Emerging Markets from Elsevier Business Intelligence

U.K’s NICE To Help Build India’s Health Technology Assessment Board

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:15:00 -0400

India is seeking scientific tools like health technology assessments from the United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health Care Excellence as it braces for wider health care coverage and implements a new drug pricing policy.

Sneak Preview: Clinical Trial Policies Top IP As Biggest Obstacle To Indian Innovation

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:55:01 -0400

Despite recent news flow focused on a challenging patent environment, India’s pharma market is expected to grow 13% annually to reach $45 billion by 2020, according to a McKinsey report to be released June 21 during the annual U.S.-India BioPharma & Healthcare Summit in Boston.

Surge In Partnerships And Licensing In China Highlights Need For Greater Flexibility

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:45:04 -0400

As cross-border deals rise rapidly and finding new partners becomes harder in China, multinational drug makers must be flexible in their deal strategies. Seasoned executives from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Merck and Chinese startup Ascletis offer insights on what to look for in a dynamic market.

Roche Experimenting With New Pricing Models In Oncology

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:51 -0400

Cancer drug prices are unsustainable and creative approaches are needed, Roche’s COO Daniel O’Day says. The firm’s moves into emerging markets are a lab for new methods, though the real test will come as the more expensive drugs are used in combination.

Extremities, Emerging Markets Continue To Top M&A Ortho Interest

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:45 -0400

With hip and knee joint markets still registering slow to modest growth, orthopedic companies looking to add bulk to their bottom line through mergers and acquisitions have pursued two distinct directions – the extremities and emerging markets.

India Begins Clearing Backlog Of Foreign Investments In Pharma

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:45:03 -0400

India has begun clearing away holds on foreign investments in its pharmaceutical and medical device industries after sorting out internal disputes over investments in new or existing facilities.

Novartis Offers Hygiene Lessons For Remote China Peasants, Nomads

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:40:03 -0400

Novartis has launched a major public relations effort in China's remote western regions populated by nomads and peasants by teaching hygiene as basic as washing hands before eating.

CFDA Reviews Spate Of J&J Product Recalls, Seeks Quality Commitments

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:20:01 -0400

China FDA officials recently met with executives of Johnson & Johnson to review a spate of product recalls in China since 2009, with requesting the company to identify and rectify quality management system flaws by instituting risk control measures and adhering to Chinese laws and technical standards.

NDRC Releases Drug Pricing Reform Roadmap: From Price Caps To Prices

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:10:01 -0400

China’s National Development and Reform Commission has issued a roadmap for medical and pharma pricing reforms, covering patent-off drugs, generics and medical devices which proposes allowing market-determined pricing where appropriate.

Takeda Pharma And Sanofi-Aventi Jointly Boost Drug Sales In China

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:00:01 -0400

Japan’s Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. and its France-based counterpart Sanofi-Aventis have entered into an agreement to jointly boost their drug sales in China.

Emerging Views On Emerging Markets: Goldman Sachs Health Care Conference

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:15:00 -0400

PharmAsia News takes a closer look at presentations by Abbott, Amgen, Medtronic, Mylan, Shire, Stryker and Valeant.

Insider Analysis From L.E.K Consulting On Expanding in China’s Medtech Market (Part 2 of 3)

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:25:07 -0400

Already the fourth largest medtech market in the world, China’s $17 billion medical device industry is expected to more than double in size in the next five years, paving the way for incredible opportunities for growth. Identifying where the opportunities lie, navigating the tendering process and determining the right sales and distribution models are essential for multinational device makers.

India Supreme Court Sets June 24 Hearing To Consider Anti-Ranbaxy Suit

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:21:42 -0400

India's Supreme Court has scheduled a June 24 hearing to consider a public-interest lawsuit against Ranbaxy Laboratories over its production problems that led to adulterated drugs reaching the market.

MNCs Willing To Cede India Drug Business For Other Emerging Markets

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:10:00 -0400

Despite a continuing argument over the impact of India's enforcement of its patent laws, the global pharmaceutical community is considered to be prospering India as well as the rest of the world's emerging markets.

[Sagent] pays $25mm to buy full ownership of Chinese joint venture company

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:01:14 -0400

Chinese drug company [Chengdu Kanghong Pharmaceuticals (Group) Co. Ltd.] (CKP; formerly Chengdu Kanghong Technology (Group) Co. Ltd.) has sold to US injectable generics maker [Sagent Pharmaceuticals Inc.] its 50% stake in their joint venture company [Kanghong Sagent (Chengdu) Pharma Corp. Ltd.] (KSCP). Sagent will pay $25mm in installments through September 2015 ($10mm up front; $2.5mm on or before December 31, 2013; $3.5mm on or prior to September 30, 2014; and $9mm on or by September 1, 2015).

India Drug Regulator To Encourage Whistleblowers, Add To Port Testing

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:55:06 -0400

India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organization plans to bolster its policy for encouraging whistleblowers in the pharmaceutical industry to disclose information about "spurious drugs," according to an official.

Sanofi Seeks Emerging Markets Expansion Without Biotech Buys

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:50:00 -0400

Sanofi's CEO outlined plans to extend the company's reach in emerging markets beyond the BRIC markets to Vietnam and Nigeria, but probably without acquiring more local biotechs, whose prices have become too high.

Insider Analysis From L.E.K Consulting On Expanding In China’s Medtech Market (Part 1 of 3)

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:45:01 -0400

Will India’s Elder Shave A Few Brands Or Go For A Total Sale?

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:55:01 -0400

Analysts debate the pros and cons of the latest deal buzz involving Elder Pharma. Laden with debt, Elder may survive if it decides to put some of its best known brands up for sale, but a total sale may not be off the table.

Teva CFO Sees New Products Coming From Its NTEs & Israel’s R&D Hub

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:50:00 -0400

Teva’s CFO says the world’s top generics maker is entering a growth period buoyed by emerging markets and an expanding pipeline that will include re-purposed drugs, allowing the company to offset revenue lost from patent expiries. He also believes innovative R&D in home market Israel will soon enjoy a renaissance.

Colgate-Palmolive’s Digital-Media Strategy Providing Competitive Edge

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:15:00 -0400

Colgate allotted more than 15% of its ad spend in 2012 to digital media, which the firm has identified as crucial to staying competitive in key markets and reaching consumers in developing regions like India, where traditional ad platforms are less effective, Chief Marketing Officer Burton said at the Deutsche Bank Global Consumer Conference May 11.

Emerging Markets Regulatory Tracker: Brazil, India (Vol. 3 No. 39)

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:00:34 -0400

The Emerging Markets Regulatory Tracker is a periodic PharmAsia News feature that summarizes and links to important regulatory developments impacting the biopharma and medical device industries in the Asia Pacific region and other emerging markets.

Digital Media Sharpens Colgate-Palmolive’s Consumer Insights

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:00:33 -0400

Colgate allotted more than 15% of its ad spend in 2012 to digital media, which the firm identified as crucial to staying competitive in key markets and reaching consumers in developing regions like India, where traditional ad platforms are less effective, Chief Marketing Officer Nigel Burton says.

India Soon To Reveal Strict Price Caps On Broad Range Of Essential Drugs

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 19:30:06 -0400

India is set to announce soon new price caps on 150 types of essential medicines such as cancer drugs, with some prices reduced by as much as 50%, according to sources.

BMS Ties Up With Simcere To Commercialize Orencia SC In China

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:20:00 -0400

Looking for differentiated products in an increasingly tough pricing environment, Simcere will help Bristol bring its first biologic to China.

Three Times The Charm? BMS Ties Up With Simcere To Commercialize Orencia SC In China

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:05:00 -0400

Looking for differentiated products in an increasingly tough pricing environment, Simcere will help Bristol bring its first biologic to China.

A Closer Look: China’s Mindray Buys Zonare Of U.S. With Home Market In Mind

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:40:01 -0400

China’s largest medical device company is buying its way to a highly exclusive club of global high-end ultrasound manufacturers. While management expects synergy by marrying American technology with Chinese manufacturing, some see a fragmented strategy trying to offer all things for all people.

GSK Says Four-Month Probe Of China Bribe Allegations Finds No Evidence

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 02:40:03 -0400

GlaxoSmithKline said a four-month investigation of reports of corruption or bribery by employees operating in China has turned up no evidence.

China FDA Advises J&J To Clean Up Its Act, Eliminate Recall Conditiions

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 02:35:01 -0400

The China FDA is urging Johnson & Johnson to do a better job of quality management, noting 33 recalls issued by the U.S.-based drug maker over the past four years, two within the past two months.

J&J Rumored To Consider Retreat From China Glucose Equipment Market

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 23:25:00 -0400

Chen Jian, secretary of Jiangsu Yuyue Medical Equipment and Supply Co., Ltd.’s board of directors, slammed rumors about Johnson & Johnson’s plan to withdraw from China’s glucose equipment market by selling its corresponding business to Yuyue.

China Provinces Pledge To Fight Counterfeit Medicine

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 23:15:00 -0400

Health care authorities from Hebei, Henan, Hainan, Jiangsu, Shandong, Heilongjiang, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Jilin and Beijing recently agreed to work together to investigate counterfeit-drug law enforcement.

[Vectura] forms Chinese JV with [Tianjin KingYork]

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 19:01:14 -0400

Respiratory therapeutics developer [Vecture Group PLC] has formed the joint venture, [Tianjin Kinnovata Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.] (Kinnovata), with Chinese pharmaco [Tianjin KingYork Group Co. Ltd.] (KingYork) and PE firm Zendex BioStrategy Inc.

Takeda, Sanofi To Partner For Diabetes Drug Sales In China

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 18:40:00 -0400

Takeda Pharmaceutical and Sanofi Group plan a partnership aimed at increasing lifestyle drug sales in China, beginning this fiscal year with the Japan drug maker's Nesina (alogliptin) diabetes treatment.

A Closer Look: Sun’s Settlement With Pfizer May Cloud Its Ability For Large Buyouts

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:10:00 -0400

With a large chunk of its cash reserves spent to settle the Protonix patent case, India’s Sun Pharma may no longer be in position to follow its inorganic growth plans.

Expanding In China’s Medtech Market: Where To Go From Here

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 07:25:00 -0400

Already the fourth largest medtech market in the world, China’s $17 billion medical device industry is expected to more than double in size in the next five years, paving the way for incredible opportunities for growth. But entering or expanding within this market is not without its challenges: identifying where the opportunities lie, navigating the tendering process, and determining the right sales and distribution models are all essential for achieving profitable gain in the Middle Kingdom.

GSK Probes Staff Bribery Of China Doctors As U.S. Widens Own Probe

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 03:00:03 -0400

GlaxoSmithKline is conducting its own probe of allegations sales representatives routinely bribed China physicians to prescribe its drug, aside from its internal problems with its research-and-development unit in the country.

India's Sun To Sue Novartis To Allow Generic Before Patent Expiration

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 02:50:00 -0400

Sun Pharma reportedly has reversed the usual legal practice and sued Novartis in a U.S. court, seeking authority to market a generic version of the Glivec (imatinib) (marketed as Gleevec in the U.S.) cancer drug before the Swiss-based drug maker's patent expires.

Asia On The Move: Personnel News From Shanghai Pharma, Daiichi Sankyo, Merck Serono, Mindray, GSK

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 00:45:00 -0400

Shanghai Pharma has a new CEO after a large shakeup, and GSK appoints an interim head of discovery in China after Nature Medicine fallout. Mindray returns to co-CEO model, and personnel changes occur at Astellas, Merck Serono, Daiichi Sankyo and RDPAC.

Protonix Settlement Leaves Question Of How Jury Would Assess At-Risk Launch Damages

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 00:10:01 -0400

Teva and India’s Sun Pharma are to pay $2.15 billion for their at-risk launch in the U.S. of generic versions of Pfizer’s Protonix; Pfizer says figure represents lost profits and lost royalties from the three years the product faced premature generic competition.

Emerging Markets Regulatory Tracker: Brazil (Vol. 3 No. 38)

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 23:05:00 -0400

[Prestium Pharma] gets US rights to several [GSK] dermatology/infectious disease drugs

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:01:06 -0400

[GlaxoSmithKline PLC] and its dermatology-focused division [Stiefel] have licensed [Prestium Pharma Inc.] (branded drugs; a subsidiary of generics manufacturer [Renaissance Pharma Inc.]) US manufacturing and marketing rights to several of their products in the dermatology and infectious disease areas.

RPG Life Sciences Faces Long Delay In U.S. Market Entry

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 18:55:03 -0400

The growth prospects of RPG Life Sciences, based on entering the rich U.S. market, are expected to take longer to be fulfilled as the company struggles to deal with FDA complaints about a pair of its India facilities.

Exclusive: GSK Head Of Research Due In Shanghai Thursday To Begin Detailed Audit Of China R&D Operations

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:50:00 -0400

In an internal email, Patrick Vallance, GlaxoSmithKline’s president for pharmaceutical R&D, says he will arrive in Shanghai June 13 to help look for answers on how a paper authored by members of GSK’s China R&D unit misrepresented data. The incident has led to the dismissal of China R&D head Jingwu Zang, who spoke to PharmAsia News about the swirling controversy.

At PCR, Drug-Eluting Stents From Asia, But At What Cost?

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 10:10:00 -0400

No one would place drug-eluting stents among the hot technologies showcased at this year’s EuroPCR, not with all of the buzz around renal denervation, percutaneous valves, and bioabsorbable stents and scaffolds. But an early morning session on DES from India and China underscored how the technology debate is changing in a world of cost constraints and emerging markets, particularly for mature categories.

GSK Says Paper Published In Nature Medicine By Company Scientists To Be Retracted

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 07:35:01 -0400

GSK confirms dismissal of R&D China Head Jingwu Zang. GSK internal communication seen by PharmAsia News alleges “disturbing efforts” by employees to undermine an internal investigation into a paper on preclinical research; GSK suspends programs related to IL-7 receptor signaling pathway.

Wockhardt Hardest Hit By India Painkiller Ban In Wake Of Import Alert

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 06:30:00 -0400

Wockhardt is expected to be the India drug maker with the most to lose by a government ban on marketing dextropropoxphene, the API of the company's Proxyvon painkiller.

Merck Withdrawing From China’s Human Growth Hormone Market

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 04:05:03 -0400

Merck has decided to progressively pull human hormone injection Saizen (somatropin injection)from the Chinese market, according to one member of the staff, because of the drug’s dosage form changes worldwide and the difficulty in selling alternative non-powder forms in China.

China’s Foreign Drug Approval Fees 30 Times Above Domestic Drugs

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 04:00:01 -0400

Chinese authorities have charged RMB1,500 ($243.20) for domestic drug registration and RMB 45,300 for imported drugs, both new and generic since 1995, which international firms say hinders the entry of generics into the country, particularly from the U.S., Canada and India.

China’s Duyiwei Biological Acquires Two Hospitals, One More Soon

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 03:50:00 -0400

Gansu Duyiwei Biological Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. plans to acquire Pengxi TCM Hospital, according to the company secretary, which follows two other purchases that include Deyang Better Future Hospital Co.

India's Unichem Cleared To Sell New Drug-Production Plant To Mylan

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 19:05:01 -0400

Unichem Laboratories has been cleared by India's antitrust commission to be sell one of its manufacturing facilities to Mylan Laboratories.