16-31 Oct ober 2012 I Vol 1 I N o 8 I `100
www.modernpharma.in
Scan this code on your smart phone to visit www.modernpharma.in
In Conversation With 10
Special Focus 11
Interface 12
Policies & Regulations 14
Pulin Shroff Managing Director, Charak Pharma
Drug delivery systems Analysing the present, predicting the future
Ketan R Patel Chairman & MD, Troikaa Pharmaceuticals Ltd
Low-cost generics Bridge to reduce India’s disease burden
Intas Pharma seeks Gujarat HC sanction for merger of four group companies
Ahmedabad-based Intas group has sought sanction of the Gujarat High Court for amalgamation of four group companies. The four companies include Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Astorn Reserch Ltd, Intas Biopharmaceuticals Ltd and Celestail Biologicals Ltd.
Bharat Biotech wins patent award from Pharmexcil
Bharat Biotech, a multidimensional innovation-oriented biotechnology company has received Silver Patent Award for the year 2011-12 from The Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexil) in recognition of commendable contribution in biotech products and research. Dr Krishna Ella, CMD, Bharat Biotech, said, “We thank Phamexcil for recognising innovation at Bharat Biotech and the credit goes to the Bharat Biotech Team, who have worked relentlessly to make this happen.”
Sun Pharma gets nod to raise up to ` 8,000 crore
Drug firm Sun Pharmaceutical Industries said its board of directors has approved the proposal to raise up to ` 8,000 crore. According to the company, the proposal would be put for shareholders’ approval during the annual general meeting scheduled on November 8.
Optimer introduces strategic initiative to further facilitate patient access to Dificid®
Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc recently announced the implementation of an initiative designed to accelerate and expand patient access to Dificid® (fidaxomicin) tablets. Separately, and consistent with its goal of improving awareness and understanding of the disease, Optimer is also announcing a new project analysing the burden of Clostridium Difficile Infection (CDI).
Aurobindo Pharma receives USFDA approval for Modafinil tablets
Aurobindo Pharma Ltd has received approval from the USFDA to manufacture and market Modafinil tablets USP 100mg and 200mg. The product is ready for launch. Modafinil tablets are the generic equivalent of Cephalon, Inc’s Provigil® tablets. Modafinil tablets are for treatment of narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorders and excessive daytime sleepiness associated with obstructive sleep.
Takeda and Advinus initiate
multi-year drug discovery collaboration Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd and Advinus Therapeutics Ltd jointly announced that they have entered into an agreement to initiate a 3-year discovery collaboration focussed on novel targets for major therapeutic areas including inflammation, CNS and metabolic diseases. In this collaboration, Advinus is responsible for leading the programmes to create optimal Investigational New Drugs (IND)-ready compounds for pre-defined targets. Under the terms of the agreement, Takeda will receive worldwide commercial rights to drug candidates emerging from this alliance. Advinus will receive guaranteed research
funding of $ 36 million over the term of the collaboration, $ 9 million in milestones leading to candidate selection, and is eligible to receive future clinical and regulatory milestone payments of up to $ 45 million per product, plus royalties on product sales worldwide. “Collaboration with Advinus is one of our initiatives to enhance our research productivity,” said Dr Paul Chapman, GM - Pharmaceutical Research Division, Takeda. “We are excited to partner with Advinus as
they have innovative approaches to efficiently generate INDs that will further strengthen Takeda’s drug discovery capabilities, while also enhancing our pipeline.”
Biocon featured in the global Top 20 BioPharma employers Biocon Ltd recently companies. This announced that it has company has received global recognition been ranked from the ‘Science’ magazine on six key that features Biocon in its parameters such annual global ‘Top Twenty as innovative Employer’ list for the bio leader in the pharma sector. According industry, treat to the 2012 Top Biotech and Mazumdar-Shaw employees Pharma Employers survey, with respect, Biocon has been ranked at number are socially responsible, has loyal 19. Biocon is the only Asian Company employees, does important quality to be a part of the top 20 elite list research, makes changes needed. This that includes leading global innovator global ranking reflects the growing
power of brand Biocon, which is ably supported by its valuable partners, customers, employees and all other stake holders. Kiran MazumdarShaw, Chairman & Managing Director, Biocon, said, “This is a great recognition for us as a company and a proud recognition for India as we are the only Asian biopharma company to feature in the top 20 list. We will wear this badge of honour with a sense of leadership and responsibility that will enable us to take greater strides to move up the leader board. ”
BT boots R&D cloud services with Aspera’s high-speed transfer technology BT recently announced it is working together with Aspera, Inc, a creator of next-generation data transport technologies that move the world’s data at maximum speed, to integrate their innovative file transfer technology into BT for life sciences R&D, the first cloud service designed to enable collaboration within the life sciences industry for increased R&D productivity. Life sciences companies need to optimise, manage, transfer, store and protect the vast quantity of data that is being created. To optimise the constant movement of that data, BT for life sciences R&D connect builds on BT’s global network and will now leverage Aspera’s unique fasp™ high-speed transfer technology, providing secure, predictable
Burger
and scalable transfers regardless of the size of data, the distance between the endpoints and network conditions. Aspera’s patented fasp™
protocol eliminates the fundamental bottlenecks of conventional file transfer technologies. It provides highspeed, reliable end-to-end transport over public and private networks fully utilising available bandwidth, independent of network delays. Bas Burger, President Global Commerce, BT, said, “While billions of dollars of revenue are under threat through loss of patent exclusivity and as the number of new drugs entering clinical trials is dropping, new opportunities are emerging for companies able to access the most compelling, meaningful and insightful scientific data. Scientists will be delighted by the combination of Aspera’s technology with the breadth and depth of the BT connect portfolio of intelligent network solutions.”