BUSINESS
Lupin aims to bring COVID-19 drugs, jabs; approaches Gilead for Remdesivir
Lupin aims to be actively involved in prevention and treatment of COVID-19, changing its strategy of being relatively less active during the first wave of the pandemic last year.
BUSINESS
Lupin Q4 Net profit grows 18.2% led by cost optimisation, India sales growth
The company reported a net profit of Rs 460.4 crore in the quarter-ended March 31, but the revenue dropped by 1.6 percent YoY to Rs 3,783 crore
BUSINESS
Eli Lilly gives out licences for COVID-19 drug Baricitinib to Dr Reddy's, Torrent Pharma and MSN Labs
Lilly has so far given six licenses for Baricitinib in India. On May 10, the American pharma company signed agreements with Cipla, Lupin and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries.
BUSINESS
Sun Pharma to pay two years' salary to families of employees who died of COVID-19
The company also assured that the school/college fees of children of the demised employee will be paid up to their graduation.
BUSINESS
Clamour for sharing vaccine tech and IPR grows louder by states; puts Centre under pressure
The central government, however, believes that the exercise of statutory powers would be 'counter-productive’ at this stage and is actively engaging itself with global organisations at a diplomatic level to find out a solution in the best possible interest of India.
BUSINESS
Centre says exercise of patent waiver provisions for COVID-19 vaccines,drugs 'counter-productive', prefers diplomacy
The Supreme Court in its order dated April 30 observed that the central government could consider using its powers under Sections 92, 100 or 102 of the Patents Act to increase production of essential drugs to meet demand.
BUSINESS
COVID-19 treatment: Eli Lilly partners with Cipla, Lupin, Sun Pharma to manufacture, distribute Baricitinib in India
Eli Lilly said it iwa also in discussions with several other Indian manufacturers for the potential grant of additional voluntary licenses.
BUSINESS
COVID-19 vaccine | Govt to prioritise second dose amid supply shortage, slowing daily vaccination numbers
Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, at a meeting of the high-level Group of Ministers on COVID-19, requested the states to set aside 70 percent of the vaccines received through the Government of India channel for the administration of the second dose.
BUSINESS
Can the single dose Sputnik Light COVID-19 jab be a game changer for India?
Experts say that a single dose COVID-19 vaccine will help vaccinate twice as many people in the same amount of time, but the long term protection of these vaccines remain unclear
BUSINESS
Indian pharma cos welcome patent waivers on COVID vaccines, says tech transfer needed to scale up
Experts say India has a considerable knowledge base on vaccine platforms such as whole virion vaccines (inactivated or live virus), viral vectors and recombinant proteins. Here the patent waiver may not be of much help.
BUSINESS
JBCPL launches new division offering therapies targeting kidney diseases
The new division will focus exclusively on comprehensive renal care ranging from the management of hypertension in Chronic Kidney Disease to End-stage renal disease, the company said.
BUSINESS
Roche's COVID-19 antibody cocktail receives Emergency Use Authorisation, Cipla to distribute the drug
"The production process for this biologic medicine is very complex and Roche, as one of the largest biologics manufacturers in the world, was selected by its partner Regeneron to expand worldwide production capacity," Roche said.
BUSINESS
How Natco Pharma put US drug giant Eli Lilly under pressure for COVID-19 drug through compulsory licensing filing
The Indian company says it has offered 7% royalty to the US drugmaker for Baricitinib. Natco has filed for compulsory licensing, arguing that Eli Lilly’s small distribution network won’t be able to serve India’s population and the 14-day, Rs 42,000 per-patient treatment regimen for the US drug is too expensive.
HEALTH-AND-FITNESS
Hospitals, vaccine makers welcome RBI move on easier liquidity to health sector
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das announced on May 5 an on-tap liquidity window of Rs 50,000 crore to boost provision of immediate liquidity for ramping up COVID-related healthcare infrastructure and services in the country.
BUSINESS
Eli Lilly India chief says company in talks with generic firms here on royalty free voluntary licensing of COVID-19 drug Baricitinib
They are also working with regulatory authorities and the government of India to donate Lilly’s COVID-19 treatments, including Baricitinib, if authorities deem it appropriate to potentially provide relief
BUSINESS
Is pricing, indemnity issues holding Centre, Pfizer from striking deal on vaccine procurement?
Pricing, legal indemnity two issues possibly holding up a quick deal, sources say. The company is insisting on a liability shield that protects it from potential lawsuits relating to vaccine-related adverse events. Some countries have agreed to indemnify the vaccine makers for claims as part of the purchase pacts. India has not agreed to this so far.
BUSINESS
COVID-19 | 3 major private hospitals to start Big 18+ inoculation drive on May 1
Apollo said it would be charging Rs 200 as administrative charges over and above the prices fixed by the manufacturers. Fortis and Max have hinted at similar administrative charges.
BUSINESS
Exclusive | Gilead Sciences to send 1 lakh Remdesivir vials to India by next week to ease shortage
Consignment is part of 4.5 lakh vials that Gilead Sciences promised to donate to India. The remainder of the consignment will be dispatched in the coming weeks. The Central government will allot the drug to different States, based on demand.
BUSINESS
IIL all set to roll out Bharat Biotech's Covaxin drug substance by July-August
In an exclusive interaction with Moneycontrol, K Anand Kumar, Managing Director of IIL, told that the technology transfer process is well underway, and the company has the capabilities and expertise to manufacture inactivated viral vaccines at commercial scale and under biosafety containment.
TRENDS
COVID-19 | 18-44 age group may have to wait for several weeks to get free vaccine shots
Around 20 states have said that they will offer COVID-19 vaccines free for 18-45 years. But many are yet to initiate negotiations and others have just begun sending feelers to vaccine companies.
BUSINESS
Government takes over allotment of critical COVID-19 drug Tocilizumab amid shortage
The drug went out of stock in the country a few weeks ago due to a sudden surge in demand because of a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases.
BUSINESS
Roche seeks emergency use approval of antibody cocktail to treat COVID-19 patients
The company on Wednesday said that it is also working urgently to increase manufacturing capacity and supply by ramping up our own production network, as well as actively collaborating with external partners to maximize production of Actemra (Tocilizumab) wherever possible with the goal of increasing its availability.
BUSINESS
Morepen board clears $100 million investment from Switzerland-based Corinth Group
Morepen Laboratories would get an investment of $32.50 million, while the remaining $67.50 million would go to promoter group companies. Morepen Laboratories will use the funds to expand the company’s R&D centre and facilities to meet growing demand for active pharmaceutical ingredients.
BUSINESS
MSD in pact with five Indian generic firms to manufacture, distribute COVID-19 drug molnupiravir
Under the agreements, MSD will provide licences to these manufacturers to supply molnupiravir to India and more than 100 LMICs. MSD is also in discussions with the Medicines Patent Pool to explore the potential for additional licences.
