Article Listing - Generics

Weighted average drug price cuts of 20% for over 4,000 drugs enforced in Greece as of today

6 September 2010

The government in Greece last week released a new official list of drugs including more than 4,000 that have had their prices reduced in line with the new international reference-pricing system being introduced in the country (The Pharma Letters passim), reports the Greek newspaper Ta Nea, a translated version of which - and analysis - was posted on the web site of consultancy IHS Global Insight.

AstraZeneca in deal with India’s Aurobindo to supply branded generics for emerging markets

6 September 2010

In another move by a pharmaceutical major to prop up falling revenues from original drugs in developed markets, Anglo-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca has reached an accord with Hyderabad, India-headquartered Aurobindo Pharma to supply finished dosage and sterile products for sale in emerging markets. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

India’s Natco challenges Celgene’s Revlimid patent in USA; new CFO named

6 September 2010

US biotechnology firm Celgene Corporation (Nasdaq: CELG) said on Friday it has received a Paragraph IV Certification Letter advising that Natco Pharma of Hyderabad, India, had submitted an Abbreviated New Drug Application to the US Food and Drug Administration requesting authorization to manufacture and market generic versions of its cancer drug Revlimid (lenalidomide) 5mg, 10mg, 15 mg and 25mg capsules in the USA.

Argentina pharmaceuticals market forecast to grow to $5.37 billion by 2014

3 September 2010

The value of Argentina's pharmaceutical market is calculated to have reached 12.64 billion Argentinean pesos ($3.37 billion) in 2009, according to a new report from Business Monitor International. Through to 2014, BMI forecasts a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.36% and 9.78% in local currency and US dollar terms, with the market value topping 24.72 billion pesos ($5.37 billion).

Indian’s Ranbaxy inaugurates new $30 million drug manufacturing facility in South Africa

2 September 2010

India’s largest drugmaker, Ranbaxy Laboratories (which is 64% owned by Japanese drug major Daiichi Sanko), has announced the opening of its new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, Be-Tabs Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Plant, at Roodepoort, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Brazil’s INPI wins battle against extension of Pfizer’s Lipitor patent

1 September 2010

On August 27, 2010 the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (INPI) made public on its web site (www.inpi.gov.br/noticias) the decision rendered by the 1st Specialized Section of the Federal Court of Appeal of the 2nd Region on which the INPI’s arguments were taken into consideration and the patent extension for US drugs behemoth Pfizer’s (NSYE; PFE) blockbuster cholesterol lowerer Lipitor (atorvastatin was reduced.

Jordanian drugmaker Hikma posts strong first-half 2010 results

27 August 2010

Fast-growing Jordan-headquartered Hikma Pharmaceuticals (LSE: HIK; Nasdaq Dubai: HIK) has reported interim results for the six months ended June 30, 2010, showing that group revenue was up 11.3% at $357.7 million and adjusted operating profit rose 20.2% at $73.2 million, delivering continuous growth through diversification. Net profit rose 26.6% to $54.7 million.

Cipla to buy fellow Indian drugmaker Meditab in $28.5 deal

27 August 2010

India’s third largest drugmaker Cipla (BSE: 500087) says that its board has approved the acquisition of fellow India based Meditab Specialities for 1.33 billion rupees ($28.5 million). The former’s shares dropped 2.85% to 308.20 rupees on the news on Wednesday.

US retail drug prices jumped 8% in 2009, despite lower inflation, says AARP study

26 August 2010

Retail prices for some of the most widely used brand-name prescription drugs in the USA shot up more than 8% in 2009, even as inflation plummeted to a record low, according to a new analysis of retail drug price trends released yesterday by the seniors lobby group AARP.

26 August 2010

USA-based Celgene (Nasdaq: CELG) revealed yesterday that information was posted on the Food and Drug Administration’s web site indicating that an Abbreviated New Drug Application has been received by the Office of Generic Drugs containing a “Paragraph IV” patent certification, for Revlimid (lenalidomide) 25mg capsules. Celgene has not yet received the Paragraph IV notification letter identifying the filer and the FDA posting does not identify the applicant.