[Ip-health] Ranbaxy Lab readies for Tamiflu production by middle of next year

[robert weissman]

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=3D110014

The Financial Express

Ranbaxy Lab readies for Tamiflu production by middle of next year

New Delhi, Nov 28  Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd should be ready to start
commercial production of avian influenza treatment Tamiflu (generic
Oseltamivir) by mid next year, said president (pharmaceuticals)
Malvinder Mohan Singh on Monday.

=93We have developed the product. We are now moving up from a pilot scale
to commercial scales, said Mr Singh. CEO Brian Tempest too said that the
company had already sent samples of Tamiflu to a South Asian government.

Meanwhile, Nicholas Piramal India Ltd chairman Ajay Piramal said the
company has begun discussions with Roche Holdings AG for a licence to
produce Tamiflu. =93It is too early to say anything, =93 Mr Piramal replied
when asked about the status of the discussion.

Companies like Cipla, Ranbaxy and Nicholas Piramal need to get
permission from Roche to manufacture and market Tamiflu in India after
the government refused to invoke the compulsory licensing norm in the
Patents Act.



URL: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=3D110014