GOVT ACTION ON PHARMA FIRMS FOR BRIBING DOCS

In TIMES OF INDIA on 5th Jan,2009 given that, the department of pharmaceuticals has indeed taken note of the dubious practices reported by TOI on Dec 15, but in a surprisingly mild, almost apologetic tone. Joint Secretary wrote to various drug manufacturer associations on Dec 18 citing the TOI report, but the letter suggests he would be "greateful" if the associations acted on suggestions made by the department. The secretary had earlier hald a meeting of various pharma associations in Mumbai in which he made several suggestions to the industry. The letter admits:"the allegations cannot be in any way treated as ethical and something that could be endorsed by society in general. This also puts the pharma industry in a bad light since the enhanced promotional expenditure of pharmaceutical companies result in enhanced market price of drugs, which has to be borne by the consumer." Both the Organisations of Pharmaceutical Associations of India (OPPI) and the Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA) had released their own codes of conduct at the beginning of 2007. However, there is no single code applicable to all drug manufacturers, a fact that the letter points out. But again, this is followed up by a gentle nudge. The OPPI and IDMA codes also have detailed procedures for filing of complaints and these associations cliam that they take action against companies found to indulge in unethical marketing practices. However, the government has sought not details of complaints received by them or of what action was taken on these complaints.

DRL ADVANTAGE OVER RANBAXY ON IMITREX

The delay in Ranbaxy Laboratories getting approval from FDA for launching migrain and headache drug of GSK's Imitrex could turn out to be a gain for Dr.Reddy's Laboratories, which has already launched the drug in the US. Dr.Reddy's could end up gaining a major chunk of the estimated 80 million dollars sales from the drug by Ranbaxy in the first year of launch in the US. Dr.Reddy's launched the generic version of Imitrex last november. Ranbaxy has not got approval from USFDA for launching generic version of Imitrex after it came under the scanner of health regulator, which last year banned 30 of its generic drugs produced by Dewas and Poanta Sahib units. Dr.Reddy's laboratories launched the same in November last year after settling patent litigation with GSK thus becoming the first company to launch an authorised generic version of the drug.

COMPANIES CUT OUT GOODIES FOR DOCTORS

Pharmaceutical industry has agreed to a voluntary moratorium on branded goodeis-Viagra pens, Zoloft soap dispensers, Lipitor- that were meant to foster good will & encourage doctors to prescribe more of drugs. No longer will Merck furnish doctor with purplish adhesive bandages advange Gardasil a vaccine against human Papillomavirus.

DR.REDDY'S PRODUCTS FOR ALLEGEMEINE INSURANCE COMPANY

DR.REDDYS LABORATORIES has won the bid for marketing of its products from Allegemeine Ortskrankenkasse (AOK) tender. The insurance company called bids to buy 44 Active Pharmaceutical ingrediants out of 66 products, woth $ 3.5 billions. Dr.Reddy's subsidiary Betapharm won this bid for 7 products. Allegemeine Ortskrankenkasse provides insurance cover to about 24 million publicly insured Germans. The 64 products, which are on bid, represented sales of $ 2.98 billions in 2007. Dr.Reddy's contract with Salutas will be ended, which had problems on that contract, which was the supplier of most products.