Lantheus ties up with Double-Crane for distribution & supply of Definity in China

Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc., a global leader in developing, manufacturing and distributing innovative diagnostic imaging agents, entered into a strategic distribution arrangement with Beijing Double-Crane Pharmaceutical Co., LTD. (Double-Crane), a leading pharmaceutical company, for Definity Vial for (Perflutren Lipid Microsphere) Injectable Suspension in the People’s Republic of China, including Hong Kong S.A.R. and Macau S.A.R.

Elder Pharma & Combe launch Vagisil range of feminine personal hygiene products in India

Elder Pharmaceuticals Ltd, one of the fastest growing pharmaceutical companies in the country, in association with New York based Combe Inc., a global brand leader in feminine care, has launched the Vagisil range of feminine personal hygiene products today in India.

Vagisil has been a world leader in feminine care for over four decades and is the most trusted and well accepted brand in over 40 countries across the globe. Combe Inc., and Elder Pharma are introducing three key solutions to help Indian women with their feminine needs: Vagisil Anti-Itch Creme, Vagisil Intimate Feminine Wash and Vagisil Intimate Feminine Lubricant.

Indian pharma firm 'Panacea Biotec' launches drug against polio in Nigeria

A leading Indian pharmaceutical company has launched a polio vaccine, POLPROTEC in Nigeria to help combat the spread of polio in Africa's top oil producer.

To make the vaccine easily available, Panacea Biotec is partnering Emzor pharma which has a strong footprint across Nigeria. The country is still facing the challenge of polio virus. 

During the launch, Panacea and Emzor made a public declaration of a Joint Polio-Free Mission "To contribute towards achieving the goal of global polio eradication and to ensure that no child will ever again be paralyzed by WPV or Vaccine-Derived Polio Virus (VDPV)."

Cadila Pharma signs pact with Bactiguard to sell products for prevention of hospital acquired infection

Ahmedabad-based Cadila Pharmaceuticals has entered into an agreement with company Bactiguard to sell the Swedish drug firm's products in India. The products are aimed at prevention of hospital acquired infections.

Bactiguard provides solutions preventing hospital acquired infections, which are the fourth largest cause of death in the western world. The company has the technology to use thin noble metal coating that has antimicrobial and biocompatible properties that can be used on all sorts of medical devices. The company's product can reduce health cost for the governments and lower the use of antibiotics and save lives.

Jubilant Biosys inks drug discovery pact with Mnemosyne Pharma

Jubilant Biosys has entered into drug discovery collaboration with Mnemosyne Pharmaceutical Inc to develop molecules for treating mental disorders resulting from diseases of the nervous system.

The alliance shall initially span a period of two years and may be extended on mutual consent across other therapeutic programs as well.

BioGaia and Nestle sign pact to extend collaboration in infant nutrition products

BioGaia, a Swedish biotechnology company and Nestlé have signed agreements to extend the collaboration in the field of infant nutrition products.

These agreements are of significant strategic value for BioGaia since they not only involve an extended close collaboration with Nestlé but also generate a greater financial freedom for BioGaia to further invest in its own brand, develop its own new products, research around new indications and increase the distribution of BioGaia-branded products.

DARA BioSciences enter pact with Uman Pharma for US commercialisation rights to gemcitabine

DARA BioSciences, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company,  has entered into an exclusive US agreement with Candiac based Uman Pharma Inc. for commercial rights to gemcitabine, DARA's second newly licensed anticancer agent.

In 2010, gemcitabine generated branded (GEMZAR-Eli Lilly) sales of $780 million, according to IMS data. It went off patent in 2011 in the US, and a year earlier in Europe. The drug is widely prescribed as first-line therapy for ovarian, breast, lung, and pancreatic cancers.

Merck Establishes Joint Venture with Supera Farma

Merck (NYSE:MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, has announced the formation of a new joint venture (JV) with Supera Farma Laboratorios S.A., a Brazilian pharmaceutical company co-owned by Cristália and Eurofarma. The new JV will market, distribute and sell a portfolio of innovative pharmaceutical and branded generic products from Merck, Cristália and Eurofarma solely in the Brazilian retail sector.

Sanofi signs deal with Emcure Pharmaceuticals to sell rabies vaccine

French drugmaker Sanofi said it signed an agreement with Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd to sell its rabies vaccine Verorab in India.

No financial details were provided.

Ind Swift to sell Roche's heart attack detection kits in India

Indian drugmaker Ind Swift Ltd said on Friday that it will sell heart attack detection kit developed by Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding in India.

Reacting to the news, shares of Ind Swift extended gains to more than 9 per cent. At 12:36 p.m (0708 GMT), the stock was up 6.14 per cent to 29.40 rupees in a Mumbai market that was up 0.6 per cent.

US drugmaker Eli Lilly, Jubilant Life call off joint venture

US drugmaker Eli Lilly & Company and Noida-based Jubilant Life Sciences have called off their equal drug-discovery partnership to develop molecules across several therapeutic areas.

Bristol-Myers, J&J Collaborate to Study Combination Therapy for Hepatitis C

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. will collaborate with a unit of Johnson & Johnson to study a potential combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C.

The companies will study a regimen that combines Johnson & Johnson's drug TMC435 with Bristol-Myers Squibb's daclatasvir. The clinical trial of the drug cocktail will begin in the first half of 2012. It will include a combination of the two drugs, the drugs plus pegylated interferon and ribavirin, and the drugs plus ribavirin.

Perrigo and its Partner Synthon Launch Levocetirizine Solution

Perrigo Company PRGO +0.60% and its partner Synthon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that Perrigo has begun shipping Levocetirizine Solution, 2.5 mg/5ml, a generic version of UCB's Xyzal® Oral Solution. Synthon has the first to file ANDA application for the generic that entitle it to 180 days of generic exclusivity. Hatch Waxman litigation in this product was settled earlier this year. Perrigo is the manufacturer of this product.

Teva to Market Oncology Care Product of UK's Sinclair

Teva will have exclusive marketing rights to episil, an oncology supportive care product, in Germany, Spain, Poland, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.

Daiichi Sankyo launches nasal spray in a JV with Regency Therapeutics

Regency Therapeutics, a newly established division of Luitpold Pharmaceuticals and its co-promoter Daiichi Sankyo has announced the launch of Sprix (ketorolac tromethamine) Nasal Spray and which is now commercially available. Sprix was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 2010 for the short term (up to 5 days) management of moderate to moderately severe pain that requires analgesia at the opioid level.

Eli Lilly India (Lilly) and Lupin Limited (Lupin) Announced Strategic Collaboration to Help Fight the Battle against Diabetes

Eli Lilly India (Lilly) and Lupin Limited (Lupin) announced on 29^th July, 2011 that they have entered into a strategic collaboration to promote and distribute Lilly’s Huminsulin range of products, including Huminsulin RTM, Huminsulin NPHTM, Huminsulin 50/50TM, Huminsulin 30/70TM and Humapen Ergo II. Lupin’s India formulations business will promote and distribute the range of products in India and Nepal, virtually doubling the number of sales representatives behind the diabetes care product. This collaboration will double the current customer base; approximately 45,000 doctors will now be called on as a result of the new partnership.