Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Volume 6
Issue 10
October 2013
INDEX
INTERNATIONAL
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. IPR / Innovation Regulatory/ Medical / Biotech New Products R&D / Clinical Trials Mergers & Acquisitions / Collaborations Access & Pricing Trade Ethics & Compliance New Appointments 1 1 2 2 3 4 4 5 6
DOMESTIC
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. IPR / Innovation Regulatory / Medical / Biotech New Products R&D / Clinical Trials Mergers & Acquisitions / Collaborations Access & Pricing Trade Ethics & Compliance New Appointments OPPI Related News / Events 6 8 10 10 12 13 15 16 16 16
Pharma Spectrum
International
IPR / Innovation
September 24, 2013, Pharmabiz
The US District Court for the District of New Jersey has issued a favourable ruling in the Teva Pharmaceutical Industries' patent infringement lawsuit against Mylan regarding an Azilect (rasagiline tablets) patent which covers methods of treating Parkinsons disease (PD). The Court has upheld the validity of Tevas patent. Teva anticipates the Court will enter Judgment that prevents Mylan from launching its generic version of Azilect until Tevas patent expires in 2017. Teva filed a lawsuit suit against Mylan in October 2010. Similar lawsuits were filed against Watson and Orchid in October 2010, Apotex in May 2011 and Sandoz in April 2012.
Teva Gets Favourable US Court Ruling In Azilect Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Mylan
Foreign Drug Makers Won 77% Of All Patents Granted In Last 3 Years
September 16, 2013, Livemint
More than two-thirds of the pharmaceutical patents awarded by India in the last three years were granted to foreign drug makers such as Pfizer Inc., Novartis AG and F Hoffmann La Roche Ltd , which have been critical of Indias intellectual property rights (IPR) regime. The country issued 1,001 drug patents between April 2010 and March 2013, of which 771 were given to foreign drug makers, mainly from the US and Europe, according
Pharma Spectrum
Teva has been approved to market generic capecitabine in 150 and 500 milligram strengths, the agency said. "Generic drugs are important options that allow greater access to healthcare for all Americans," said Dr. Kathleen Uhl, acting director of the Office of Generic Drugs in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. the contents could not be determined, according to a July 18 letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to Wockhardt, which makes sterile injectable drugs and various forms of insulin.
New Products
Eisai Launches Halaven In Russia Anticancer Agent
September 13, 2013, Pharmabiz
Eisai Co., Ltd., a Japanese pharmaceutical company, has launched anticancer agent, Halaven (eribulin mesylate) in Russia, making it the first product to be marketed in Russia by the company. Halaven is a novel anticancer agent discovered and developed in-house by Eisai and is currently approved in more than 50 countries, including Japan, the United States and in Europe. In Russia, Halaven was approved in July 2012 for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer previously treated with at least two chemotherapy regimens including an anthracycline and a taxane. The Russian pharmaceutical market constitutes the 11th largest in the world and is expected to continue to achieve double-digit growth going forward.
R&D/Clinical Trials
Scientists Discover Blueprint For First Universal Flu Vaccine
September 24, 2013, The Times of India
A team led by a scientist of Indian origin has made a "blueprint" for a universal flu vaccine. The influenza
Pharma Spectrum
virus that causes flu is known to be one of the world's most rapidly changing organisms. Flu vaccines become redundant after every season and aren't effective against every strain causing cough, cold and other complications. So, scientists have to create new vaccines with new strains of the virus each year. Now, a team led by professor Ajit Lalvani from the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London has used a 2009 pandemic virus strain to study why some people seem to resist severe illness, thereby stumbling upon a recipe to create the world's first universal flu vaccine. Even the smallest biotech company can benefit when it thinks--and acts--globally. And a biotech startup that was able to grab a promising therapeutic asset from Pfizer as it shuttered much of its work in the U.K. has pieced together a global virtual organization that illustrates just how effective that can be.
U.K. Biotech Startup Forges Close Ties To Eli Lilly's R&D Experts
September 10, 2013, Fierce Biotech
Pharma Spectrum
corporations to bypass the Supreme Court and sue the government for millions of dollars in foreign tribunals. The 'investor-state dispute settlement', a key element of the bilateral investment pact, will arm foreign investors operating in India with a slew of rights. Biswajit Dhar, director general of the Research and Information System for Developing Countries told TOI:.....
Pfizer Rolls Out Digital Reps In U.K., Hoping For Access To Primary-Care Docs
September 24, 2013, Fierce Pharma
Which sort of pharma rep would a doctor prefer to see--a live rep, in the flesh, possibly carrying an iPad? Or an electronic version, piped in via Skype at the physician's convenience? Pfizer aims to find out, with its latest foray into e-detailing. As Pharmafile reports, the U.S.-based pharma giant has been promoting a new service in the U.K. called Pfizerline, which allows primary care doctors to book time with reps. Ads in the BMJ (formerly the British Medical Journal) tout the convenience of anytime, anywhere contact with Pfizer reps bearing info about the company's products.
U.K. Groups Want Drugmakers To Guarantee Supplies When Prices Are Reduced
September 13, 2013, Fierce Pharma
The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) in the U.K. is afraid impending price reductions will lead to drug shortages. It has asked the government to require drugmakers meet certain supply levels, according to PharmaTimes. The PSNC and the British Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers (BAPW) have said the price cuts slated for January might make it more attractive for some wholesalers to export drugs to countries with higher prices. They contend price cuts also might lead them to reduce stocks of some drugs.
Trade
US Wants MNCs To Have Right To Sue India Abroad
September 25, 2013, The Times of India
There is growing pressure on the Indian government to incorporate a provision in an investment agreement with the US, which if invoked will have far-reaching implications in that it will allow multinational
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To
Pharma Spectrum
The move assumes significance in the backdrop of Indian drugmaker Ranbaxy being recently penalised $500 million (aboutRs3,350 crore) by the US government for shoddy manufacturing practices. The United States and the European Union are among the key members. In 2012, the Russian market of drugs and dietary supplements totaled 818 billion roubles ($24.8 billion) by value, of which 80% was accounted for by imports. According to state plans, by 2020, the share of domestically produced drugs should be no less than 50%, and in the segment of essential drugs even 90%.
Novartis Can't Get Past Foul-Ups At Consumer Plant; Recalls 4.4 Million Bottles Of Maalox
August 29, 2013, Fierce Pharma
Novartis can't catch a break with its troubled U.S. OTC plant that has been a source of frustration for CEO Joseph Jimenez. The Swiss drugmaker has recalled 4.4 million bottles of its popular Maalox products due to manufacturing problems that predate Jimenez's recent decision to strip the facility down to the most basic operations. Several weeks ago, Novartis began recalling the Maalox products from the U.S. and Canada because of packaging issues. The recall encompasses 9 different types of its Maalox chewable tablets, including more than 3.4 million bottles of Maalox Advanced Maximum Strength Antacid & Antigas.
'Zorro' Claims Novartis' Alcon Unit Faked Trials To Bribe Chinese Docs
September 17, 2013, Fierce Pharma
The bribery allegations in China just keep on coming. Novartis' Alcon eyecare division now says it will investigate claims it used fabricated clinical trials to bribe doctors. The news is none too welcome for Novartis, which has already faced a set of bribery accusations in China. China's 21st Century Business Herald publicized whistleblower allegations against Alcon on Tuesday, the Financial Times reports. Citing an Alcon employee codenamed Zorro, the Chinese newspaper reports that Alcon used a middleman to pay doctors for working on non-existent post-marketing clinical trials.
Russian Pharma Market Will Continue To Focus On Imports Over Next Few Years
August 27, 2013, Pharma Letter
The Russian pharmaceutical market will continue to focus on imports during the next several years, despite all the attempts of the state to improve the situation and to increase the share of domestic producers, according to results of a recent study conducted by Deloitte, titled Trends and practical aspects of the development of the Russian pharmaceutical market 2013."
Pharma Spectrum
competition" as the country's government continues its industry-wide crackdown. According to the Journal, a representative from China's corporate registry, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce (AIC), visited an unspecified Bayer office in China at the end of August, the spokeswoman says. "We are fully cooperating with the authority," she told the WSJ without providing further details.
Domestic
IPR / Innovation
Genzyme Corp Files Infringement Suit Against DRL Patent
September 22, 2013, Business Standard
Genzyme Corporation, a fully-owned subsidiary of drug major Sanofi-Aventis, has filed a suit against Dr. Reddy's Laboratories alleging that the Indian drug maker infringed patents of its blockbuster cancer drug Mozobil on three counts. Mozobil (plerixafor injection) is a hematopoietic stem cell mobiliser indicated to patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (blood cancer) and multiple myeloma. In its petition filed in the District Court of Delaware, Genzyme alleged that DRL intimated though a letter that it had submitted.....
New Appointments
Roche Names Lufthansa CEO Franz to Replace Humer
September 16, 2013, Bloomberg.com
Roche Holding AG (ROG), the worlds biggest maker of cancer medicines, named Deutsche Lufthansa AG (LHA) Chief Executive Officer Christoph Franz to replace Chairman Franz Humer next year. Roche will propose his nomination to the annual shareholder meeting on March 4, the Basel-based company said today in a statement. Franzs term at Lufthansa expires May 31. Humer, who led Roche for more than a decade, is credited as an architect of Roche s strategy of yoking its diagnostics and drugs units together to create medicines targeted at individual patients. Humer, 67, was CEO when Roche bought a 30 percent stake in U.S. biotechnology company Genentech Inc. in 1999.
Pharma Spectrum
agreements under which governments can allow companies to produce generic versions of patentprotected drugs under certain conditions, including if they are found to be out of reach of the public. Dasatinib, which Bristol-Myers Squibb sells as Sprycel, is used in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia. In India, a month's dose of this drug costs about Rs 1 lakh. BDR Pharmaceutical had applied for a compulsory licence (CL) on this drug in March and said its version will cost Rs 8,100/month. The recent crises highlight the weaknesses of the global economic model. As former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker observed on December 11, 2009, "We have another economic problem which is mixed up in this of too much consumption, too much spending relative to our capacity to invest and to export." Traditional sources of growth include increasing population, sustainable and affordable resources, new markets as well as improved productivity and innovation. Environmental and resource constraints limit the potential for large increases in population. The population in more affluent developed nations is shrinking, with birth rates falling below replacement levels.
Indian Patent Regime A Thorn In The Flesh Of Global Drug Makers: Arun Narasani
August 29, 2013, Pharmabiz, Nandita Vijay
Brain League IP Services and Origiin IP Solutions LLP have expressed that India needs to be taken seriously by global pharma majors when it comes to revoking of patents. This goes by the developments in the last few months proving that process of getting patent is tough in India and those granted are extremely prone to revocation. These included the recent Roches Herceptin application. In 2012, India retracted patents granted to Roche's hepatitis C drug Pegasys, Pfizer Inc.'s cancer drug Sutent and Merck's asthma aerosol suspension formulation. While Roches Pegasys invention was seen to be not efficient compared to non-pegylated version,....
Pharma Spectrum
Ranbaxy's newest facility at Mohali was put under an import alert by US FDA earlier this month after the company had failed to correct violations from prescribed good manufacturing practices noted by US drug regulatory investigators in September 2012 and December 2012.
Expert Panel On FDC Issues Draft Policy Guidelines For Approval Of FDCs In India
September 16, 2013, Pharmabiz, Ramesh Shankar
The Prof C K Kokate-headed expert committee, constituted by the Union health ministry in February this year, to formulate policy guidelines and procedures for approval of fixed dose combinations (FDCs) has issued draft policy guidelines for approval of FDCs in India. The guidelines apply to the manufacture/ import and marketing approval of any FDCs in the country. As per the guidelines, a clear justification with a valid
Pharma Spectrum
therapeutic rationale of the particular combination of active substances proposed along with the appropriate data will be the basis for approval. and includes DNA vaccines and vaccines containing living genetically engineered organisms, toxins, antigens and anti-toxins, antibiotics....
Govt Asks Pharma Industry Not To Ignore Drugs For Neglected Tropical Diseases
September 11, 2013, Pharmabiz
Pointing out that the pharmaceutical industry was ignoring the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), the Centre has asked the industry to chip in by manufacturing required drugs to combat these NTDs which impact millions of 'faceless and nameless' downtrodden people in India. Pharmaceutical industry has been neglecting the NTDs and there is not sufficient number of drugs and enough supply to treat these diseases impacting the millions. For Kala-azar, there is only one company that supplies drugs for our national programme.
Health Min Plans To Amend Rules To Increase Period Of Retaining Seized Documents, Samples
September Alexander 2, 2013, Pharmabiz, Joseph
Union Health Ministry is planning to make amendment to the Drugs and Cosmetics (D&C) Rules to increase the period of retention of documents from the manufacturers and also the control of samples for a greater time as part of tightening the monitoring quality of drugs. The proposal, which is now under the consideration of an expert panel, is to amend the rule 65 (7) of the D&C Rules to increase the period of retention of documents, registers etc., for a period from two years to five years in line with the provision for maintaining manufacturing records.
DCGI Asks Clinical Trial Sponsors To Furnish Details Of Payments To Investigators Along With Applications
September Alexander 6, 2013, Pharmabiz, Joseph
Industry Urges DCGI To Give Deadline Of March 2014 For Submitting Efficacy Data Of FDCs Approved By SLAs
August 30, 2013, Pharmabiz, Ramesh Shankar
Even as the last date for submitting the efficacy data of FDC drugs approved by the state drug controllers before October 1, 2012 to the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) ends on August 30, the pharma industry in the country has urged the DCGI to extend the last date of submission till March 31, 2014 as proposed earlier. The industry has pointed out that the extension of last date for submission of safety and efficacy data for SLAapproved FDCs is necessary in view of the extensive nature of effort and time required in compiling and submitting the necessary details.
The Drugs Control General of India (DCGI) has asked the sponsors of clinical trials to furnish details of the contracts with the investigators with regard to the financial support, fees and payments in kind, while making the applications for trial permissions. The DCGI, in an order, pointed out that good clinical practice guidelines provide that the sponsor should enter into a formal and legal agreement/ contract with the investigators and the institutions before the start of the trial on various terms of the trial.
The proposed Central Drug Authority (CDA), though with diluted powers as compared to the original proposal and recommendations, will centralise the licensing in respect of 17 categories of very critical drugs, as per the Drugs and Cosmetics (amendment) Bill, 2013 recently introduced in Parliament. The categories of drugs which the central licensing authority is empowered to issue licenses will be sera, solutions serum proteins intended for injection vaccines;
Pharma Spectrum
device or cosmetic, the bill contains severe penal provisions for its violations that include imprisonment of maximum 10 years and penalty of up to Rs 30 lakh. We are through with clinical trials and have received the necessary approvals. We hope to launch it by the end of this year," Novo Nordisk India Managing Director Melvin D'souza told reporters here. Tresiba is a once-daily basal insulin with a duration of action beyond 42 hours, allowing for flexibility....
DCGI Allows Cos To Submit Applications For FDCs At Zonal Or Sub Zonal Offices Before Aug 31
August 28, 2013, Pharmabiz, Suja Nair Shirodkar
Understanding woes of the pharma manufacturers in travelling all the way to Delhi to submit the applications for the FDCs to prove their safety and efficacy, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) informed the manufacturers that they can file application for the same, before the deadline, in the nearest zonal or sub zonal offices. Through this initiative, the DCGI hopes to encourage more manufacturers to follow the mandate passed by the Centre which requires all the companies to submit, Form 44 along with other requisite supporting documents to prove the safety and efficacy of the FDC on or before August 31.
R&D/Clinical Trials
DBT Invites Applications From Indian Biotech Cos For Funding R&D
September 24, 2013, Pharmabiz, Ramesh Shankar
The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), under its Small Business Innovation Research Initiative (SBIRI) scheme, has invited proposals from Indian biotech companies for funding of research and development in the field of biotechnology. Under this SBIRI scheme, the DBT will provide support for innovation research in biotech companies including start-ups and small and medium enterprises. Under this flagship public-private partnership programme, the DBT will support early stage and proofof-concept for innovations based on valid hypothesis, R&D aimed at affordable product development, lab-scale technology refinement, validation of a technology at pilot scale, platform technologies/ prototype development, etc.
New Products
Zydus Launches Diabetes Treatment Drug Lipaglyn
September 17, 2013, The Economic Times
Pharmaceutical entity Zydus group on Monday said it has launched Lipaglyn, its patented new drug for treatment of diabetes. Lipaglyn will be available across India and is priced at Rs 25.90 per tablet. It is recommended for once administration of once day as a 4mg tablet, the company said in a statement. Commenting on the launch of the drug, Zydus Cadila Chairman and Managing Director Pankaj R Patel said: "It's a great milestone for Indian pharmaceutical research today as Lipaglyn completes its journey from the lab to the market."
BA/BE Studies Of New Drugs Discovered Abroad & Not Marketed In India Should Not Be Approved To Be Conducted In India: Panel
September 23, 2013, Pharmabiz, Ramesh Shankar
The Prof. Ranjit Roy Chaudhury expert committee, constituted by the union health ministry to formulate policy, guidelines and SOPs for approval of new drugs including biologicals, clinical trials and banning of drugs, has recommended that bioavailability (BA) and bioequivalence (BE) studies of new drug substances discovered abroad and not marketed in India should not be approved to be conducted in India. If new chemical entities (NCEs), new drug substances or their generic drugs are to be introduced in India, BA/BE studies in patients should be done as a part of the clinical trials, the panel in its recommendations said. However, the expert committee recommended that a generic drug produced in India for the first time should
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undergo BE studies in comparison with the innovator molecule. ministry will present details of the new regulatory regime for clinical trials.
Legal
Action
Clinical Trials Of New Drugs Get Fresh Impetus As Govt Clears 55 Proposals
September 13, 2013, Financial Express
In a move that will provide a big impetus to India's $500million clinical trial industry, which has of late seen stunted growth, the government on Thursday cleared around 55 trials proposed by pharma firms and clinical research organisations, including Dr Reddy's, Eli Lilly, MSD Pharma, Cadila Healthcare, Quintiles. The approvals (including new combinations. ministrys apex 24 hearing by are for trials regarding new drugs chemical entities) and new fixed dose The approvals, given by the health committee, come ahead of a September the Supreme Court where the health
Safeguard
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Pharma Spectrum
inefficiency or a lack of resources. In an effort to plug the gaps, harsher guidelines are instituted. circulated a draft Cabinet note that seeks to bring down FDI limit in brownfield pharma and calls for putting foreign investment in drug facilities defined as "critical" on the approval route, industry experts advocate the need to clear ambiguities in the current FDI policy to give the much required boost to the Indian pharma industry. Experts argue that there is a need for a sustainable policy as dilly dallying in terms of Greenfield and Brownfield projects makes the investment climate unpredictable.
FDI
In
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to the tune of around R1,058.07 crore on a cross-border merger involving Indian assets of Hyderabad-based Shantha Biotechnics (SBL). A bench headed by Justice AR Dave sought reply from the French firm after the income-tax department challenged the Andhra Pradesh high court's February 15 order that ruled in favour of Sanofi Pasteur Holding SA. It also posted the matter for further hearing on January 14 and asked the parties to file short notes. Mukherjee today said there is a need to increase spending in the key sector to provide better health and nutritional security to the people. "Public expenditure on health in India is 1.2 per cent of GDP. This is much lower than the 4 per cent plus levels in countries like US, UK, Australia, Norway and Brazil," Mukherjee said after inaugurating the new hospital building of Jagadguru Sri Shiva-rathreeshwara (JSS) Maha-vidya-peetha here.
Arrears Cases
By NPPA In Picks Up
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advocated universal healthcare as a plausible solution. Inaugurating a meeting of Ministers of Health and a Session of WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Mukherjee noted with concern that 46 per cent people in the region lived below poverty line and asked nations to build an environment for quality health. led to de-stocking by companies and retailers which was compounded by the retail traders strike in Maharashtra. In terms of overall performance, multi-national drug companies were more severely hurt in the quarter compared to their Indian peers. That is because unlike Indian companies which earn a bulk of their revenues from exports, much of the revenues of multinational drug companies are accounted....
Delhi HC Extends Relief Period For Pharma Cos In Drug Pricing Case
August 28, 2013, The Economic Times
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday extended relief for pharma firms, including Sun Pharma and Cipla, on relabeling of their existing stock under the new drug pricing regime on the condition that they comply with the interim order and posted the case for next hearing on September 23. The two companies along with a dozen other drug firms had challenged the government on specific provision under Drug Price Control Order 2013 which makes it mandatory upon the companies to label revised prices within 45 days of the price notification.
Panel Asks DoP To Identify Pharma Cos Changing Compositions To Dodge Price Control Provisions
August 29, Alexander 2013, Pharmabiz, Joseph
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The Parliamentary Standing Committee attached to the Chemicals Ministry has asked the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) to identify the pharmaceutical companies which are circumventing price control mechanism by changing the composition and strength of their formulations. The panel also asked the DoP to take up the matter with the ministry of health and family welfare for further action. In its recent recommendation, the Committee once again took up the issue of pharma companies dodging the provisions of the price control mechanism and asked the Department to follow up the matter.
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has fixed/ revised the prices in respect of nine formulation packs, in accordance with the provisions of the new Drug Price Control Order (DPCO), 2013. The formulations are based on the bulk drugs including pyrazinamide, propranolol hydrochloride, cyclophosphamid, oxaliplatin, diazepam, cefixime trihydrate with ofloxacin, according to a notification by the agency. The NPPA also issued correction orders with regard to its earlier three orders.
Health Ministry Launches Rs. 2550-Cr NACSP To Accelerate AIDS Prevention Programme
August 28, 2013, Pharmabiz
The Union health ministry has launched the Rs.2,550crore National AIDS Control Support Project (NACSP) which is aimed to help and accelerate the countrys AIDS prevention programme by targeting high risk groups like Female Sex Workers, men who have sex with men and Injecting Drug Users. The World Bank is supporting this project with an interest-free loan of Rs.1,275 crore. The project would
The quarter to June was a bad one for most pharma companies with a slowdown in growth for over a year now, weighing heavily on their performance. To add to their woes, the implementation of the new drug policy
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also support the planned expansion and consolidation of tailored interventions for other at-risk populations, including migrant workers and truckers, which play a critical role in the transmission dynamics of HIV in the country. However, the move which was keenly awaited by the small and medium scale units for long, will not do any good to the very small generic manufacturers as the government will buy medicines from firms which have an average annual turnover of Rs.10 crores in the last three years.
Trade
Drug Market Growth At Eight-Month Low
September 24, 2013, Livemint
Sales of drugs in India grew at a tepid 4.9% in August, the slowest pace in at least eight months, mainly due to lower stock intake by distributors and retailers, favourable weather conditions and weakening of the rupee against the US dollar. The Rs.75,933-crore local drug market grew at an average 12-13% pace in January-July, according to the latest data by pharma market researcher IMS Health India. August also saw dramatic changes in the rankings of leading drugmakers and their top-selling brands, IMS Health said.
To
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Trade
DoP Initiates Steps To Source Drugs For Jan Aushadi Stores From Private Firms
September 18, 2013, Pharmabiz, Joseph Alexander
After toying with the idea for several years, the department of pharmaceuticals (DoP) has finally decided to source generic drugs from private sector manufacturers and initiated the steps in this regard, as part of the new attempt to revive the Jan Aushadhi programme with a new business plan.
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Pharma Spectrum Number Of Spurious Drugs Comes Down Significantly During 2012-13
August 29, 2013, Pharmabiz, Ramesh Shankar
There has been a remarkable reduction in the number of drug samples declared spurious or adulterated by the drug control authorities in the country during the year 2012-2013 compared to the previous year. The number of drug samples declared spurious or adulterated has come down drastically from 133 in 2011-12 to just 70 in 2012-13. According to official data, the drug control authorities in different states in the country had collected and tested a total 57,351 random drug samples during the year 2012-2013 in which 2327 samples were declared not-ofstandard quality drugs while a total of 70 drug samples were declared spurious or adulterated. As the Regional Director, Dr Khetrapal Singh brings a vast repertoire of experience, having worked in the health sector for over three decades at both national and international levels. She served with WHO for the past 15 years. She is the first woman to be nominated to this post in the Region, according to a release here on Thursday.
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