Its early to say why but Roche wants full control of Genentech - the biotech giant that brings out outstanding drugs like Avastin and Rituxan. Read here.

Friends, this is my last blog post here. There are many new exciting developments at home and across the globe. Hope to be tracking them well.

Thanks for all your support.

2008 is turning to be a year of consolidation in the global pharma industry. The world leader in generic drugs - Teva has bought out Barr Labs for over $7.4 billion.  Read this NYT story. 

But, its not being so easy for others. According to latest reports Czech generic medicine maker Zentiva’s Board has appealed to its shareholders to reject the share purchase offer from French brand drug maker Sanofi, the price being too low. Watch this development carefully.

It could be an indirect invite for more compelling bids from other companies.

The US FDA investigated Ranbaxy’s Paonta Sahib manufacturing plant three years ago. The plant was blocked from sending products into the US, as several lapses in records and manufacturing processes were detected and 483s issued. Then, a year later in 2007 federal investigators raided Ranbaxy’s US office and we could only guess what it could be all about. But, now its getting very very clear.

The US FDA has filed a 28 page Motion in the Maryland District Court, its headquarters, against Ranbaxy. There are various charges, some of them as serious as “systematic fraudulent  conduct”. The FDA has also dragged consulting firm Parexel to court, which was hired by Ranbaxy to straighten up things at the Paonta Sahib plant.

The case was filed on July 3 and all of that came to light with this investigative report filed by George J Jordan of Star-Ledger. Extra-ordinary report, by George !

The inevitable cannot be avoided. The Taro board of directors, strangely with the exception of Dr Barrie Levitt, Daniel Moros and Tal Levitt, have denounced Sun Pharma’s tender offer to garner controlling shares, as coercive.  Read this appeal from Taro board to its shareholders. Its fiercely hostile in tone and now its difficult to believe that a year or so ago, the two companies had sat across the table to discuss a merger ! 

As we have been following this fight blow by blow, Sun appears to be getting it right. It was more or less understood, that no one will tender their shares at a rate lower than the market price. But that opposition helps Sun in strengthening its case against Taro. 

However, why have the main promoters stayed away from the latest board resolution. May be there could be a trick. No one can understand what’s cooking in the two companies. Surely, the next salvo will be from Sun Pharma.

Daiichi Sankyo bought Ranbaxy, then Sanofi wanted to raise stake in Czech firm Zentiva and now Fresenius is buying APP. The pattern is clearer that innovators are increasingly banking on copy-cats. Read this Bloomberg report.