PharmAsia News

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)

FDA Accepts NDA For Otsuka’s Novel Hyponatremia Treatment

FDA has accepted Otsuka’s new drug application for the investigational V2-vasopressin receptor antagonist tolvaptan, which could enter an increasingly crowded market.

Eisai Enters Agreement With Minophagen; Gains Asian Access to Liver Disease Products

Under the shadow of Eisai’s recent, massive “Dramatic Leap Plan” acquisitions, the company acquires the Asian development and marketing rights for Minophagen Pharmaceutical’s Stronger Neo-Minophagen C and Glycyron products.

China Shifts Drug Recall Burden To Manufacturers In Move To Increase Accountability

SHANGHAI - China’s State FDA launched a new nationwide drug recall system Dec. 10, with an aim to set up an effective cooperative system between the government and pharmaceutical companies, and encourage them to recall unsafe drugs voluntarily.

China’s SFDA Cancels Drug Maker’s License Following Investigation Of Tainted Products

SHANGHAI – China’s State FDA withdrew Shanghai Hualian Pharmaceutical's drug production license because the company’s two leukemia drugs were found to be contaminated and caused considerable damage to patients, the drug safety watchdog announced at a Dec. 12 press conference in Beijing.