Page 16 - Pharma Industry

Norris Medicines recalls toxic cough syrups, says only sold in India

Tests by India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation showed the medicines were contaminated either with diethylene glycol or ethylene glycol

Manufacturing disrupted at Sikkim plant due to flash floods: Alembic Pharma

Alembic Pharmaceuticals on Wednesday said flash floods in the Teesta River has led to disruption in operations at its Sikkim-based manufacturing plant. "We would like to inform that due to flash floods in river Teesta because of cloud burst, water entered our manufacturing facility at Namthang, South Sikkim, and hence manufacturing operations stand disrupted with effect from October 4," the drug firm said in a regulatory filing. There is no loss or harm caused to any personnel, it said, adding that the assessment of loss will take a while. All assets of the company are adequately insured and necessary intimations have been given to insurance companies, it added. A sudden cloud burst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim has resulted in flash floods in the Teesta in Lachen valley, which was compounded by the release of water from a dam. Shares of Alembic Pharma were trading 1.31 per cent down at Rs 780.50 apiece on the BSE.

IQuest Enterprises to acquire active pharma ingredient business of Viatris

Multi-sector investment firm IQuest Enterprises will acquire the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) business of Viatris in India for an undisclosed amount. The investment firm has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the API operations of global pharmaceutical major Viatris in India, IQuest Enterprises said in a statement on Monday. IQuest emerged as the preferred investor following a global competitive bid, it added. As part of the deal, the company will acquire six API manufacturing facilities, three each in Vizag and Hyderabad, an R&D facility in Hyderabad, and third-party API sales. "We are excited about our largest investment in the pharmaceutical sector till date. Our investment comes at an opportune time when India is drawing significant attention amongst the global pharma industry," IQuest Enterprises Executive Director Gunupati Swathi Reddy noted. IQuest Enterprises is a multi-sector investment company. It has invested in various entities like AIG ...

Advent International announces new board, mgt team of Suven Pharmaceuticals

Global private equity firm Advent International on Friday announced a new board and management of Suven Pharmaceuticals after completing the acquisition of a majority stake in the domestic drug maker. Suven Pharma will be led by a management team comprising Annaswamy Vaidheesh (Executive Chairman), Dr V Prasada Raju (Managing Director) and Dr Sudhir Kumar Singh (Chief Executive Office), Advent International said in a statement filed on BSE by Suven Pharma. In terms of the Board of Directors, along with Vaidheesh and Raju, Pankaj Patwari, Managing Director at Advent, will also join the team, it added. Suven will also have three independent directors - - K.G Ananthakrishnan, Ex-MD MSD India and Ex-Director General of OPPI, and Chairman of PNB; Matangi Gowrishankar, Ex-BP Global Head of Capability Development, and Ex-Director of Human resources, Castrol India, Strategic Advisor and Certified coach; Vinod Rao, former head of investor relations at Diageo and ex-CFO PepsiCo Asia ...

Sun Pharma to buyout local partner Indi Pharma in Mexican subsidiary

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd on Thursday said it will buy out local partner Indi Pharma from its Mexican arm for MXN 161.85 million (over Rs 75 crore). The company has signed a binding letter of intent to acquire the balance 25 per cent outstanding shares of Sun Pharma de Mexico, SA de CV, a subsidiary where it currently holds 75 per cent shares, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries said in a regulatory filing. The balance of 25 per cent is held by local partner Indi Pharma S.A.P.I. de CV, it added. The cost of acquisition is MXN 161.85 million, it added. "The acquisition enables Sun Pharma to acquire the balance 25 per cent stake held by the local partner," the company said, adding it would be done through a wholly-owned subsidiary Sun Pharma (Netherlands) B.V. The acquisition is likely to be completed by October 31, 2023, and after that, Sun Pharma de Mexico SA de CV will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company, it said. Sun Pharma de Mexico is engaged in the marketing an

Genpharmasec to acquire 70% stake in DHPL in phased manner over one year

Incorporated in 1992, Generic Pharmasec Limited started as a manufacturer and trader of organic and inorganic chemicals, dyes, and pigments

Drugmaker Biocon appoints Peter Bains as group CEO effective immediately

Bains, who was named as an independent director of the Biocon board in December last year, stepped down on Monday to assume the top charge, the company said in a statement

ICMR releases list of assistive products for individuals with impairments

Breaking barriers for a more inclusive future, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has released the National List of Essential Assistive Products (NLEAP) to prioritise essential assistive products towards making a difference in the lives of those with functional impairments. Assistive products (APs) play a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of life and promoting independence among individuals with functional impairments. However, accessing and obtaining these products can pose significant challenges, particularly for the economically-disadvantaged population. The NLEAP is a list of 21 APs and technologies that are deemed essential for individuals with functional impairments to improve their quality of life and participation in the society. The ICMR carried out an extensive exercise to develop the NLEAP in 2020, with inputs from subject experts, end-users, policy makers, non-governmental organisations, manufacturers, academicians, standardisation professionals and ...

NHRC sends notice to Centre, DGCI over circulation of falsified drugs

The NHRC has issued notices to the Union health ministry and the Drugs Controller General of India over the reported circulation of falsified liver drug Defitalio and cancer drug Adcetris, officials said on Wednesday. The National Human Rights Commission, in a statement, observed that the content of the news report, if true, raises a serious issue of violation of human rights, which is a matter of concern, it said. The NHRC has taken "suo motu cognisance of a media report that after the alert from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has asked the state regulators, doctors and patients to remain vigilant about two medicines - liver drug Defitalio and cancer drug Adcetris, as the falsified versions of these drugs are circulating in four countries, including India", it said. "Reportedly, the falsified versions of Adcetris injection 50 mg, detected in four countries, including India, are most often found to be available at the ...

Indian pharma industry to log in 8-10% revenue growth this fiscal: CRISIL

The Indian pharmaceuticals industry is expected to log in a revenue growth of 8-10 per cent in current fiscal aided by a steady domestic growth and increased exports to regulated markets, even as semi-regulated markets face headwinds, according to a report. A study of 186 drug makers, which accounted for about half of the Rs 3.7 lakh crore annual revenue of the sector last fiscal, indicates as much, Crisil said on Monday. "Similar to last fiscal, domestic growth in fiscal 2024, will be led by 5-6 per cent increase in realisations, supported partly by high price hikes allowed by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) for drugs under price regulation," Crisil Research Director Aniket Dani said. In addition, sale of existing drugs and new launches will drive 3-4 per cent volume growth, he added. Operating profitability is also seen improving 50-100 basis points (bps) to 21 per cent this fiscal, supported by moderation in input and logistics costs, and abating pricing ...

Siddhanta Medicity partners with UK firm to raise $108 mn for cell therapy

Bhopal-based healthcare institution Siddhanta Medicity looks to raise around USD 108 million (around Rs 826 crore) in partnership with a UK-based firm for advancing clinical research and development in the field of cell therapies, a release said on Saturday. The investment of USD 108 million will play a pivotal role in establishing stem cell research centres, treatment facilities, and advanced laboratories, Dr. Subodh Varsheny, the managing director of the Bhopal-based health institution said. The institution has tied up with UK-based SRAM &AM Group to raise funds to advance clinical research and development in the field of NK Cell and Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapies, the statement said. The SRAM &AM Group has also tied up with biopharmaceutical company Cellaax, which is engaged in the research and development of advanced cellular therapy.

Piramal Pharma is aiming to achieve zero waste to landfill by FY25

To achieve zero waste to landfill by FY2025, the company is taking a number of measures, including installing solvent recovery plants at its API and chemical plants

Lupin to sell generic respiratory drugs on Mark Cuban's online pharmacy

The partnership with Cuban-backed Cost Plus Drugs is expected to bolster Lupin's U.S. business, which already accounts for nearly 33% of its 2023 revenue

Biocon Biologics completes integration of Viatris biosimilars business

Biocon on Wednesday said its arm Biocon Biologics has completed the integration of the acquired biosimilars business from Viatris in North America with effect from September 1, 2023. Since the acquisition agreement closed in November 2022, Biocon Biologics has executed a robust integration plan to ensure a seamless transition of partners, people, systems, and processes, Biocon said in a regulatory filing. In February 2022, Biocon Biologics had inked a pact to acquire Viatris Inc's biosimilars business for a consideration of up to USD 3.33 billion (about Rs 24,990 crore). Later, in November same year the company completed the acquisition. "Our successful North America (US and Canada) transition marks the second wave of our integration of the Viatris biosimilars' business, quickly following Emerging Markets and ahead of schedule," Biocon Biologics CEO & Managing Director Shreehas Tambe said. He further said the company would be leading the commercial operations in the US and Canada

Cough syrups to painkillers: Bar codes on 11 habit-forming drugs soon

According to the health ministry, this is being done to stop the misuse and illicit trade of these drugs

India's pharma industry likely to take 5-6% price hikes this year

NPPA permits 12.1% increase for NLEM drugs in 2023

Roche Pharma India launches customer experience centre in Chennai

Roche Pharma India launched an industry-first customer experience center to spur collaboration with healthcare professionals, researchers and educational institutions to shape the future of healthcare, the company said on Thursday. The center will offer immersive and interactive healthcare content, comprehensive insights into medical science and information about Roche's innovative, life-changing product portfolio and technologies that have redefined healthcare for over 125 years, the wholly owned subsidiary of the Basel-headquartered Roche Group, said. Doctors and other stakeholders will be able to visualise disease pathways, drug-action in the human body, and co-create better solutions leading to better patient outcomes by using the latest 4IR (Fourth Industrial Revolution) digital technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and AI, a release here said. "The Roche Experience Center reflects the company's mission to empower communities with scientific insights

USFDA grants VAI classification to Torrent's Gujarat manufacturing site

The US health regulator has granted Voluntary Action Indicated classification to Torrent Pharmaceutical's manufacturing site in Dahej, Gujarat. A VAI classification means objectionable conditions or practices were found but the agency is not prepared to take or recommend any administrative or regulatory action. As per the information available on its website, the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has granted Voluntary Action Indicated (VAI) classification to the plant. The Dahej site was earlier placed under 'Official Action Indicated (OAI)' classification based on a March 2019 inspection outcome. OAI means "objectionable conditions were found and regulatory administrative sanctions by FDA are indicated" during inspections. The Dahej site was re-inspected by the USFDA between May 17 and May 25, 2023 and the officials had issued Form 483 with two observations. Form 483 is issued to a firm's management at the conclusion of an inspection when the investigator has ..

Allow prescribing both generic, brand names: Pharma lobby, doctors to govt

The pharmaceutical industry has also aired concerns about quality if only generic names are penned in prescriptions

Centre rolls out Rs 5,000 crore RLI scheme for pharma, med-tech sectors

Govt rolls out research-linked incentive scheme to boost infra