Pharma News
Biocad to be taken over by Russian investment firm
Russia’s biggest drugmaker, Pharmstandard, and investment company, Millhouse LLC, have said that they are planning to buy 70% of Russian biosimilars developer Biocad.
Amgen and Pfizer seek deal with Russian non-originator biologicals firm
Russian biotechnology company Biocad is reported to be attracting offers from US-based Pfizer and biotechnology giant Amgen.
Strides and Shasun merger aims to spread risk
In the current climate of increasing scrutiny against Indian generics manufacturers by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Indian generics maker Strides Arcolab (Strides) and India-based active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) maker Shasun Pharmaceuticals (Shasun) have announced a ‘risk-spreading’ merger.
Cipla and S&D Pharma make generics deal for Czech Republic and Slovakia
India-based generics maker Cipla has partnered with S&D Pharma to launch affordable, high quality generics in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Patients at risk from UK drug shortages
Ongoing drug shortages in the UK have led to 80% of general practitioners (GPs) surveyed reporting that their workloads have increased in the last year. A third of doctors say their patients have been harmed or been negatively affected if a second choice has had to be prescribed.
Investor principles on biosimilars gained support
Amgen and Novartis (parent company of Sandoz, a leader in the biosimilars field) have both come out in support of a set of principles on biosimilars laid down by a coalition of 19 institutional investors.
Branded drugmaker could be sued for generic’s side effects
The Alabama Supreme Court has ruled, for the second time, that Pfizer could be sued for damages allegedly caused by its heartburn drug Reglan (metoclopramide), even if the plaintiff had only taken a generic version of the drug. The ruling follows a rehearing requested by Pfizer, which failed to overturn the original ruling.
Generics shortages continue to rise in the UK
There is growing anxiety around the supply of generic medicines in the UK, according to a statement released by the country’s All-Party Pharmacy Group (APPG). The problem is worse than it was two years ago [1], say the cross-bench Members of Parliament who make up the group, and it is not being addressed by the Department of Health’s (DoH) supply chain forum which was set up to address this very issue.
Generics deals for Mylan, Pfizer and Sun Pharma
Not to be beaten by biosimilars manufacturers, generics makers are also jumping on the ‘deals’ bandwagon, with a plethora of collaborations announced in the past weeks.
Endo to buy generics maker DAVA
Specialty pharmaceuticals maker Endo Health Solutions (Endo) announced on 24 June 2014 that it had reached a definitive agreement to acquire generics maker DAVA Pharmaceuticals for US$575 million in cash, with another US$25 million up for grabs depending on the achievement of certain sales milestones.
