[Ip-health] Natco Pharma launches 2 new anti-cancer drugs

[Joana Ramos]

http://www.business-standard.com/today/story.asp?Menu=3D23&story=3D30027

Natco Pharma launches 2 new anti-cancer drugs

Our Regional Bureau in Hyderabad
Published : December 17, 2003

Natco Pharma today added two more products to its basket of anti-cancer
drugs , in an effort to become one of the major players in this segment.

Of the two new products, Natfost, an amifostine 500 mg injection,
selectively protects normal cells from the cytotoxic and mutogenic effects
of chemotherapy and radiation. Priced at Rs 700 per vial, the product is
competitively placed in the market, the company said in a release.

The second product, Hyurea, is an anti-neoplastic agent and is used to trea=
t
leukemia, melanoma and colon carcinoma. It is priced at Rs 135 per strip of
10 capsules.

=B3With these launches, we have established ourselves as a major player in =
the
oncology segment, with a basket of about 10 drugs,=B2 a release said.

The oncology division of Natco began operations in January this year with
the launch of Imatinab Mesylate for the treatment of chronic myeloid
leukemia under the brand name Veenat. It costs one-tenth of Novartis's
Glivec.

Interestingly, the Controller-General of Patents and Trademarks of India
recently granted exclusive marketing rights (EMR) to Novartis=B9 Glivec. Na=
tco
is planning to challenge the grant of EMR to Novartis.