Industry News

AbbVie, a  research-based biopharmaceutical company, has been granted breakthrough therapy designation  to Venetoclax by the US FDA for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in previously treated (relapsed/refractory) patients with the 17p deletion genetic mutation.

Biocon’s chairman and managing director Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, got  2nd rank in ‘The Medicine Maker Power List' 2015, an index of the 100 most influential people across the globe in the field of medicine. The top 5 in ‘The Medicine Maker Power List’ are: Anthony Fauci, director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, USA, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, chairman & managing director, Biocon, Sir Andrew Witty, chief executive officer, GlaxoSmithKline, Arthur D. Levinson, chief executive officer, Calico and Heather Bresch, chief executive officer of Mylan.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Roche's cobas KRAS mutation test for diagnostic use. The real-time PCR test is designed to identify KRAS mutations in tumour samples from metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients and aid clinicians in determining a therapeutic path for them.

Jubilant Life Sciences has suffered drop during the fourth quarter ended March 2015 due to lower sales and its consolidated net profit declined sharply by 56.8 per cent to Rs.42.73 crore from Rs.98.81 crore in the corresponding period of last year. Its consolidated net sales also declined by 1.9 per cent to Rs.1,523 crore from Rs.1,552 crore. EBIDTA improved marginally to Rs.253.27 crore from Rs.250.86 crore. EPS declined to Rs.2.68 from Rs.6.20 in the last period. The company management recommended equity dividend of 300 % for the year 2014-15.

Neusoft Medical Systems Co., Ltd. manufactures medical equipment, and provides medical IT solutions and healthcare services, introduced  NeuViz 128 CT for the global markets. The products are being exported to South Asia, North Africa and other international markets. It is leading-edge technologies and innovations to create super-fine and low dose images.

Ajanta Pharma posted satisfactory financial performance for the fourth quarter ended March 2015 and its standalone net profit increased by 20.3 per cent to Rs. 84.31 crore from Rs. 70.09 crore in the corresponding period of last year. EBIDTA increased by 22 per cent to Rs. 140.72 crore from Rs. 115.36 crore. Its net sales rise up by 19.7 per cent to Rs. 360.36 crore from Rs. 301.14 crore. Export is 67 per cent of the revenue for the quarter. R&D expenditure increased to Rs. 24 crore from Rs. 11 crore in the similar period of last year. The board of directors has approved equity share of 300 per cent for the year 2014-15.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), has posted net profit of  £8,038 million during the first quarter ended March 2015 as against £719 million in the corresponding period of last year, mainly due to other operating income of £8,712 million. Its sales remained almost stagnant at £5,622 million as compared to £5,613 million. Its R&D expenditure increased to £867 million from £859 million.

[adsense:336x280:8701650588]

Mylan NV, a global pharmaceutical company, launched levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets USP, 0.15 mg/0.03 mg, generic version of Teva's Seasonale tablets, in the US.