Professional Documents
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AUGUST 2004
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PHARMA_NEWS AUGUST 2004
HEADLINES
2.3 Wellquest becomes first Indian Clinical Research Organization to receive Statement
of Good Clinical Practices compliance from UK- Medicines & Healthcare Products
Regulatory Agency_____________________________________________________ 8
2.6 States decide not to issue licenses for new fixed dose combinations; DCC brings
2.7 Penicillin makers curtail production — Fall in prices of end products _____________ 9
2.8 Indian drug companies sweat for new chemical entities dream__________________ 10
2.11 RPG Life Sciences plans new plant for fermentation biz ______________________ 11
2.12 Nicholas Piramal India Ltd. in deal with French Co. for Paediatric Drug__________ 11
2.15 United States Food and Drugs Administration want to set India office ___________ 12
3. OTC _____________________________________________________________13
3.2 Dr. Reddy's launches cream for treating dry skin conditions____________________ 13
4.1 ‘Covering more drugs under price control will lead to costlier imports' ___________ 14
4.2 NPPA devises new norms for pricing controlled drugs ________________________ 14
4.4 Bill for 8-digit classification code for excise introduced _______________________ 15
5.1 Dabur Pharma gets approval for Phase II trials of cancer drug __________________ 17
5.4 Ranbaxy gets tentative nod from FDA for Gabapentin ________________________ 18
5.5 Genetic Engineering Approval Committee approval for anti-hepatitis clinical trials _ 18
5.7 Ranbaxy gets Food and Drug Administration nod for Loratadine syrup... _________ 19
6.1 Japan's Tsumura to expand herbal drug output capacity 20% ___________________ 22
6.2 Japan's Eisai to establish global supply system for 2 key drugs _________________ 22
7.1 Only 100 drug firms follow the best packaging practices ______________________ 24
7.6 Dabur, Bengal government in talks for cancer drug facility ____________________ 25
1. ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES
2. INDUSTRY NEWS
2.6 STATES DECIDE NOT TO ISSUE LICENSES FOR NEW FIXED DOSE
COMBINATIONS; DCC BRINGS ABOUT CONSENSUS AMONG DRUG
CONTROLLERS
The drug controllers from all major states of India have decided to restrain manufacturing licenses
for new fixed dose combinations (FDCs), as requested by the DCC and the Drug Controller General
of India (DCGI). Despite the decision for detaining the licenses for new FDCs, there could be
marketing and manufacturing of already licensed irrational combination products unless and until
the centre intrudes and bans the products in the country. The state drug controllers have however
given rights to ban the already licensed irrational combination products. The animosity between the
central and state departments in issuing manufacturing licence for existing drugs has made the
central authority helpless in restriction or cancellation of licenses issued by the state departments.
According to the DCC sub-committee, Tamil Nadu Drug Control Department has issued maximum
number of such licenses in India during 2000-2004 followed by Himachal Pradesh. On the other
hand the Gujarat Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) has geared up to cancel all the
150 odd drug manufacturing licenses it had issued for FDCs after May 2002, subsequent to DCGIs
order in this regard.
The Indian Pharmacist: August 31, 2004
2.11 RPG LIFE SCIENCES PLANS NEW PLANT FOR FERMENTATION BIZ
RPG Life Sciences Ltd. plans to set up a new plant for the fermentation business. The Company has
also set a target of almost doubling its export turnover by the end of this fiscal. The new plant for
Doxorubicin will be adjacent to the RPG Life Science’s existing plant in Ankleshwar. The
Company will be investing around Rs.5-crore for this new plant and will be commissioning by the
end of this fiscal. The Company has set a target of achieving a turnover of around Rs.40-crore as
against Rs.20-crore last year in the fermentation bulk drug business.
Financial Express: August 20, 2004
2.12 NICHOLAS PIRAMAL INDIA LTD. IN DEAL WITH FRENCH CO. FOR
PAEDIATRIC DRUG
Nicholas Piramal India Ltd. (NPIL) of Mumbai has entered into a product-licensing deal with
Ethypharm of France for the technology to produce paracetamol flash tablets for children. Under
the agreement, NPIL is to source raw material from Ethypharm and manufacture dispersible
formulations using the technology at its Pithampur facility. NPIL is to market the formulation under
its own brand name in India.
Business Line: August 17, 2004
3. OTC
3.2 DR. REDDY'S LAUNCHES CREAM FOR TREATING DRY SKIN CONDITIONS
The Stock Exchange, Mumbai (BSE) made the following corporate announcement: Dr. Reddy's
Laboratories Ltd. has informed BSE that Venusia, a skin moisturizing cream indicated for the
treatment of dry skin conditions, has been launched by the Company as part of its portfolio of
dermatology products. Venusia, which is available in 50g jars, is a prescription product.
Hindustan Times: August 13, 2004
6. WORLD NEWS
7. THE NIB
7.1 ONLY 100 DRUG FIRMS FOLLOW THE BEST PACKAGING PRACTICES
India has one of the best packaging standards for pharma products but unfortunately only about 100
companies follow these specifications out of 6,700 registered pharmaceutical companies here.
Deputy Director, Indian Institute of Packaging, Hyderabad, said, in a session on pharmaceutical
packaging organised by Goa Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (GPMA)
Business Standard: August 23, 2004