Pharma News
Xbrane signs biosimilar optimization deal with Indian pharma firm
Swedish biotech company Xbrane Bioscience (Xbrane) has signed an agreement with a global Indian pharmaceutical company to assist them in developing an optimized production system for a specific biosimilar that will be marketed worldwide. The aim is to help the client reduce production costs in order to gain a competitive advantage in the biosimilar market.
Cipla Medpro to collaborate with Teva for generics in South Africa
India-based generics maker Cipla announced on 8 October 2014 that it had made a collaboration deal with Israel’s Teva Pharmaceuticals for sales and distribution of the latter’s generic drugs in South Africa.
Supernus sues Actavis over generic Trokendi XR
US-based central nervous system specialist Supernus Pharmaceuticals (Supernus) announced on 2 Oct 2014 that it had sued generics maker Actavis for infringement of three patents covering its antiepileptic drug Trokendi XR (extended release topiramate). The three US patents (8,298,576, 8,298,580, and 8,663,683) cover once-a-day topiramate formulations and methods of treating seizures using those formulations.
Generics maker IGI Labs gains rights to AstraZeneca injectables
Speciality topical generics maker IGI Laboratories (IGI Labs) announced on 25 September 2014 that it had acquired the rights for 18 drugs from AstraZeneca.
India suffers HIV drug shortages
Supply bottlenecks and late payments to drugmakers have hit HIV treatment supplies across India, according to reports in the Indian press. The drug shortages, which affect those least able to pay, have seen some government distribution centres running out of drugs altogether.
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.
