Pharma News
The global generic medicines market
The global market for generic drugs was worth an estimated US$84 billion for 2009 and is expected to increase to a staggering US$168.7 billion by 2014.
Ranbaxy to transfer R & D and focus on generics
On 2 July 2010, the Japanese Daiichi Sankyo Group and Indian-based Ranbaxy Laboratories announced that Ranbaxy’s New Drug Discovery Research (NDDR) has been transferred to Daiichi Sankyo India Pharma as part of the strategy to strengthen the global Research and Development (R & D) structure of the Daiichi Sankyo Group.
Rights to Allegra acquired by generics’ manufacturer Perrigo
On 29 June 2010, Perrigo announced that it had acquired the exclusive US rights to sell and distribute over-the-counter (OTC) versions of Fexofenadine HCl 180 mg and 60 mg tablets, plus Fexofenadine HCl 60 mg and Pseudoephedrine 120 mg tablets, the generic versions of sanofi-aventis’ Allegra and Allegra D-12 products. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries currently has prescription (Rx) approval for these products, and Teva and sanofi-aventis have settled their Paragraph IV litigation.
Generics’ manufacturer Hospira merges with Javelin
On 22 June 2010, Hospira announced that it had successfully acquired 79% of the stock in Javelin Pharmaceutical’s. The merger agreement also allows for Hospira to exercise a ‘top-up’ option to increase its share ownership in Javelin, which, states Hospira, it fully intends to do.
Sanofi-aventis and Nichi-Iko announce joint venture for generics in Japan
Sanofi-aventis and Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Nichi-Iko) have announced that they have signed an agreement to establish a new joint venture, called sanofi-aventis Nichi-Iko KK, in order to develop a generic business in Japan.
Orchid acquires US generic sales and marketing company Karalex
On 10 June 2010, Indian-based generics manufacturer, Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals (Orchid) announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire Karalex Pharma, LLC, a US-based generic marketing and sales services company with headquarters in New Jersey, USA.
GSK acquires Argentine generics’ maker Laboratorios Phoenix
On 10 June 2010 GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) acquired Laboratorios Phoenix, a leading Argentine pharmaceutical business, for approximately US$253 million. GSK will gain full ownership of Phoenix in a move to accelerate sales growth and further extend its pharmaceutical portfolio in Argentina and the Latin America region.
Abbott acquires Indian generics’ maker Piramal Healthcare
The US-based company, Abbott, agreed to buy the domestic unit of Piramal Healthcare, one of India’s biggest generics makers, for US$3.7 billion.
EGA welcomes MEPs decisions on falsified medicines and pharmacovigilance reports
On 27 April 2010, ENVI (The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety) of the European Parliament voted to adopt reports on both falsified medicines and pharmacovigilance. The measures included in these reports are intended to increase patients’ safety. This can only be good news for the generics sector, as this should result in increased consumer confidence and as a result encourage acceptance and increase sales of generics.
FDA rejects second citizen petition for Teva’s glatiramer acetate drug
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries’ glatiramer acetate drug (Copaxone) is indicated for reduction of the frequency of relapses in patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis.
