Top pharma heads meet US regulator to iron out issues

Firms facing enforcement seek nod to sell via third-party manufacturers, speedy approvals for some products

Heads of over 15 leading pharmaceutical companies such as Ranbaxy, Wockhardt, Cadila Healthcare, Torrent Pharma and Mylan met the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) Commissioner Margaret Hamburg in New Delhi on Tuesday.

According to officials, present in the meeting, discussions revolved mainly around two major demands put forward by the industry. Companies, mainly those currently facing enforcements, requested the regulator to allow them to sell their products through third party manufacturers and speedy approvals related to this. The industry also raised concerns related to delay in product approvals and sought speedy clearances for some of the products.

Wockhardt Chairman Habil Khorakiwala said the domestic pharma industry needs to be aligned with the US regulatory requirements as India is becoming a manufacturing base for some of the generic companies.

Representatives from some industry bodies such as Indian Drugs Manufacturers Association and food producers such as Kohinoor and Tilda Rice Land also met Hamburg.