor (Urban Poor and the Law) National Law School of India University Bengaluru; Dr Kalyan Sundaram, Chief Scientific Officer, Strand Life Sciences Bengaluru; Hitesh Sharma, Partner - National Life Sciences Leader Ernst & Young; Dr Sudhir Borgonha, MBBS, MD, MBA Sr Vice President & Medical Director Strand Genomics Strand Life Sciences, Bengaluru; Dr SR Subrammaniyan, Professor of Vascular Surgery Madras Medical College, Chennai; Dr Kameswara Rao, Coordinator Foundation for Biotechnology Awareness and Education, Bengaluru; Dr Kameswara Rao, Coordinator Foundation for Biotechnology Awareness and Education, Bengaluru; Dr Aditya Kulkarni, Chief Scientific Officer Aten Poruslifesciences Bengaluru; Dr Alben Sigamani, Head - Clinical Research Narayana Hrudayalaya, Bengaluru International Faculty, Euclid (Academics). EP News Bureau
ISPE to organise Europe Pharma 4.0 Conference in Italy The conference will focus on preparing the pharma and biopharma industry for a full transition to an end-to-end integrated computerised system throughout the manufacturing process THE INTERNATIONAL Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) with its Italy Affiliate will organise Europe Pharma 4.0 Conference in Verona, Italy from November 23-24, 2017. The conference will focus on preparing the pharma and biopharma industry for a full transition to an end-to-end integrated computerised system throughout
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the manufacturing process. The two-day event will feature an education programme focussed on core topics, including automation, analytics, end-to-end integration, and workforce 4.0. Attendees will gain insight into a new world of manufacturing, engaging in dialogue with peer groups and senior industry leaders, and learning new manufacturing
applications, models, and solutions. The introduction of advance automation and the increasing interconnectivity of Industry 4.0 is not only revolutionising the pharma industry, but also introducing many new challenges and production roadblocks. “Shifting the paradigm to Pharma 4.0 and focusing on the issues specifically sur-
rounding pharma priorities will lead to improvements in productivity, quality, and security of the supply chain,” said John Bournas, CEO and President, ISPE. The ISPE 2017 Europe Pharma 4.0 Conference stems from the ISPE Europe Affiliates’ newly founded special interest group (SIG): ‘From Industry 4.0 to Pharma 4.0.’ The
Pharma 4.0 SIG started discussions around the issues that the new ‘automation’ factors are causing in the pharma production chain. Their goal is to specify and differentiate Pharma 4.0 from the common ‘Industry 4.0’ concept, with the focus on maturity level models integrated in the programme. EP News Bureau
MARKET DEAL TRACKER
M&A activity in pharma and healthcare drops in Sept 2017 Posts 57 transactions worth $4 billion in September IN SEPTEMBER 2017, the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry has recorded a significant drop in the M&A activity. The sector witnessed 65 per cent fall in value terms over the last five months’ average, as companies look at streamlining and consolidating their positions. The industry reported 57 transactions worth $4 billion in September. One of the notable deals in September include the acquisition of Cook Pharmica by US-based drug delivery technology company Catalent, for $950 million in an all-cash transaction. The transaction is expected to strengthen Catalent’s position in biologics development and analytical services, manufacturing, and finished product supply. Cook Pharmica is a provider of contract development and manufacturing services to pharma and biopharma companies. Aspen Group subsidiary Aspen Global’s acquisition of the remaining rights of anaesthetic portfolio from AstraZeneca, a biopharmaceutical company, for $766 million; private equity fund CVC Capital Partners Fund VI’s acquisition of product portfolio of women’s health business across contraception, fertility, menopause and osteoporosis from Teva Pharmaceutical for $703 million in cash; and prescription and non-prescription over-the-counter (OTC) medicines provider, Foundation Consumer Healthcare’s acquisition of women health products, including Plan B OneStep and emergency contraception, Take Action, Aftera, and Next Choice One Dose, from Teva Pharmaceutical for $675 million in cash are some of the major transactions reported in September 2017. In contrast to the trend in the M&A activity, the venture capital market saw rise in deal value, with transactions worth $1.4 billion in September 2017, as compared to $1 billion in August 2017. However, the number of deals decreased from 61 in August to 56 in September. Some of the major transactions in September include 23andMe, a consumer genetics and research company, raising $250 million and WuXi NextCODE, a contract genomics company, raising additional $165 million in series B financing.
Deal Date
Acquirer (s)
Target
Deal value (US$ m)
19-Sep-17
Catalent Inc (US)
Cook Pharmica LLC (US)
950.0
14-Sep-17
Aspen Group (South Africa)
Rights to Anaesthetic Portfolio (UK)
766.0
18-Sep-17
CVC Capital Partners Fund VI (UK)
Women Health Portfolio (Israel)
703.0
18-Sep-17
Foundation Consumer Healthcare, LLC (US)
Women Health Products (Israel)
675.0
6-Sep-17
Merck & Co Inc (US)
Rigontec GmbH (Germany)
552.3
Deal Date
Acquirer (s)
Target
12-Sep-17
Sequoia Capital Operations; Fidelity Management & Research Company; Altimeter Capital Management; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation; Euclidean Capital; Casdin Capital
23andMe Inc (US) 250.0
7-Sep-17
Temasek Holdings; Yunfeng Capital; Sequoia Capital China; 3W Partners
WuXi NextCODE Genomics (US)
13-Sep-17
American International Group; Viking Global Investors; BridgeBio Aisling Capital; KKR & Co; Perceptive Advisors; Janus Capital Pharma LLC (US) Management; Cormorant Capital
7-Sep-17
The Column Group; Clarus Ventures; Alexandria Venture Investments; Google Ventures; Versant Venture Management; Lilly Asia ventures; Frazier Healthcare Partners; Trinitas Capital Management
Gritstone 92.7 2 Oncology Inc (US)
6-Sep-17
Syncona Limited; Nextech Invest; Woodford Investment Management; Cormorant Asset Management; Arix Bioscience
Autolus Ltd (UK)
M&A (INCLUDING PRIVATE EQUITY) TREND ANALYSIS
Source: GlobalData
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Deal value (US$ m)
165.0
135.0
80.0
VENTURE FINANCING TREND ANALYSIS
Source: GlobalData
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MARKET POST EVENT
Conference on ‘Ensuring Quality Standards in Generic Drugs’held in Bengaluru ASSOCHAM in association with Department of Pharmaceuticals, Government of India organised the event A CONFERENCE on ‘Ensuring Quality Standards in Generic Drugs’ was recently organised in Bengaluru by ASSOCHAM in association with Department of Pharmaceuticals, Government of India. The conference was addressed by Bhagoji T Khanapure, Drugs Controller, Drugs Control Department, Government of Karnataka, Sunil Attavar, President, KDPMA and CMD, Group Pharmaceuticals, Suresh Sugavanam, VP and MD South Asia, UL India and R Shivakumar, Chairman, ASSOCHAM Karnataka State Chapter among several other key dignitaries. Shivakumar, in his welcome outlined the right to health should be achieved, among others, by making essential medicines of assured quality at an affordable price. He emphasised that drug manufacturers should pay attention to improving quality standards of the pharma manufacturing and the regulators should support the industry in this process. Khanapure said that gov-
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ernment is currently focussing on promotion of generic medicines through Jan Aushadhi Kendras. There are currently few such stores in state of Karnataka and there is need to open more. He requested the industry to come forward in supplying all types of generic drugs to these stores. With regards to quality, he informed the audience that the drug control department collected the legal samples of generic drugs from Jan Aushadhi Kendras
and found the quality at par with branded drugs. Khanapure appraised the industry regarding the opening of a pharma park in Karnataka and requested the industry to invest and be a part of growth of state. In his address, Attavar emphasised the need for continual improvement in pharma product manufacturing and requested the companies to engage and empower their employees. He asked the
pharma education institutions to encourage industrial site visits and on site trainings of teachers and students. Sugavanam during his theme address highlighted that companies must strive to develop a corporate quality culture driven by and adhered to from the most senior levels in the organisation right down to the operator on the factory floor. Everyone involved must be actively encouraged to participate in the quality culture
and fully appreciate their responsibilities. A report ‘Cultivating Quality Culture in Generic Drugs Manufacturing’ developed by UL India, Knowledge Partner to ASSOCHAM, was released at the conference. The vote of thanks was extended by Anuj Mathur, Deputy Director & Headm, ASSOCHAM Healthcare & Pharma Division to all the dignitaries. EP News Bureau
MARKET EVENT BRIEFS PHARMAC INDIA Date: November 7-9, 2017 Venue: Gujarat University Exhibition Hall, Ahmedabad Summary: Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association (IDMA) and Orbit Exhibitions will organise Pharmac India 2017, which will see pharmaceutical manufacturers, bulk drug manufacturers, API manufacturers, pharmaceutical formulators, merchant exporters, contract manufacturers etc come together.
Venue: Mumbai, India Summary: Markets and Markets, will organise a seminar on Proactive & Sustain-
able Compliance Workshop. A panel with international experts will shed light on recent compliance challenges
confronting the biopharma industry worldwide with a focus on the Indian industry.
Contact details: Amit Shelke Email: amit.shelke@marketsandmarkets.com
Contact Details: Varsha Surve Orbit Exhibitions Mob: +91 9322037955 Email: info@ pharmacindia.com Dr RS Joshi Indian Drug Manufacturer’s Association (IDMA – GSB) Tel: +91 (0) 79 26406680 Email: idmagsb@gmail.com
EUROPE PHARMA 4.0 CONFERENCE Date: November 23-24, 2017 Venue: Verona, Italy Summary: The conference will focus on preparing the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry for a full transition to an end-to-end integrated computerised system throughout the manufacturing process. The two-day event will feature an education programme focussed on core topics, including automation, analytics, end-toend integration, and workforce 4.0. Attendees will gain insight into a new world of manufacturing, engaging in dialogue with peer groups and senior industry leader. Contact details: Maria Robertson Senior Director, Marketing Communications International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) Tel: +1-301-364-9207 Email: mrobertson@ispe.org www.ISPE.org
PROACTIVE & SUSTAINABLE COMPLIANCE WORKSHOP Dates: December 7-8, 2017
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(
I
ndia Pharma Inc has emerged as a noteworthy competitor and a significant partner in the global pharma arena. However, with thinning product pipelines, lessening blockbuster drugs, increasing regulatory scrutiny, pricing pressures, quality concerns, increasing duration of clinical trials, shifting disease profiles and patterns etc., challenges and barriers to success too are mounting.
THE MAIN FOCUS
til recently. As an Accenture report, released a few years ago, stated, “The net effect is that real, enduring success has become tougher for life sciences companies to attain. More than ever, sustainable and profitable growth requires a solid foundation built on longer term fundamentals. Interestingly, very few companies in this industry consider supply chain excellence to be one of those fundamentals. Life sciences
Emerging new technologies are creating strategic opportunities for organisations to build competitive advantages in various functional areas of management including logistics and supply chain management Anjani Mandal, Co-founder and CEO, 4TiGO
Technology can be used to integrate functions across the network, increase visibility of products across the value chain and automate processes to improve the supply chain’s responsiveness and reliability Nishith Rastogi, Founder, Locus.Sh
Automated storage and distribution centres will add to just-in-time delivery model, reducing inventory and financial losses due to expiry of medicines Dinesh Agarwal, Executive Director, Khaitan & Co
We would see a lot new businesses flourishing with a focus on pharma logistics which has very different needs when compared to the FMCG sector Pradyumn Singh, Co-founder and CEO, Pharmarack
This, in turn, has led to pharma companies expanding their horizons to emerging markets, exploring untried strategies and revamping their product mix. In this scenario, the role of an effective supply chain to become a major differentiator in the value chain, as companies seek the next phase of growth, cannot be undermined. Yet, the supply chain has often rated very low in the priority list of life sciences companies un-
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companies typically spend more time and effort on the commercial and research sides of the business and, conversely, place a lower priority on supply chain improvement.� Thankfully, the pharma companies are gradually waking up to the revenue building, cost-reducing potential of supply chain excellence. They have also recognised that revamping the supply chain, of which logistics is a major part, will enable pharma players to capitalise
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cover ) on unexpected opportunities, maximise customer loyalty and diminish risks, and be more agile as well as responsive to customer needs. And, technology has emerged as the partner to bring about this transformation.
A (tech) tonic shift In the pharma logistics sector, technology is driving disruptions as never before. There is rapid adoption of information technology, communication technology and automatic identification technology, not just in pharma logistics but across the entire supply chain to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the existing systems. Various technological advancements are being deployed to reduce inventories and augment order fulfilment rates, efficiently manage in house inventory, effectively handle customer sales projections, lessen shipment lead time and several other crucial functions. This has led to the rise of several innovation-driven start-ups which utilise various technologies to simplify processes and enhance outcomes of logistics services. Let’s take a look at a few such ventures.
now impacting the decisionmaking process in pharma logistics. Rising competition is making pharmacy and endcustomer servicing the most critical piece for the entire supply chain. We believe last mile deliveries to retailers and customers is being disrupted because of technologies such as Locus. Delivery models such as one to three hour delivery, same day deliveries etc., is forcing pharma distributors and pharmacies to adopt technology as human decisionmaking leads to significant loss of business.” He further adds, “We believe that shift from bulk to patient-centric pharma solutions and personalised treatments will lead to more adoption of solutions like Locus.”
processes to improve the supply chain’s responsiveness and reliability.”
PharmaRack: Enabling efficiency Pharmarack Technologies, a Pune-based tech start-up, is focussed on augmenting the pharma value chain through automation of order processing and inventory management. It uses a software-as-aservice (SaaS) application to connect drug manufacturers, distributors, local pharmacists and pharma e-tailers with an aim to increase sales and enable transparent communication between the stakeholders. In an earlier interview with Express Pharma, Pradyumn Singh, Co-founder and CEO,
Explaining how Pharmarack helps to get rid of these inefficiencies and bottlenecks, Singh says, “Our platform works across supply chain right from companies, carrying and forwarding agents (CFAs), distributors, retailers and hospitals. Apart from increase in topline for distributors there had been a significant percentage of cost reduction.” He cites the example of one of its clients and informs, “One of India’s large pharma companies did a digital launch for one of its key seasonal products (new variant). Despite slowdown due to GST, within 60 days there was three per cent additional uptick in sales apart from its organic growth.” He further states, “At the
4TiGO: Facilitating a transformation It is a cloud-based technology platform that brings together consignors, consignees, fleet owners, transport companies and agencies to exchange information, transact and manage their entire business. Nandan Nilekani is one of the investors in this online freight exchange facilitator for truckers which offer numerous services such as live monitoring and tracking, application-level integration with partners for cashless purchase of diesel and electronic toll. Anjani Mandal, Co-founder and CEO, 4TiGO informs, “The core of this idea is to use technology to overcome the constraints to improvement due to the fragmented nature of the
SIX PILLARS OF LOGISTICS EXCELLENCE IN THE LIFE SCIENCES INDUSTRY
Locus: Enhancing delivery Locus is a B2B enterprise platform, utilising machine learning technology to optimise logistics and last mile deliver and help conventional logistics businesses gain a competitive edge. The logistic management solution provides route optimisation, packing engine, tracking, and reporting. It claims that its users can optimise their fleet capacity utilisation, reduce fuel usage, improve operational competence, regulate the delivery process and provide great customer experience by adopting its solutions. Explaining their role in the logistics cycle, Nishith Rastogi, Founder, Locus.Sh says, “Like any other distribution heavy business, the consumer being a part of the supply chain is
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Source: Accenture Research 2013
Rastogi opines, “Technology remains one of the most important areas for pharma companies to focus on. Leaders admit that one immediate result is greater transparency, which leads to better decision making. Technology can be used to integrate functions across the network, increase visibility of products across the value chain and automate
Pharmarack had revealed, “We could easily gauge the inefficiency in the supply chain. On one side there is five per cent return of goods due to expiry and other reasons while on the other side, estimates through sources say that there is a parallel counterfeit medicine market which amounts to 25 percent of the overall India domestic pharma market.”
point of care (POC) level, we have successfully done automations for specific operations through our machine learning tools and are closely working for IoT deployment. There had been many instances where doctors, clinics and hospitals were able to source lifesaving and speciality drugs through the Pharmarack platform within hours.”
industry and the lack of transparency of the road transport ecosystem to eliminate inefficiencies. The challenge was to realise this functionality with the ease of use and simplicity that is essential for its adoption in this segment. We have used a combination of 14 different streams of technology to create an intuitive user-interface so that a truck driver, any-
( where in India, can find a load, close the deal and be on his way, all within three clicks.”
A strategic tool Mandal also states, “The emerging new technologies are creating strategic opportunities for organisations to build competitive advantages in various functional areas of management including logistics and supply chain management. However, the degree of success depends on the selection and implementation of the right technology in the right place.” He gives his take on the technologies which will find wide-spread use in the pharma logistics sector in times to come. He says, “One widely used form of technology in the pharma industry is automatic identification technology which is the term used to describe the direct entry of data or information in the computer system, programmable logic controllers or any microprocessor-controlled device without operating a keyboard. This technology displays transparency and ensures safety of information. Another form of technology is the use of Radio-frequency identification (RFID) which uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects. The tags contain electronically stored information. The use of RFID is efficient when it comes to quick turnaround time for perishable products” Elaborating on the concept, he recommends a combination of various technologies to effectively leverage the growth potential in the pharma logistics sector by facilitating a supply chain transformation: ◗ Cloud-based solutions that connect the entire ecosystem of the industry i.e., all the supply chain components as well demand points ◗ Low cost mobile computing devices ◗ Mobile Internet connectivity across the country ◗ Browser-based secure application and secure communication that can be changed virtu-
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ally overnight to align with new regulatory norms ◗ Data-analytics for understanding demand patterns and demand shift trends across different geographies This seems to be an opinion
that the rest of them share as well. Rastogi states, “Over the past few years, there has been a sharp spike in the near realtime data that logistics providers collect through various sources — sensors,
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smartphones and other telematics tools. This data is now being leveraged to optimise delivery schedules and even forecast, with the aid of predictive analytics, future demand in order to maximise resource
utilisation. Therefore to improve supply chain practices pharma organisations will move to AI, Big Data and cloud technologies which will help in supply chain automation.” Singh says, “Supply chain
cover ) automation, IoT-enabled cold chain, real time intelligence, faster market roll out with digital platforms etc., are a few areas that have just started. Technology is still at a nascent stage in the pharma industry and has a long way to go, with IoT playing a crucial role.”
In times of GST Thus, the sector seems to be on a growth path but there is a lot of headway to be gained on multiple fronts, especially in the post-GST era. As an AT Kearney report titled, ‘India’s Pharma Supply Chain: Does the Industry Have What It Takes to Win?’ states, “The goods and services tax (GST) regime will influence the sourcing, manufacturing and distribution footprint, with particular impact of transportation and warehousing.” So, how are things likely to change in these times and what would be required of the pharma players? What do our experts foresee and recommend? Another AT Kearney report, ‘Creating Competitive Advantage through Supply Chain: India Insights,’ points out, “Supply chain functions have been eagerly awaiting the GST rollout. This will enable the supply networks to be ‘Operationally optimised’ from the current ‘Tax optimised’, and potentially reduce supply chain complexity.” Dinesh Agarwal, Executive Director of Khaitan & Co, a renowned law firm also reiterates this view and informs, “With the advent of GST, we believe that pharma companies will remodel their storage and distribution centres. Earlier, they used to have statewise branch office/forwarding and commission agents to take advantage of zero tax on consignment sale/branch transfer. Now, such models don’t offer any tax advantage, rather state-wise distribution centres brings logistic inefficiency and inventory load. Under GST, most of the pharma companies are planning for mega storage facilities at strategically lo-
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cated geographies near the market. Automated storage and distribution centres will add to just-in-time delivery model, reducing inventory and financial losses due to expiry of medicines.” On similar lines, Singh says, “Moving ahead, GST will help in significant reduction in cost of supply-chain/distribution, long working capital cycle. Instead of having multiple, statelevel depots, now companies may move towards the hub & spoke model to reach out on a pan-India level. A maximum of seven hubs would be required. However, it is important to have micro level information real - demand to build intelligence and data science around it for better planning and forecasting. For instance, based on our platform intelligence, beyond 40-45 miles of a metro city there are 15-20 per cent stock-outs compared to 3-4 per cent within metros and it becomes doubly worse in case of specialty drugs.” According to him, this kind of insights will help pharma companies to strategise better on eliminating bottlenecks and apply them on improving companies’ performance. He further recommends, “In the post-GST era, the pharma industry will have to realign their entire supply chain and work towards rationalisation of the CFA model. With easy movement of goods inter-state due to input credit, inter-state logistics will be a flourishing business, especially for the ones who are pharmacompliant ready.” However, Singh also cautions, “All the ERPs needs to be GST-format ready. This is a
challenge as there are close to 400+ softwares in India used by distributors and pharmacies. At the company level this may not be a problem but integrating it with their supply chain would remain a challenge.” Mandal suggests, “Supply chains that truly optimise the overall cost of logistics (in terms of warehousing and transportation) with no consideration of state-boundaries is the first step. However, he also says, “Integrating the complete supply and demand side information flow and capturing the entire ecosystem data onto a single platform followed by data analytics to ensure all demand points are served adequately are steps to be undertaken, irrespective of GST.”
Trends of the future Thus, pharma logistics, as a sector, is on the cusp of a great change. Moreover, if the opportunities in this sector is leveraged well, one could rake in a lot of benefits for the pharma industry as a whole. Describing the future trends in pharma logistics, Rastogi informs, “With pharma companies looking to move into new markets for growth a fully-integrated global supply chain has become paramount.” He also lists down the areas which could see rapid transformation: Global inventory management - Organisations are pushing forward global inventory management systems to ensure as little overhead as possible. End-to-end visibility in logistics has grown in importance and companies have increased investing in ERP
TECHNOLOGY: UNBLOCKING BENEFITS IN LOGISTICS AND DISTRIBUTION ◗ More agile, responsive market reach ◗ Better use of warehouses and trucks ◗ Better coverage of pharmacists ◗ Faster go-to-market with better product availability ◗ Lower product inventories with reduced product returns and rejects ◗ Better customer service
Source: AT Kearney
footprint. Rise of cold chain logistics Rise in biologics based products that need to be stored at colder than average temperatures for the duration of their long expedition to market is rapidly growing. This has caused difficulty for pharma companies to manage fluctuations in demand for temperature dependent drugs, which can result in exceedingly high inventory costs due to cooling requirements. Here real time temperature monitoring during transit can help companies reduce wastage and overhead costs. Increased use of reverse logistics - Consumers and retailers are increasingly returning sold and unsold goods, respectively, to manufacturers. This has led to an extensive focus on customer satisfaction and environmental impact. Technologies like Locus’ allow companies to manage reverse flow of products and lowering cost associated with the process.
world class standards in pharma transportation.” Singh highlights the need for more focus on pharma logistics per se. He says, “There are great logistics start-ups however not many focus on pharma end-to-end. We would see a lot new businesses flourishing with a focus on pharma logistics which has very different needs when compared to the FMCG sector. Pharma logistics is deeply integrated with the entire healthcare ecosystem and has various complexities with skewed supply-demand.” Nevertheless, he is also optimistic about the future and believes, “We are on the cusp of a new model for domestic markets and it is exciting times for start-ups in this space. There had been slow acceptance from the industry for a long time due to various reasons, however, things have changed in the past six months with companies forming dedicated digital/tech teams to work on innovation.”
Conquering the challenges
Way to go
However, there are certain challenges that need to be tackled to accelerate the growth momentum. One major impediment in the growth path seems to be costs. High investments required by technology is a deterrent in their adoption. The operational costs are also quite steep, at least in the initial period. For instance, high operating costs are one of the main reasons why truck fleet vendors are not investing in newer technology. Thus, India requires solutions which are affordable and scalable, especially in areas such as active temperature control, traceability and security requirements. Another thing that needs immediate attention is creation of appropriate infrastructure. As Mandal points out, “In India, pharma logistics sector needs an ecosystem and infrastructure to facilitate smooth operations. Players in the logistics industry should build their capabilities to meet
Summing up, it is clear that the outmoded ways of logistics will be redundant in the future. Companies will have to devise logistics strategies which are closely aligned with their manufacturing and commercial strategies. As the AT Kearney report, ‘Creating Competitive Advantage through Supply Chain: India Insights’ recommends, “With businesses becoming increasingly global and complex, the ability to translate macroeconomic factors into implications for the supply chain is critical. Having an all-encompassing business view helps in designing a supply chain that is proactive to changing business needs.” Thus, be it temperature control, security or regulatory compliance, strategic supply chain management including logistics, with the aid of technology, is pivotal to tackle important issues of the pharma industry. lakshmipriya.nair@expressindia.com
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‘We are a one-stop solution for all TCL needs’ DHL Express’ temperture-controlled logistics services offers critical needs to the pharma sector. RS Subramanian, Country Manager, DHL Express, in an interaction with Usha Sharma, talks more about the solutions offered for the pharma industry Tell us about the ongoing activities of DHL Express' Temperature Controlled Logistics (TCL) services. What solutions do you offer for the pharmaceutical sector? Quality control is one of the most important factors in the purchase and distribution of pharmaceutical drugs. Hence, pharma companies look for reliable partners such as DHL Express, who understand the sector and its supply chain needs. To address their critical needs, DHL Express has developed a specialised vertical — 'temperature controlled logistics' services. We are currently helping companies deliver their pharma products and are also supporting companies who serve Indian patients for various niche diagnostic services related to genetic, oncology and others by sending their biological samples abroad for testing. As the world’s leading international express services provider, we are essentially a one-stop solution for all TCL needs. We have made necessary investments into the right infrastructure and have been training teams to create a valuable proposition for our partners. On top of TCL box pickup and drop-off facilities, we have cold rooms to facilitate TCL at our service centres across Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad. We also offer quick turnaround times, best- in-class packaging solutions, a dedicated team, inhouse cold room facilities and cost- effective solutions. Keeping in mind the sensitive nature of the
shipments from this sector, we also ensure that the entire process of shipping the goods is compliant and in adherence to customs and drug controllers. What are the key features of DHL's Thermonet and how does it help pharma companies improve cold chain? DHL Thermonet has been designed specifically for the life sciences and healthcare sectors. This niche service offers customers a seamless and regulatory compliant platform for shipping temperature-sensitive goods. It ensures round-the-clock proactive monitoring and intervention. The SmartSensor RFID technology, an in-house development from DHL's Solutions & Innovation division, monitors the ambient temperature of the shipment in transit. As an optional service, near-product temperature of goods can also be recorded utilising the SmartSensor XP technology, enabling more targeted intervention. Additionally, LifeTrack is an integrated operational tool for all logistical and temperature data, from standard operating procedures creation through shipment monitoring and intervention, for DHL Thermonet. LifeTrack also simplifies and automates document control and change management.1 How does DHL help pharma companies to increase penetration within rural markets? Owing to our large network, DHL provides pharma
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companies access to its TCL services across 659 cities in India. With our offering of TCL services to 220+ countries and territories, we are unmatched in the market and thus able to deliver to the companies and patients based even in remote locations of various African countries. What innovative solutions does DHL plans to offer the pharma sector? Keeping in mind the significance of quality control in the pharma sector, we have invested in several innovations in our TCL service offering. We can send blood samples to genetic samples at temperatures of -70 °C to 8 °C or more, as required. We can monitor them remotely through tracking devices and with on-ground data loggers. We are continually helping the pharma and biotech industries become compliant with multiple options of moving shipments in adherence to customs and drug controllers in a cost effective manner
across the globe. With a view that each of our customers in the life sciences and healthcare space also has varied requirements depending on the type of shipment, we have introduced various product offerings: Time definite: Door- to-door delivery by pre-selected time, either overnight or on the next possible business day Specialised definite: Industry-specific specialised express movement solution Same day: Immediate pick up and the fastest possible delivery for emergency shipment Value added services: Value added services designed to meet special logistics requirements such as customs services, environmentallyfriendly standards (Go Green), shipper interest insurance, remote area service, etc. We are also continually investing in the development and sourcing of innovative packaging and data logger solutions to improve the efficiency of our TCL product for our customers. Which new solutions you wish to introduce soon? We function as a one-stop solution for temperaturecontrolled logistics, which reflects through our investments in a dedicated vertical for this sector and a 24/7 dedicated TCL customer service team. We are constantly in the process of enhancing our existing solutions and offering new solutions with regard to temperature ranges, packaging and data logging, pricing and customer service.
We are also constantly investing in the development and sourcing of innovative packaging and data logger solutions to improve the efficiency of our TCL product for our customers. How fast is the Indian pharma logistics sector growing and what are the factors driving this growth ? Indian drugs are exported to more than 200 countries in the world, with the US as the key market. Generic drugs account for 20 per cent of global exports in terms of volume, making the country the largest provider of generic medicines globally and expected to expand even further in coming years. The country accounts for the second largest number of Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs) and is the world leader in Drug Master Files (DMFs) applications with the US. Keeping in mind the exponential growth of trade activity between India and the rest of the world in the pharma sector, logistics is a critical and essential enabler, facilitating this growth by delivering the right products in the right quality at the right time. Increased pressures from international consignees and regulators have in turn heightened the need for quality, time and cost conscious supply chains. As a result of these global trends, Indian businesses need to look at logistics solutions that meet global standard while ensuring end –to-end supply chain integrity. u.sharma@expressindia.com
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MANAGEMENT REPORTS
Crohn’s Disease diagnosed incident cases set to increase in the 7MM to 2026 The burden of diagnosed Crohn’s Disease (CD) is expected to grow between 2016 and 2026 in the seven major markets
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pidemiologists from GlobalData, a leading data and analysis company, forecast an increase in the number of diagnosed incident cases, most notably in the US and Japan. The company’s latest report ‘EpiCast Report: Crohn’s Disease – Epidemiology Forecast to 2026 and the EpiCast Model: Crohn’s Disease – Epidemiology Forecast to 2026,’ confirms that diagnosed incident cases of CD in the 7MM will increase from 70,985 cases in 2016 to 74,712 cases in 2026, at an Annual Growth Rate (AGR) of 0.53 per cent. In 2016, the US accounted for 63.23 per cent of the diagnosed incident cases of CD. The US is expected to have the highest number of diagnosed incident cases of CD among the 7MM throughout the forecast
period, while Italy will have the lowest. A spokesperson from the GlobalData Pharma Analysts team commented, “The
data is based on a base forecast that used literature values where there was lack of temporal data to trend for certain
markets. However, we believe the lack of temporal data is a data gap, and that in reality, incidence would be likely to increase based on findings from primary research and from analysis of global trends.” Therefore, an alternate forecast of diagnosed incident cases of CD is also provided for the US and the 5EU markets to estimate the patient size if trending was applied. The increase in incident cases in the alternate forecast is even greater than the main forecast for each market included. GlobalData epidemiologists estimate the US would see an increase of CD incident cases to 65,023 cases in 2026, and the 5EU will see an increase to 35,992 cases in 2026. CD is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) characterised by chronic inflammation of the
gastrointestinal tract. While any part of the gastrointestinal tract can be affected, inflammation is most commonly found at the end of the small intestine (ileum), and the start of the large intestine (colon). The disease course of CD is characterised by periods of remission followed by periods of relapse, the length and severity of which differ from case to case. Inflammation in CD can result in severe scarring and narrowing of parts of the bowel. There is no cure for CD, and treatment aims to control symptoms and sustain remission; it is estimated that up to three quarters of those with CD require surgery. The disease can lead to premature mortality, disability, and decreased quality of life. EP News Bureau
Affluent market, medical tourism to steer best-in line drug delivery devices in India Trends indicate that medical tourism will also bolster the demand for sophisticated devices and emerge as an important source of revenue for the Indian medical industry AS THE GDP per capita increases, India’s affluent market will drive demand for best-in line drug delivery devices and reward innovations in the years to come, says GlobalData. According to the company’s latest report, ‘India Drug Delivery Devices Market Outlook to 2023, – Central Venous Catheters, Infusion Systems, Needle Free Injections and Metered Dose Inhaler Devices,’ the market, which was worth
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$411 million in 2016, is on course to touch $510 million by 2023, clocking a CAGR of 3.1 per cent from 2016 to 2023. Trends indicate that medical tourism will also bolster the demand for sophisticated devices and emerge as an important source of revenue for the Indian medical industry. Relatively affluent patients from more developed countries are opting India to get a standard of care at a fraction of the
cost compared to their home country. As healthcare prices in the developed world continue to increase, so too will the interest in medical tourism in India. Even as the demand for sophisticated products is set to grow, Indian government is ready and willing to take strong measures to control the prices of devices. This calls for devices sold within its borders to be effective as well as cost efficient.
Aging population, prevalence of chronic diseases, increasing health awareness are among the other key factors driving this market. According to GlobalData, the country’s aging population will take care of volume growth in future, if not necessarily the quality of products. Currently, 1.9 per cent of the population of India is 75 or above. James Spencer, Medical Devices Analyst, GlobalData, says, “India is the ‘diabetes
capital’ of the world, and the number of people suffering from diabetes is only expected to increase. As more knowledge and awareness is spread about diabetes, the demand for insulin delivery systems will only grow as time progresses.” Interestingly, the overall drug delivery devices space is almost swept by overseas players, with only one domestic firm figuring in the top 10 list. EP News Bureau
New diabetes therapeutics to steal ground from insulin therapies: GBI Research Increased market diversification is expected due to patent expiries for major insulin products THE INCIDENCE of diabetes mellitus (DM), and most notably type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which accounts for 90–95 per cent of all DM cases, is growing rapidly on a global scale, according to business intelligence provider GBI Research. The company’s latest report, ‘Global Diabetes Drugs Market to 2023 - A Diversifying Treatment Landscape as GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and SGLT-2 Inhibitors Gain Ground Following Landmark Cardiac Outcomes’ reveals that the US is expected to experience the greatest rise in T2DM prevalence, and incidence rates are also expected to increase from 2.5 per cent in 2016 to four per cent by 2023. DM is a generalised term used to define multiple diseases with different etiologies that are characterised by chronic hyperglycemia (high blood glucose levels) resulting from insufficient synthesis, secretion or signalling of insulin – a hormone produced by the pancreas. The main role of insulin is to facilitate the absorption of glucose into skeletal muscle and fat cells following food digestion, which provides these cells with a source of energy for metabolism, and also reduces the concentration of glucose in the blood. Insulin signalling also has important roles in many processes including growth, development and controlling inflammation. The DM market has undergone a dynamic shift over the past decade, primarily due to the entry of three new non-insulin drug classes for T2DM: glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP1) receptor agonists, dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors and sodium–glucose linked transporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors. EP News Bureau
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RESEARCH UPDATES
Length of exposure to obesity associated with NCDs According to European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO), healthcare systems should be adapted and professionals should be trained to prevent and treat childhood obesity of the ICD-10 and ICD-11 Beta Draft definitions of obesity in children and adults. Achievement of meaningful impacts on childhood obesity requires more than single interventions, such as taxing soda or traffic light food labelling. Although individual-level changes are a necessary
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hildhood obesity is one of the greatest health challenges of the 21 st century. Worldwide, there has been a more than ten-fold increase in the number of children and adolescents with obesity in the past four decades, increasing from 5 million girls in 1975 to 50 million in 2016, and from 6 million to 74 million boys, according to a new global analysis of trends in child and adolescent obesity in 200 countries, published in The Lancet. In Europe, 19-49 per cent of boys and 18-43 per cent of girls are overweight or have obesity, representing approximately 12 to 16 million overweight youth, very few of whom receive adequate treatment. The European prevalence of childhood obesity continues to rise except in a few countries where it is levelling off (Denmark, France, Sweden, Switzerland). According to Dr Nathalie
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Farpour-Lambert, PresidentElect and University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland, European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO), childhood obesity is a complex disease, which in the majority of children has a multifactorial basis. It has been shown to have a strong association with adult mortality and morbidity. The length of exposure to obesity is also associated with the risk of developing related comorbidities over time, in particular non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs). As childhood obesity has a strong tendency to track into adulthood, most children and adolescents who have obesity will have obesity in adulthood and will have a significant lifelong exposure. Childhood is a unique window of opportunity to have a lifetime impact on health, quality of life and prevention of disabilities. Therefore, urgent action is needed. The EASO Childhood
Obesity Task Force (COTF) is convinced that considering obesity as a chronic disease is a crucial step for increasing individual and societal awareness, enhance the development of novel preventive interventions and health policies, and improve the care of children with obesity worldwide. Treating obesity early prior to the appearance of comorbidities, may prevent its escalation into significant clinical and psychosocial problems. Healthcare systems should be adapted and professionals should be trained to prevent and treat childhood obesity. The EASO is aiming to address the childhood obesity epidemics via policy and educational activities, identification of research agendas and the creation of collaborations across Europe of clinicians and researchers involved in childhood obesity. EASO has recently proposed a revision
component of obesity prevention and treatment, they are only one part of a whole system response, and must be supported by upstream actions that focus on promoting healthier physical, economic and social environments. EP News Bureau
Novartis gets FDA breakthrough status for Tafinlar, Mekinist combination NOVARTIS SAID the US Food and Drug Administration has granted breakthrough therapy status to the combination of Tafinlar and Mekinist to treat patients with BRAF V600-positive stage III melanoma following surgery. “There is a need for more effective treatment options for stage III melanoma patients at a high risk of recurrence following surgical resection,” Samit Hirawat, Head of Global Drug Development, Novartis’ oncology unit, said in a release. “We thank the FDA for recognising the scientific advancement Tafinlar and Mekinist may provide in this adjuvant setting.” Reuters
Chi-Med,AstraZeneca cancer drug shrinks tumours Savolitinib is designed to limit their ability to develop such resistance by selectively targeting c-MET, an enzyme that functions abnormally in many tumours AN EXPERIMENTAL cancer drug discovered by Hutchison China MediTech has demonstrated promising activity in shrinking tumours in lung cancer patients whose disease had worsened following treatment with approved medicines. The treatment, which Hutchison China MediTech or ‘Chi-Med’ is developing with AstraZeneca, is one of a new wave of innovative medicines coming out of Chinese research labs as the country flexes its muscles in drug discovery. Results from small-scale studies presented at a medical meeting in Japan showed that adding savolitinib to either AstraZeneca’s Tagrisso or Iressa improved responses. Drugs like Tagrisso and Iressa are designed for patients with certain mutations on a gene called EGFR. They can hold disease at bay in these patients but cancer cells often adapt and develop new resistance mechanisms. Savolitinib is designed to limit their ability to develop such resistance by selectively targeting c-MET, an enzyme that functions abnormally in many tumours. In one proof-of-concept study, 28 per cent of patients with EGFR-mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer who had previously been treated with Tagrisso showed a partial response with savolitinib. A second study showed a 31 per cent response in patients previously given Iressa. In cancer medicine a partial response is defined as a reduction of at least 30 per cent in the size of measurable tumours. Reuters
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RESEARCH
GSK wins US shingles vaccine approval The company also secured a recommendation from UK cost authorities for a $700,000 gene therapy for so-called ‘bubble boy’ disease GLAXOSMITHKLINE has won US approval for a new and improved shingles vaccine, the second of three key products for which the British drugmaker expects approval this year. It also secured a recommendation from UK cost authorities for a $700,000 gene therapy for so-called ‘bubble boy’ disease — a step forward for the field of fixing faulty genes but a tiny sales opportunity. Only three patients have received the gene therapy commercially since its May 2016 approval in Europe. The green light for GSK’s shingles shot Shingrix, which has proved significantly better than Merck & Co’s Zostavax in clinical trials, is an important vindication of GSK’s product pipeline.
GSK’s vaccine is considered one of the more pivotal products in its pipeline, with annual sales forecast to reach 1.03 billion pounds ($1.36 billion) by 2023, data from Reuters show. “Although largely expected, the approval is an important one for GSK — a new product with a clear best-in-class profile,” Berenberg analysts said recently. “We expect approval in Europe late this year.” The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval comes a month after it cleared GSK’s three-in-one inhaler for chronic lung disease. The third new product GSK expects to launch in the world’s biggest drugs market is a dualdrug regimen for HIV, on which the US regulator is scheduled to give a verdict by December 1. The FDA approved
Shingrix, which is given in two doses, for adults aged 50 and over. Approval had been expected after an advisory panel to the agency backed the product. Shingrix is more effective than Zostavax, the only currently available shingles
Celgene abandons Crohn’s drug trials
Astra and Merckwin speedyreviewfor Lynparza in breast cancer
Celgene will not initiate a third study following a risk-benefit analysis by a data monitoring committee CELGENE CORP said it would abandon testing a drug to treat Crohn’s disease, in a major setback to the US biotechnology company’s pipeline amid attempts to lower dependence on its mainstay Revilimid. Celgene said it would stop two trials of the drug, mongersen, and would not initiate a third study following a riskbenefit analysis by a data monitoring committee. Morgan Stanley analysts said the decision was likely based on lack of efficacy, given that management did not identify any safety imbalances. The drug was being tested in late-stage and extension
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studies as a treatment for Crohn’s. Investors thought the drug was a significant potential upside driver despite being one of the more risky assets in Celgene’s pipeline, Morgan Stanley analysts said. Mongersen is forecast to rake in sales of more than $1 billion by 2023. Celgene is waiting to review full data from a mid-stage study testing mongersen as an ulcerative colitis treatment to determine next steps. The company said it expects pre-tax charge in the range of $300 million to $500 million, or 27 cents to 45 cents per share after tax, from the
prevention vaccine, which is given as a single dose. GSK said it expects Shingrix to be available shortly. Older adults are most at risk of shingles, a painful, often debilitating blistering rash that results from reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus that
causes chickenpox and remains latent in those who have had that disease. Shingrix contains a component from Agenus, which is entitled to royalties on future sales. Meanwhile, Britain’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) said that it had approved GSK’s gene therapy Strimvelis for treating ADA-SCID -- better known as ‘bubble boy’ disease — despite its steep price tag of 594,000 euros ($698,000). Infants with the condition need to be kept in isolation to avoid infections and the cost to the state health service can run to millions of pounds, so a oneoff genetic cure can prove costeffective even at a very high price. Reuters
discontinuation. Celegene’s flagship multiple myleoma treatment, Revlimid, brought in sales of $3.92 billion and accounted for about 63 per cent of total revenue in the second quarter ended June 30. Inflammatory bowel diseases, which include Crohn’s, affect about 1.6 million Americans, according to Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. Crohn’s affects the lining of the digestive tract and can cause abdominal pain, diarrhoea and rectal bleeding. Celgene is also testing ozanimod as a treatment for inflammatory bowel disease. Reuters
US REGULATORS have granted a priority review to AstraZeneca’s ovarian cancer drug Lynparza as a treatment for breast cancer, putting it on track for potential approval in the new disease area during the first quarter of 2018. The medicine, which is being jointly developed and marketed with Merck under a deal struck in July, is the first poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) drug to be considered for use outside ovarian cancer. Lynparza is also being tested in prostate and pancreatic cancers, the two companies said. The successful breast cancer submission to the US Food and Drug Administration follows a clinical study showing advanced breast cancer patients with certain gene mutations experienced double the response rate and delayed disease progression when treated with Lynparza compared with chemotherapy. Lynparza - abandoned at one stage by AstraZeneca but revived by CEO Pascal Soriot when he took over in 2012 - became the first PARP drug to reach the market when it won US approval for ovarian cancer at the end of 2014. It now faces competition from rival products made by Tesaro and Clovis Oncology that are also approved for ovarian cancer. PARP inhibitors work by blocking enzymes involved in repairing damaged DNA, thereby helping to kill cancer cells. Reuters
RESEARCH
Novo Nordisk diabetes drug works effectively The drug causes no heart risk and carried only limited risk of sight problems NOVO NORDISK’S closely watched diabetes drug semaglutide is effective, caused no heart risk, and carried only limited risk of sight problems, a preliminary review by the US Food and Drug Administration concluded recently. The review, posted on the FDA’s website, comes two days ahead of a meeting of advisors to the agency who will discuss the drug, semaglutide, and recommend whether it should be approved. The FDA typically follows the recommendations of its advisors.
Seamus Fernandez, an analyst at Leerink, said the FDA’s comments “suggest a clear path to a timely approval.” All three drugs belong to a hotly contested class known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP1) analogs, which imitate an intestinal hormone that stimulates the production of insulin and lowers blood sugar. Data showed semaglutide reduced blood sugar better than Trulicity, known also as dulaglutide, and led to greater weight loss. Semaglutide also proved superior in reducing
Data showed semaglutide reduced blood sugar better than Trulicity, known also as dulaglutide, and led to greater weight loss
blood sugar than a range of other drugs, including Merck & Co’s Januvia and AstraZeneca's Bydureon. The FDA’s review analysed clinical trial data showing more patients taking semaglutide developed complications associated with diabetic retinopathy, a condition that can cause blindness. But the FDA’s opthalmic reviewer concluded that “to the extent that the increased incidence in progression of retinopathy is real in this program, it does not raise any ophthalmic concerns.”
“The primary reason the stock is up is because there was significant concern on retinopathy and the document reads somewhat favourably,” said Wimal Kapadia, an analyst at Bernstein. Novo Nordisk is relying on semaglutide to accelerate sales growth, which has slowed amid increased competition for its products in the US. The company is testing an oral version of semaglutide as well as a higher-dose version for weight loss. Reuters
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RESEARCH
Vitamin D supplements linked to lower risk of asthma attacks Vitamin D boosts immunity to respiratory viruses that are the major precipitant of asthma attacks ASTHMA ATTACKS serious enough to require steroid treatment or hospitalisation may be less likely when people take vitamin D supplements, a recent analysis suggests. Researchers examined data combined from seven previously published studies with a total of 955 asthma patients who were randomly selected to take vitamin D or a placebo pill, in addition to any other medicines prescribed to manage their symptoms. When asthma patients took vitamin D supplements, they were 54 per cent less likely to have an attack severe enough to require an emergency room visit or hospital admission, the study found. They were also 31 per cent less likely to have frequent asthma attacks requiring treatment with corticosteroids. The apparent benefits of taking vitamin D were significant only in people who started out with a deficiency, however. “The take-home message is that asthma patients who suffer with attacks (exacerbations) should get their vitamin D level checked, and if it is low, they should take a vitamin D supplement - there is negligible risk associated with doing this, and there is pretty good evidence to suggest that this could reduce their risk of having an attack,” said senior study author Dr Adrian Martineau of Queen Mary University of London in the UK. “It’s very important to emphasise that asthma patients should not stop taking their usual asthma therapy,” Martineau said by email. “All of the studies included in our review looked at the effects of giving vitamin D on top of usual therapy.” Worldwide, more than 300
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Regeneron -Sanofi drug succeeds mid-stage study The drug is marketed under the trade name Dupixent, with a list price of $37,000 a year
million people have asthma, and the disease is responsible for an estimated 400,000 deaths each year, researchers note in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. In the study, participants lived in six countries on three continents and ranged in age from 1 to 85 years. Vitamin D supplement doses varied across all the studies in the analysis. One study tested a 100,000 IU (international units) dose every two months; four studies examined daily doses ranging from 500 IU to 2,000 IU; and two studies explored giving patients vitamin D both daily and once every two months. Supplements appeared to have the biggest impact on reducing the risk of asthma attacks in people who started out with blood levels of the circulating form of vitamin D that were below 25 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L), which is widely considered deficient. For people who started with circulating levels of 25 nmol/L or higher, there was some re-
duction in asthma attacks, but the difference was too small to rule out the possibility it was due to chance. One potential explanation of the results is that vitamin D boosts immunity to respiratory viruses that are the major precipitant of asthma attacks, Martineau said. It also dampens harmful inflammatory responses in the airway that can contribute to the development of an asthma attack and may enhance the anti-inflammatory effects of corticosteroids for some people. “In addition to benefits in asthma, vitamin D supplementation can reduce risk of colds and flu in people who don’t have asthma and protect against rickets in children and osteomalacia (softening of the bones) in adults,” Martineau said. “It is possible to take too much vitamin D, and if you do, it can cause high calcium levels that can result in kidney damage in extreme cases,” Martineau added. “However, this would not occur at the doses
investigated in the trials that contributed to our analysis.” The study didn’t examine the ideal dose of vitamin D or test possible reasons the supplement might ease asthma symptoms. The small studies in the analysis also had different methods of measuring the effectiveness of vitamin D for reducing asthma attacks, making it hard to say for sure who would benefit most from supplements. “This analysis suggests that vitamin D supplementation may be beneficial in patients with asthma, although the evidence is not yet strong enough to recommend its use,” said Dr Richard Beasley, Medical Research Institute of New Zealand in Wellington, coauthor of an accompanying editorial. “Vitamin D supplementation is potentially an attractive therapeutic approach as it is relatively cheap, and vitamin D deficiency is common in many populations where asthma is also common,” Beasley said. Reuters
REGENERON Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi said their drug to treat inflammation in the esophagus, mainly caused by food allergies, met the main goal of a mid-stage study. The drug, dupilumab, was statistically significant in improving the ability to swallow in adults with moderate-tosevere eosinophilic esophagitis, when compared with a placebo. Eosinophilic esophagitis is a chronic, allergic inflammatory disease that damages the pipe that connects the throat and the stomach, and can lead to food getting stuck in the esophagus and difficulties in swallowing. The US Food and Drug Administration in lateMarch approved dupilumab to treat adults with moderate-to-severe eczema. The drug is marketed under the trade name Dupixent, with a list price of $37,000 a year. Regeneron and Sanofi are also developing dupilumab to treat severe asthma, a market where it will compete with a wave of other new biotech medicines, such as GlaxoSmithKline’s Nucala. Reuters
PHARMA ALLY VENDOR NEWS
Pertinax Pharma launches patented chlorhexidine technology The technology has potential applications across wound care, dentistry, medical devices etc
P
ertinax Pharma has announced the commercial launch of its unique, proprietary Pertinax technology, which provides controlled and sustained delivery of chlorhexidine (CHX). The revolutionary new technology has a wide range of potential applications across the wound care, dentistry, medical device and veterinary markets. The advantage of Pertinax is that, unlike conventional CHX products, it does not dissipate rapidly and can provide precisely measured antimicrobial efficacy over days, weeks, months or even years. Consequently, Perti-
nax has the potential to significantly improve a wide range of existing CHX products, whilst also opening up a number of entirely new applications. Pertinax was originally developed at the University of Bristol with primarily dental and oral hygiene applications in mind but over the past two years, the company has validated the material in a very broad range of clinical and veterinary applications. A UK patent for the technology was granted in November 2015, and a US patent was granted in August of this year. To date, eight peer reviewed papers have
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been published on the use of Pertinax in a variety of applications, demonstrating the technology’s broad applicability, efficacy and safety. Pertinax offers two key advantages over conventional CHX formulations. The material requires lower quantities of CHX, with continuous antimicrobial function provided by
less frequent applications than conventional CHX products. The material also exhibits lower cytotoxicity than equivalent concentrations of conventional CHX. Ashley Cooper, CEO, Pertinax Pharma, commented, “Since the inception of the company, we have focussed our efforts and investment on the characterisation ofPertinax materials and the development of a scalable manufacturing process.” Dr Michele Barbour, CSO, Pertinax Pharma remarked, “Our unique, patented technology has wide potential applica-
tion across human and vetinerary medicine. While there is scope for application across multiple sectors, wound care is our initial focus. Our technology is especially well suited to this field including in polyurethanes, alginates, acrylics and silicones.” The company is actively seeking commercial partners in the wound care and medical device industries. Pertinax is available in kilogram quantities for development purposes, and the company plans to establish commercial cGMP production over the next 12 to 18 months. EP News Bureau
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PHARMA ALLY PRODUCTS
Gandhi Automations’high speed doors: Technology with innovative and creative engineering HIGH SPEED doors designed and manufactured by Gandhi Automations are sturdy, dependable and are the ideal solution for medium and large entrances. The doors are manufactured with European collaboration and technology with innovative and creative engineering. Fast moving functional and reliable doors are needed in industrial and commercial contexts. Gandhi Automations’ designed and manufactured high speed doors are versatile and solid ensuring long-lasting reliability. The modular structure of the curtains, assembled and joined by anodised aluminium extrusions, provides for a wide range of polyester sections available in a variety of colours. Wide, fullwidth window panels ensure a safer traffic and allow more light in. Their fast and easy replacement, in case of accidental tearing, saves money and time. The alternating metal tubular structure there inserted ensures high wind-resistance. Prime high speed doors are the ideal solution for internal and external entrances and ef-
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Optel Group launches HD PrintSafe OPTEL GROUP, a leading global provider of traceability systems for the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, launched its brand-new, innovative vision inspection solution, HD PrintSafe. This high-definition, high-speed digital inkjet printing system works as an all-in-one, dropon-demand and inspection solution, rendering it highly versatile and able to work with large web printing and high volumes.
30 EXPRESS PHARMA November 1-15, 2017
On one side is the HD Printer, a fully integrated ink jet system manufactured by BELL-MARK, a company specialising in in-line printing and coding. This system works seamlessly with its PC-based print design software. On the other side is a 100 per cent web inspection (artwork and variable data) solution using CIS (Contact Image Sensor) inspection technology, ready for serialisation. OPTEL’s HD PrintSafe was
designed with serialisation and UDI regulations requirements in mind, i.e. precise OCV/OCR, barcode, 2D code, grading and web inspection. Such rigorous verifications offer the best print quality and consistency for pharmaceutical and medical device packaging, confirming integrity and ensuring user safety. Most thermoforming packaging lines are still equipped with outdated, costly printing technologies. Manufacturers
are experiencing frequent downtimes and high variable costs throughout both pharmaceutical and medical device industries. However, the existing market’s drop-on-demand printers offering is very limited, especially when combined with a vision system — OPTEL’s HD PrintSafe successfully uses both technologies. Ever-increasing traceability regulations and brand protection may eventually require unit-dose serialisation. After
careful consideration of these challenges, OPTEL developed the all-in-one HD PrintSafe solution to optimise the printing and vision inspection process, with quick changeovers, to help improve the efficiency and consistency on packaging lines. Contact details Louis Turcotte, Product Line Manager Tel: +1 418 688-0334, ext. 6360 email id: louis.turcotte@ optelgroup.com
PHARMA ALLY I N T E R V I E W
‘Our aim is to scout and spot untapped rural students potentials’ Pulsus currently focusses towards expanding healthcare informatics and pharmacovigilance market studies of the current and future prospects of the global healthcare market. Dr Srinubabu, CEO Pulsus HealthTech, reveals more in an interaction with Express Pharma Can you explain the idea behind Pulsus HealthTech? Pulsus Group is a health informatics and healthcare services company and publisher of scientific, technical, and medical literatures. It was established in 1984 primarily to publish peer-reviewed medical journals. Pulsus Group conducts conferences in association with scientific societies. Pulsus Group is a medical and healthcare publisher since three decades and received accolades from the contributors and the readers. At present, Pulsus Group is diversifying its publishing portfolio to other realms by incorporating all major science, technology, medical journals as an ardent scientific publisher of open access and hybrid access peer reviewed journals. With a view to preserve, pursue, share and distribute scientific discoveries and knowledge, Pulsus currently focusses towards expanding healthcare informatics and pharmacovigilance market studies of the current and future prospects of the global healthcare market. Pulsus was focussing on American region and presently expanding to healthcare informatics platform to the medical and pharma professionals throughout Europe, America, Asia, Australia and all other continents. Since its inception, Pulsus received endorsements of
medical associations and industries of international repute. This support allowed Pulsus Group to gain excellent reputation from the scientific and industrial community and able to bridge relations between industries and practicing physicians. Pulsus Pharmacovigilance works including collection, archival and monitoring of individual case study reports, studies with reference to four phases of clinical research and development of existing and emerging molecules, adverse drug reaction reports, effectiveness and risk factors assessment. Pulsus healthcare informatics and pharmacovigilance enables medical and pharma companies must conduct a comprehensive drug safety and patient monitoring audit to assess their compliance with global laws, regulations, and guidance ultimately works towards personalised medicine. Pulsus conducts 500+ global meetings per year across the world. These meetings enable physicians and industry professionals come together and make conclusive steps towards advanced therapeutics and treatment aspects. Headquartered at Singapore, PULSUS group has its offices in London (UK), Ontario, (Canada) and in India Pulsus is operating from Hyderabad, Chennai and Delhi. Endorsed by the medical associations
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PHARMA ALLY and scientific societies, PULSUS is an ardent international medical research publisher and science event organiser that promotes peer reviewed medical journals in association with international medical associations and scientific societies.
Indian pharma industry is generally not considered as research friendly. What is your observation? On certain aspects, the comment holds true as Indian pharma is still blowing its trumpet in terms of only high volume generic products and lacking serious research and innovations. Probably the economics like high R&D cost, affordability, market scope, ROI along with low patent regimes are pulling back the giant pharma to concentrate more onto the low hanging fruit of generics. As compliance and regulations are becoming more stringent these days, our pharma is also transforming into end-to-end research and development, which seems optimistic. India has very good scientific pool in terms of human resources. Lack of opportunities transform our scientific pool towards foreign countries. Big pharma companies to even small start-up’s are keen in attending our pharma conferences, workshops, symposiums and are willing to make partnerships with researchers and academicians to scale up their research outcomes into lifesaving products.
Annually you conduct more than 5000 conferences across the globe. It’s a huge task, how do you manage this? Organising 5000 conferences in more than 20 countries throws huge challenges in terms of breaking the cross cultural barriers, logistics and putting the right people on board every time. We need to get our feet and get the foothold as every event is like aligning head and eye. Hosting successful events every time needs right planning, time, effort and good project management skills. We manage to execute this in perfection through our detailed plan of action and committed workforce. In a country like India, a significant percentage of brilliant researchers/students belong to rural India. How do you recognise them and make them aware of your journals/conferences/oppo rtunities offered by you? India currently has about 120,000 scientists, just about a tenth of the number in the US. Hailing from a rural backdrop, I personally believe creativity and talent are evenly distributed among the population irrespective of caste, creed, religion, socioeconomic status or geographical location. They only lag compared to the urban students is well-versed English and finding right resources. Pulsus through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) tries to identify the 'creative pool' through our Young Researchers Forum (YRF) where we organise free seminars, symposiums and workshops in many
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universities and rural colleges to nurture scientific rigour and join the scientific workforce. We are also awarding $1000 for the colleges or faculties in meeting the student’s conveniences. We also offer special privileges for these young researchers to publish their research work at our international journals and attend our conferences at discounted prices. Our aim is
to scout and spot untapped rural students potentials by providing a global platform to showcase their research and explore opportunities. What is the total number of research papers that you get from India annually? On an average, we receive 5000 papers annually from India, which occupies 7 per cent of our total papers that we receive across globally.
Give details about awards/recognition received by Pulsus Healthtech. Pulsus HealthTech is proud of the work we put forth each day to meet and exceed our academicians, researchers and sponsor’s requirements. We have made significant progress in the areas of our open access publications, ebooks, and international conferences. Awards and recognition demonstrate our commitment to excellence. In recent times, we have received the following accolades. Our subsidiaries ImedPub- and Conference Series bagged Healthcare Excellence Awards as Best Medical Journals Company and Best Medical Events Company for the year 2015 honoured by Indus
Organisation from ESL Narasimhan- Hon Governor of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Our international events are recognised and appreciated by eminent personalities like: ◗ Pat Quinn, Mayor of State of Illinois, USA for Women’s Health, Gynecology, & Obstetrics 2015 ◗ Brian Sandoval, Mayor of Nevada, USA for Food Technology 2015 ◗ Boris Johnson, Mayor of London for Neurology 2016 ◗ Kasim Reed, Mayor of Atlanta, USA for Virology 2015 ◗ Greg Stanton, Mayor of Phoenix for Parkinson’s 2016 Will you be increasing the number of conferences in the coming years? Since from the time our inception we have transformed to one hundred fold. We started with two conferences in 2001 and reached to 500 in 2017. With the existing infrastructure and employee size, we are planning to organise 1000 conferences in 50 countries by the end of 2020. Globally, you are one of the most respected publishing hubs. You are well-known for conferences that you organise in different parts of the world as well. What is going to be your next initiative? We will continue to set our bar higher and make further progress to organise 1000 conferences in 50 countries across all continents by 2020. We have recently launched online digital video library where all our conference proceedings would be shared and be accessed by the online communities freely. We are also building up global databases of 3000000 eminent researchers profiles, abstracts, articles and powerpoint presentations from medical, pharma, engineering, science, technology and business communities which would bring greater visibility to their profiles and research globally. EP News Bureau
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PHARMA LIFE INITIATIVE
Sanofi India celebrates ‘DaanUtsav’ The company’s CSR team organised a series of activities where every employee was asked to spend four hours with children from vulnerable sections of society
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anofi India recently celebrated ‘DaanUtsav’, which brought together people from all walks of life to celebrate and spread the joy of giving. Individuals and companies joined together to make ‘giving’ an emotionally rewarding personal and social moment. Sanofi India’s and its employees did things differently for communities that are part of their life. The company’s CSR team organised a series of activities where every employee was asked to spend four hours with children from vulnerable sections of society, helping employees do something that would be memorable and valuable. Sanofi worked with Fight Hunger Foundation, Jeevan Asha Charitable Society, Smile Foundation, Child Help Foundation, etc. The following initiatives were held: ◗ Wish Tree: Making wishes
come true by feeding a malnourished child from the Fight Hunger Foundation. Funds were collected to treat children with acute severe malnutrition. ◗ Anna Daan: Employees gave food grains and biscuits for children at Jeevan Asha Charitable Society. ◗ Soul Curry: Sanofi India cooked for a cause, a competition for employees to showcase their culinary skills. Proceeds from the sale of dishes go to Smile Foundation. Contribution will provide the children an
opportunity for education and good healthcare. ◗ Vidya Daan: Stationary including pencils, erasers, draw-
ing books and colours are donated by Sanofi employees to the Child Help Foundation. ◗ NGO Mela: 11 NGOs dis-
played their wares in Sanofi offices for employees to buy. The team at Sanofi showed their solidarity by buying all that they had to display. ◗ Sports, arts and craft activities: Employees participated in cricket and art and craft activities with children from 15 NGOs across 15 cities in India. This was not a one-time activity; employees will go back to mentor the children in the coming months. EP News Bureau
ACCOLADE
Biocon bags recognition The Science Careers Top 20 Employers Survey 2017 recognises Biocon for ‘being an innovative leader in the industry’, ‘having a clear vision’ and ‘being socially responsible’ BIOCON HAS been ranked at No 9 in The Science Careers Top 20 Employers Survey 2017. It is the only Asian company in the prestigious list of global biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Biocon has been recognised for ‘being an innovative leader in the industry’, ‘having a clear vision’ and ‘being socially responsible’. The Science and Science
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Careers' 2017 annual Top Employers Survey polled employees in the biotechnology, biopharma, pharma and related industries to determine the best employers in these industries, as well as their driving characteristics. This year almost 7,000 people participated in the web-based survey. The respondents were from North America (65 per cent), Europe (25 per cent), and
Asia/Pacific Rim (7 per cent); 94 per cent of these were from biotechnology, biopharma and pharma companies. The overall driving characteristics of top employers as per survey respondents are ‘innovative leader in the industry’, ‘work culture values aligned’, ‘treats employees with respect’, ‘is socially responsible’, ‘has loyal employees’, and ‘has clear vision’.
Amitava Saha, Sr VP & Head of HR, Biocon, said, “We are proud to hold our position in Top 20 Best Employers, since 2012. This is a recognition of Biocon's people centric work culture, which encourages innovative thinking, focusses on excellence, instils a sense of ownership and builds confidence in our employees to make a difference. These qualities have made us one of
the most sought after employers among the top biotech and pharma companies in the world.” Biocon is the only company from Asia to feature in this list since 2012. Some of the other leading global players are Regeneron, Novozymes, NovoNordisk, Merck; Genentech, EliLilly etc. EP News Bureau
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