Here are 4 brief news from the pharma/healthcare sphere for your update:
• World Health Assembly
• GSK Leading in Corporate Philanthropy
• Ranbaxy Boss Steps Down; Daiichi to Take Full Control
• Alcon’s 1st Pharma Manufacturing Plant in Asia
• World Health Assembly
The largest gathering of the world’s health experts under the WHO auspices is held annually under the name World Health Assembly (WHA). To let you have a peek into what’s being discussed, here’s the agenda for your information.
Not surprisingly, this year’s focus has been on tackling the outbreak of H1N1 flu virus and the fear of it evolving into yet another global pandemic which may have catastrophic consequences.
For the 1st time, Taiwan has been able to send a delegation as observer since the less “separatist” regime was elected to head the administration.
• GSK Leading in Corporate Philanthropy
In order to support governments and health authorities around the world to respond to the outbreak of global flu, British pharmaceutical giant GSK has offered 50 million doses of pandemic vaccine to the WHO.The company took this step in response to an appeal made by the UN and WHO to drug makers to save some of their pandemic vaccines for poor nations. The offer was made during a meeting between the UN officials, vaccine makers and other health experts. In addition, Glaxo will reduce its pandemic vaccine prices for developing nations.
GSK has received orders from several countries to stockpile pandemic flu vaccine. But it will start making the vaccine as soon as it gets the vaccine’s key ingredient, a “seed stock” based on the virus.
http://www.pharmaceutical-business-review.com/news/glaxo?provides?50m?pandemic?vaccines?090519
• Ranbaxy Boss Steps Down; Daiichi to Take Full Control
About a year after the US$4.8 billion acquisition of Ranbaxy by Japanese drug maker Daiichi Sankyo, the boss of Ranbaxy, Malvinder Singh has resigned with immediate effect. This also heralded the end of control in India's largest pharma company founded by the grand father Bhai Mohan Singh 48 years ago. Mr. Malvinder Singh, the erstwhile owner of the company was supposed to be the Chairman, CEO and Managing Director of the company for five years after the acquisition. Mr. Atul Sobti, currently Ranbaxy's Chief Operating Officer, has been appointed as CEO and Managing Director. Dr. Tsutomu Une, Non-executive Director of Ranbaxy, has been elected as Chairman of the Board. Although not much is known where Mr. Malvinder is going now, it is learned he will look after the family's other business interests—Fortis chain of hospitals and Religere finance group that is into life and non life insurance, mutual funds and other financial services.
• Alcon’s 1st Pharma Manufacturing Plant in Asia
Alcon, a Swiss manufacturer of ophthalmological drugs, has started construction of its first pharma manufacturing plant in Singapore. The ground breaking ceremony took place at Tuas Biomedical Park, Singapore and is slated to complete by 2012. The “sight-saving” facilities will supply therapies like glaucoma, eye infections, eye inflammation and dry eyes drug products from Singapore. Official from Alcon chose Singapore as the manufacturing site due to the rapid growth in Asia, and the strategic location within Asia.
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