PHARMACY

List of Approved Drug for Marketing in India (from 01.01.2010 to 28.02.2010)

2010-05-08T21:29:00.000+05:30

One can find the list of drugs approved for Marketing in India through this link

www.medlineindia.com/list%20of%20approved%20drugs%20in%202010.html

Genepharma now as Ascent Pharma

2010-04-07T16:52:00.004+05:30

Genepharma will be called as Ascent Pharmaceuticals hereby...

"Two years ago when we launched our Australian generic portfolio into Asia, we created the Ascent brand. Today we are Singapore's biggest generic pharmaceutical company with fast growing businesses in Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Vietnam where Australian regulated generics are a premium product category," he said.

Source : http://www.pharmacynews.com.au/article/name-change-for-genepharm/514819.aspx

Patient Enrollment Complete In Tragara Pharmaceuticals' Phase2 Trial Of Capoxigem(R) In NSCLC

2010-04-07T16:20:00.008+05:30

Tragara Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the completion of patient enrollment to its APRiCOT-L study, a phase II clinical trial of its oral, once-daily anti-cancer agent, Capoxigem® (apricoxib, TG01), in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The APRiCOT-L study is a randomized, double-blind, multi-center, placebo-controlled trial designed to evaluate Capoxigem in combination with erlotinib in second and third line NSCLC patients that have failed a platinum-containing regimen.

Source : http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/184621.php

Dont miss this....!!! Life lesson, A small but awesome discussion between an American businessman and a small Mexican village fisher man

2010-03-26T00:47:00.008+05:30

An American businessman was standing at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish.

"How long did it take you to catch them?" the American asked.

"Only a little while" the Mexican replied.

"Why don't you stay out longer and catch more fish?" the American then asked.

"I have enough to support my family's immediate needs" the Mexican said.

"But" the American then asked, "What do you do with the rest of your time?"

The Mexican fisherman said: "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, senor."

The American scoffed: "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds you could buy a bigger boat and, with the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats. Eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the consumers, eventually opening your own can factory. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise."

The Mexican fisherman asked: "But senor, how long will this all take?"

To which the American replied: "15-20 years."

"But what then, senor?"

The American laughed and said: "That's the best part. When the time is right, you would announce an IPO - an Initial Public Offering - and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions."

"Millions, senor? Then what?"

The American said slowly: "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos..."

Stimuvax clinical program is suspended temporarily by Merck Serono

2010-03-26T00:30:00.009+05:30

Stimuvax® is an innovative cancer vaccine designed to induce an immune response to cancer cells that express MUC1, a protein antigen widely expressed on common cancers. MUC1 is over expressed on many cancers such as lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer and colorectal cancer. Stimuvax is thought to work by stimulating the body's immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells expressing MUC1.

Stimuvax is being developed by Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany (Merck) under a license agreement with Oncothyreon. Merck is currently conducting three Phase 3 trials of Stimuvax.

Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, has temporarily suspended all clinical programmes for Stimuvax (BLP 25 liposome vaccine) following a suspected serious adverse reaction.

The suspension comes in line with the FDA's decision to place a hold on the company's investigational new drug application for Stimuvax, which has shown potential for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and breast cancer.

A patient participating in the Phase II exploratory clinical trial developed encephalitis after receiving Stimuvax in combination with an intensified schedule of low-dose cyclophosphamide, not used in the other Stimuvax studies.

Merck Serono is investigating the cause of the adverse reaction.

Source: http://www.linkedin.com/news?viewArticle=&articleID=117607343&gid=87134&articleURL=http://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/news/news80471.html&urlhash=hYlI&trk=NUS_RITM-title

Pfizer Joins Fight Against Pneumococcal Disease

2010-03-26T00:17:00.004+05:30

Pfizer has signed a ten-year provisional supply agreement to supply Prevenar, the company's 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, for infants and young children in the world's poorest countries.

The decision is part of the Advance Market Commitment (AMC) pilot project, which has also been joined by GSK and seeks to stamp out pneumococcal disease, the leading cause of vaccine-preventable death in children worldwide.

The AMC is a novel public-private approach to public health funding and is designed to create a sustainable marketplace to ensure a stable supply of pneumococcal vaccines and stimulate the development and expansion of manufacturing capacity.

Pfizer chairman and chief executive officer Jeffrey Kindler said that last year, working with the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), the company contributed the first pneumococcal conjugate vaccine used in a national immuniaation programme in the developing world.

"We are proud to extend our commitment even further," Kindler said.

The procurement process is administered by the United Nations Children's Fund and supported by GAVI.

Under the terms of the agreement, the price of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine under the AMC framework is $7 for the first several years. The vaccine price will include a $3.50 subsidy to be paid by the AMC donor fund, and $3.50 to be paid by GAVI with a co-financing contribution paid by the developing country governments that introduce the vaccine.

Under the AMC framework, participating vaccine manufacturers must make a binding commitment to supply vaccines for ten years at a maximum price of $3.50 per dose to meet long-term demand in developing countries even after the donor contributions are exhausted.

Source: http://www.linkedin.com/news?viewArticle=&articleID=117607345&gid=87134&articleURL=http://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/news/news80472.html&urlhash=HubN&trk=NUS_RITM-title

Do you know this...! No.of Approved drugs for marketing in India in the year 2009 are 200+...

2010-03-23T20:09:00.003+05:30

07.01.09 Zoledronic Acid Injection 5mg/100ml (Addl. Indication)

For the treatement of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women and in men who are at increased risk offracture,including those with a recent low-trauma hip fracture.

09.01.09 Misoprostol Tablet 600mcg

Addl. Strength

Acebrophylline Syrup 10mg/ ml

For the treatement of adult patients with chronic obstructive pulmonarydisease(COPD) and bronchial asthma

Selamectin Tropical solution (for verterinaryuse.) 60mg/120mg per ml

(I) For the treatement and lasting prevention of flea infestations,treatmentand control of flea allergy dermatitis, prevention of heartwormdisease,treatement and prevention of ear mites in dogs and cats;
(II) For the treatement and prevention of sarcoptic mange,roundworms and for control of tick infestations in dogs.

14.01.09  Methylcobalamin1500mcg + Calcium 200mg + Calcitriol 0.25mcg + Folic Acid1.5mg + Pyridoxine3mg Capsules
For the treatment of vitamin deficiency states in adults

     Metoprolol tartrate tablets 50 mg (Addl. Indication)
Adjunct to the treatement of Hyperthyroidism
     Cinacalet (as HCl) Tablet 30/60/90mg
For the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with chronic kidney diseases (CKD) on dialysis and for hypercalcemia in patients with parathyroid carcinoma

23.01.09 Mycophenolate mofetil Capsules 250mg, Tablets 500mg, Oral suspension 200mg/ml (addl. Indication)
For the prophylaxis of acute organ rejection in patients recieving allogenic hepatic transplantation.

29.01.09 Liquid Paraffin1.25ml + Milk of Magnesia 3.75ml + Sodium Picosulphate 3.33mg per 5ml
For symptomatic treatment of constipation in adults

31.01.09 Ranolazine 1000mg ER Tabs (Additional Strength)
Same as approved
     Hyaluronic acid (cross linked) Pre-filled syringe 18mg/0.6ml and 24mg/0.8ml
For intradermal implantation and facial soft tissue augmentation
   Caspofungin acetate Injection (Addl. Indication)

For use in following: (I) Empirical therapy for presumed fungal infections in febrile neutropenic patients.
(II) Treatment of Candidemia and the following Candida infections: Intra-abdominal abscesses, Peritonitis and Pleural space infections.
(III) Treatment of EsophagealCandidiasis.
(IV) Treatment of invasive Aspergillosis in patients who are refractory to or intolerant of other therapies (i.e, amphotericin B, lipid formulations of amphotericin B, and/oritraconazole)

     Micafungin ( as sodium) Powder for solution for infusion 50mg / vial

For the treatment of patients withcandidemia, acute disseminated candidiasis, candida peritonitis, abscess and esophageal candidiasis. For the prophylaxis of Candida infection in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT)

   Loteprednol Etabonate Nasal spray 0.1% w/v

For prophylaxis and treatment of the nasal symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis.

     Rasagiline (as mesylate ) Tablet 0.5mg/1mg

For the tratment of signs and symptoms of idiopathic Parkinson's disease as intial monotherapy and as an addition to levodopa.

http://www.cdsco.nic.in/Newdrugslisttilljuly2009.htm

Novel therapeutic composition for cancer and infectious diseases

2010-03-23T08:02:00.001+05:30

" Researchers have developed and tested a novel therapeutic composition and method for stimulating the immune system to fight cancer and infectious diseases".
The technology uses the combined expression of genes for two types of potent immune stimulants, cytokines and superantigens, delivered by a variety of vectors. Genes for antigenic proteins from infectious organisms, or the proteins themselves, may be combined with the cytokine and/or superantigen genes to generate an immune response against various infectious diseases.
Advantages of Invention:
* Combined effects of selected compounds yield better results than single compounds
* A single therapeutic composition may have efficacy against multiple cancer types or infectious diseases
* Composition favors development of a Th1-type immune response, triggering cellular immune response in addition to humoral immune response
* Use of superantigen gene triggers immune response at very low dosages, but use of nucleic acid to express superantigen locally minimizes risk of systemic toxicity
State of Development:

Technology has been successfully tested in mice and dogs with several cancer types. Phase I/IIa clinical trials in human melanoma patients were conducted. Enhanced immune response using prototype DNA vaccine has been demonstrated in vivo.