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Semiweekly Roundup: Jan. 3, 2008

• When MNC Drug Patents Expire, Firms Turn To Making Developing-Nation Drugs (India)
• NGOs Fault Most Indian Drug Makers For Corporate Social Responsibility Efforts (India)
• Indian Pharmas Now Dominate Country’s Market In Wake Of Patent Reforms (India)
• Leavitt Plans India Visit To Discuss Safe Pharmaceutical Exports (India)
• Pfizer Japan To Ban 5,000 Workers From Smoking On The Job (Japan)
• Taiwan Researchers Find Cancer-Fighting Ingredients In Local Weeds (Taiwan)
• Australian PBS Adds Asbestos, Smoking-Cessation Drugs To Coverage (Australia)
• Vietnam Research Leads To Cancer Drug In Abundant Local Plant (Vietnam)
• Drug Experts Concerned About Increased Chinese-Drug Exports To U.S., Europe (China)
• Plaintiffs Accept Draft Bill To Settle Hepatitis C Suits (Japan)
• Japanese Inspection Finds More Tainted Blood Products (Japan)
• U.S. FDA Warns Of Chinese Supplements Containing Viagra (China)
• Japan’s Eisai Says It Still Has Patent Protection For Aricept Despite Court Action (Japan)
• Indian Pharmas Look To Herbal Medicines As Huge Potential (India)

Medivir Transfers HIV Drug Alovudine License To Beijing Mefuvir

SHANGHAI – Sweden-based Medivir AB will transfer its license and intellectual property for its HIV drug Alovudine (MIV-310) to subsidiary Beijing Mefuvir, Medivir announced Dec. 21.

MPI Research And Shanghai Medicilon Form Shanghai-Based Joint Venture

SHANGHAI – Michigan-based MPI Research has entered into a joint venture with Shanghai Medicilon to establish a preclinical research center in Shanghai that meets U.S. FDA and other international regulatory standards, the companies announced Dec 19.

Novelos Inks Deal With Hong Kong-Based Lee’s Pharma For Cancer, Hepatitis Compounds

SHANGHAI - Novelos Therapeutics signed an exclusive license agreement with Hong Kong-based Lee's Pharmaceutical Dec. 17, with an aim to expand the sales of its cancer and hepatitis compounds - NOV-002 and NOV205 - in the Greater China region.

Merck Recalls HIB Vaccines In China

SHANGHAI - Merck recalled more than 100,000 doses of its HIB vaccines exported to China, as part of its global initiative to recall certain lots of PedvaxHIB and Comvax vaccines due to sterilization concerns.

China Nepstar Signs 16 Cooperative Agreements With Multinational, Domestic Partners

SHANGHAI - China Nepstar Chain Drugstore signed strategic cooperative agreements with 16 pharmaceutical and health products suppliers as part of its store network expansion plan for 2008, the drugstore chain announced Dec. 14.

Chinese Device Maker Weigao Banks On Medtronic’s Brand Name For International Backbone

SHANGHAI - A new joint venture formed with Medtronic will give Chinese device maker Weigao the international presence it needs to bring the market to its orthopedic products.

Shanghai FDA Withdraws GMP Certificates, Suspends Production Of Drug Makers As Part Of “Five Links” Program

SHANGAHI - Shanghai FDA withdrew two GMP certificates and suspended the production of two companies in an effort to enhance compliance by drug and device manufacturers to the “five links” program, the Shanghai government announced Dec. 10.

Semiweekly Roundup: Dec. 27, 2007

• Japan To Compensate Hepatitis C Victims, Leave Drug Makers Liable (Japan)
• High Cost Of Research Leads MNCs To Shanghai-Based WuXi Pharmatech (China)
• AstraZeneca Loses Bid For India Patent On New Prilosec Formulation (India)
• India Pharma Looks To Research, Drug Discovery To Make Rosy 2008 (India)
• China State Council Approves Plan To Encourage Drug Innovation (China)
• China Taking Greater Steps To Reduce Cost Of Key Drugs (China)
• Chinese Middle Class Shuns Western Drugs In Favor Of Traditional Medicine (China)
• Taiwan Women’s Activists Challenge Marketing Effort For Gardasil (Taiwan)
• Japan Health Panel Finds No Causal Link Between Tamiflu, Abnormal Behavior (Japan)
• Indian Drug Makers Fire Back At Rebelling Sales Reps (India)
• Vaccine Discoveries Drive India’s Biotech Industry (India)
• Vietnam Counts 20 Percent Increase In Foreign Pharmas Operating There (Vietnam)
• Chinese Bird Flu Vaccine For Humans Clears Phase II Trials (China)
• Probe Ordered Into India Patent For Roche’s Valcyte (India)