1.25 mn capsules of new swine flu drug enter Indian market

October 9th, 2009 Wal-Mart will change Tamiflu pills to liquid dosesNEW YORK — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. says it plans to convert Tamiflu capsules into liquids to help give the antiviral drug to children and the elderly, who may have trouble swallowing the capsules.

October 2nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - Experts at Queen Mary, University of London, have come up with micrometer-sized capsules that can safely deliver drugs inside living cells, and allow full courses of prescription drugs to be effectively "shrink-wrapped" and buried under the skin or inside the body. Writing about their innovation, they have revealed that the "micro shuttles" can be loaded with a specific dose of medication and be opened remotely.

September 30th, 2009 TORONTO - Canada's Imaging Dynamics Company (IDC), which has just sold its high-end digital radiography (DR) systems to three hospitals in Mumbai, said Tuesday it was making a big push into the expanding Indian medical market. The digital radiography (DR) systems replace the age-old film-based X-rays systems that are still used in most Indian hospitals.

September 29th, 2009 CHENNAI - Pharma major Wockhardt Tuesday got the US Food and Drug Administration's (USFDA) tentative approval for marketing Tamsulosin Hydrochloride capsules. Tamsulosin is being used for treating non-cancerous enlargement of prostate, technically called benign prostatic hyperplasia.

September 28th, 2009 MUMBAI - Indian pharmaceuticals major Lupin Tuesday said it had acquired the rights for Antara, a drug to treat high blood cholesterol and high triglycerides, for $38.61 million from the US-based Oscient Pharmaceuticals. The rights for the drug, along with related assets and inventories, have been acquired under the procedures of the US Bankruptcy Court, the company said in a regulatory filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

September 25th, 2009 HYDERABAD - Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma today said that the exports of drugs, pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals for the year 2008-09 stood at Rs.39,538 crore, registering a growth of about 29 per cent over the last year. Addressing the Indo-Africa Pharma Business meet here, Sharma said: "In recent times, the Indian pharmaceutical sector has emerged as one of the major contributors to Indian exports with export earnings rising from a negligible amount in early 1990s to Rs.29,139.57 crore by 2007-08.

September 25th, 2009 CHENNAI - Decks have been cleared for the city-based Orchid Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals for marketing the generic versions of Zosyn antibiotic, with a US district court rejecting rival Wyeth Laboratories' motion for a restraint on the sale of the drug. Wyeth had filed a suit in the District Court of Columbia against the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) decision to grant Orchid permission to sell generic Zosyn, chemically Piperacillin-Tazobactam, claiming the drug could harm critically ill patients.

September 23rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - With a surge in flu cases in the Indian capital, Delhi health officials Wednesday said people were staying away from taking immediate medical help even after showing symptoms of the disease. "Despite all our efforts to make people aware that they should immediately approach the nearest hospital if they show swine flu-like symptoms, the majority are not following it.

September 19th, 2009 LONDON - A dietary ingredient derived from a melon, rich in an antioxidant, has been shown to relieve stress. Researchers found that the supplement cut down the signs and symptoms of perceived stress and fatigue in healthy volunteers.

September 17th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India is working overtime to come out with a swine flu vaccine and will soon produce the raw material used in the anti-flu drug, the government said Thursday as eight more people died of the influenza A (H1N1) virus, taking the toll to 220. Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said "India is taking prompt and proactive measures to delay and limit the spread of the diseases and also to build capacity to mitigate the impact of the pandemic." He said India was among the first few countries to stake claim to produce the vaccine.

September 17th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India will soon produce raw material for Oseltamivir, one of the drugs used in treatment of Influenza A (H1N1) virus, health ministry officials said Thursday. The move will help bring down the cost of the drug.

September 16th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Taking into account the current spread of the swine flu in the country, Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry has decided allow retail sell of Oselatamivir Phosphate and Zanamivir in a regulated manner. The Oselatamivir Phosphate and Zanamivir are only available drugs that can be used for the treatment of swine flu.

September 16th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Tamiflu, the drug used in the treatment of swine flu, will be available in the open market within a week, a health ministry official said Wednesday. The ministry of health and family welfare issued a notification Tuesday allowing "restricted sale" of tamiflu (Oselatamivir) and Zanamivir, the only available drugs that are used for the treatment of Influenza A(H1N1).

September 4th, 2009 LONDON - India has rejected applications from two US companies for patents on two key AIDS drugs in a move that could mean more people in poor countries will have access to life-saving medicines. According to a report in Nature News, the decisions are the latest in a string of legal victories for Cipla, India's largest generic drug maker.

August 31st, 2009 NEW DELHI - India Monday reported seven more swine flu deaths, four of them in Maharashtra, the state worst affected by the virus, taking to 100 the total toll across the country due to H1N1 virus, health authorities said here. Of the 100 deaths, Maharashtra alone has recorded 55 deaths.