Vol. 2, No. 7 July 1998
NumberSubject
020701CSIR and Lupin Score in Patent Applications
020702Ranbaxy Unravels Prostate Drug
020703Wockhardt Plans Merind's Growth with Help from McKinsey
020704Hoechst Marion's Ambitious Thrust into Vaccines
020705Hoechst-Roussel Merger on the Rocks
020706Wockhardt Rhein to Launch Hepatitis-B Drug Next Year
020707Wockhardt May Withdraw from Saudi Tie-up
020708Government Seeking Advice from Industry on Drug Policy
020709Government Turns Down Demand to Raise Ranitidine Prices
020710Atul Buying Ciba Stake in Cibatul














020701 CSIR and Lupin Score in Patent Applications

Seventy-five per cent of the 668 patent application received by the Indian Patent Office are for local Ayurvedic products. There is 155 per cent rise in the number of Indian patents filed over that of 1996. CSIR has filed the maximum number at 19 while Lupin has filed 12.

020702 Ranbaxy Unravels Prostate Drug

Ranbaxy has unravelled a new molecule (RBx 2258) for the treatment of enlargement of the prostate gland, which is a product of original research. It expects clinical trials in the first quarter of 1999.

When marketed it will compete with Boehringer Mannheim's temsulocin and finasteride. The company puts the Indian market at Rs 40 crore. Meanwhile, Ranbaxy is expanding its marketing arrangement with Hoechst Marion Roussel from two to three products, ie, loxacin, roxatidine and a new formulation of fexofenadine.

020703 Wockhardt Plans Merind's Growth with a Little Help from McKinsey

The 313-crore Wockhardt is being assisted by McKinsey & Co to bring its acquired company Merind's growth (7 to 8 per cent) on par with its own (28 per cent).

Production of one-third of Merind's brands accounting for two to three per cent of its turnover will be discontinued. The emphasis will now be on steroids of which Merind has dexamethasone, and psychotropic substances like Tryptomer and Libotrip.

020704 Hoechst Marion's Ambitious Thrust into Vaccines

Hoechst Marion Roussel (HMR) expects to double its turnover from vaccines to Rs 80 crore in five years. Chiron Behrings, its joint-venture with Chiron will launch its hepatitis-B vaccine next year. Other vaccines for hepatitis-A and C and MMR are also planned.

These products will be marketed by HMR. At present HMR's popular products are Rabipur, a rabies vaccine and Typhoral, an oral typhoid vaccine. Its 70-crore plant is coming up in Goa and will launch all new formulations. Its existing products will be manufactured at its plant at Mulund, Mumbai.

020705 Hoechst-Roussel Merger on the Rocks

The registrar of companies has filed a report stating that the proposed merger of Roussel India (RI) with Hoechst Marion Roussel (HMR) will be detrimental to the public interest. The HMR union has challenged the merger of RI with HMR. There is confusion over whether RI's factory premises at Thane has been taken over by its holding company, HMR.

020706 Wockhardt Rhein to Launch Hepatitis-B Drug Next Year

Wockhardt Rhein Biopharma would launch its hepatitis-B bulk drug (equivalent to 3.5 to 5 million doses) by the second quarter of next year.

SmithKline markets its 1 ml adult dose at Rs 485 per dose and the 5 ml dose at Rs 272. Shanta Biotech's competing products are available for Rs 190 and Rs 140. In addition there are the Korean Green Cross and Transgene Biotech in the market.

020707 Wockhardt May Withdraw from Saudi Tie-up

Wockhardt may withdraw from its joint-venture in Saudi Arabia. Instead it is concentrating on Wockhardt Egypt which is a joint-venture between Wockhardt Europe and a local partner.

Two anti-infective products, Pelox and Aziwok have been approved for sale in the Egyptian market. Wockhardt will supply the raw materials to Wockhardt Egypt.

020708 Government Seeking Advice from Industry on Drug Policy

The government has decided to review the drug policy and the drug price control order (DPCO) and for this purpose is contacting industry majors like: Glaxo, Cipla, Ranbaxy, Lupin, Hoechst, Dr. Reddy's, Pfizer, Knoll and industry associations like: Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association (IDMA) and Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI).

020709 Government Turns Down Demand to Raise Ranitidine Prices

The government has turned down industry's demand to increase Ranitidine prices. It has asserted that prices will stay at Rs 1,203 per kg. Ranbaxy and Glaxo have a combined market share of 60 per cent of the Ranitidine market, yet these companies have protested that they were not consulted while fixing the price of this drug.

020710 Atul Buying Ciba Stake in Cibatul

Atul is buying the 35 per cent stake held by the multinational Ciba Speciality Chemicals in Cibatul at Rs 26 a share. After the purchase Atul will fully own Cibatul, and it is believed Cibatul will be merged with Atul. Atul has similarly bought the ICI stake in Atic and later merged it with itself. Cibatul is expecting sales of Rs 120 crore for the year ending March 1999.