Bangalore: Bangalore-based biotechnology company Biocon Ltd is planning to take its recently launched breast cancer drug to other emerging markets.
CANMAb, jointly developed with US-based drug-maker Mylan Inc, will be launched in Latin America, West Asia and North Africa, where breast cancer cases are on the rise.
“We have to get regulatory approvals, but are keen to get into those markets,” Chairman and Managing Director Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said.
Biocon’s confidence stems from the fact that CANMAb is 25 per cent cheaper than and equally effective with Swiss drug-maker Roche’s breast cancer drug. Further, the company is confident that it can close 2014 ‘strongly’, and continues to see a healthy order book for its drugs. The company reported a net profit of ₹105 crore for the third quarter, an increase of 14 per cent over the corresponding period last year, driven by sales of drugs such as Basalog and Insupen.
Additionally, it posted Rs 701.16 crore in consolidated net sales for the quarter, 11 per cent higher than the year-ago sales. Also, Biocon has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement for co-development and commercialisation of ADXS-HPV, a novel cancer immunotherapy for cervical cancer in women, for India and other emerging markets.
The company’s licensing income was down to ₹15 crore in the quarter compared with Rs 23 crore last year and R&D expenses were down 53 per cent to Rs 20 crore.
Mazumdar-Shaw said regulations for clinical trials, especially the ones conducted for vaccines, are “ridiculous and impractical” and people with no understanding of clinical trials are making such recommendations.
Recordings of large trials as mandated by authorities involving 10,000 patients and more are extremely difficult, she said.
Success in my Habit
Friday, January 31, 2014
Tamil Nadu clears Rs 854 crore worth water projects
Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Government has sanctioned Rs 853.96 crore for water supply and sewerage projects in small towns and cities, according to an official press release.
The projects under Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns comprise Rs 441.46 crore for providing underground sewerage systems in six towns – Periyakulam, Sattur, Mettur, Arakkonam, Tirupattur and Chidambaram.
Drinking water supply projects totalling Rs 412.50 crore are planned in Arni, Periyakulam, Thiruvettipuram and Tindivanam.
The State Government has also approved a Rs 230-crore drinking water project for Tirunelveli Corporation with Rs 11.10 crore a year operation and maintenance cost. The project will be funded by the German Development Bank.
To strengthen the drinking water supply to Chennai, the reservoir at Thervoy Kandigai in Thiruvallur district to the North of Chennai will be linked to Poondi Reservoir through the Kandaleru-Poondi canal at a cost of Rs 93.77 crore under the Tamil Nadu Investment Promotion Programme. The project will be implemented by the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, the release said.
The projects under Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns comprise Rs 441.46 crore for providing underground sewerage systems in six towns – Periyakulam, Sattur, Mettur, Arakkonam, Tirupattur and Chidambaram.
Drinking water supply projects totalling Rs 412.50 crore are planned in Arni, Periyakulam, Thiruvettipuram and Tindivanam.
The State Government has also approved a Rs 230-crore drinking water project for Tirunelveli Corporation with Rs 11.10 crore a year operation and maintenance cost. The project will be funded by the German Development Bank.
To strengthen the drinking water supply to Chennai, the reservoir at Thervoy Kandigai in Thiruvallur district to the North of Chennai will be linked to Poondi Reservoir through the Kandaleru-Poondi canal at a cost of Rs 93.77 crore under the Tamil Nadu Investment Promotion Programme. The project will be implemented by the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, the release said.
Czech company sets up plant in Pune
Pune: Czech Group Gearspect has set up a plant in Pune to manufacture gear measuring equipments and gear cutting machines for the auto, aeronautics, heavy engineering, construction equipment and defence sectors.
Jiri Horacek, CMD, Gearspect Group a. s., said that this will be the only company to manufacture Gear Lead Profile Pitch Inspection Equipment in India. It also plans to assemble gear cutting machines in two years and later manufacture them. The facility involves an initial investment of Rs 6.5 crore.
Jiri Horacek, CMD, Gearspect Group a. s., said that this will be the only company to manufacture Gear Lead Profile Pitch Inspection Equipment in India. It also plans to assemble gear cutting machines in two years and later manufacture them. The facility involves an initial investment of Rs 6.5 crore.
Coffee sector likely to get Rs 950 crore, a boost for R&D
Bangalore: The Union ministry of commerce is hopeful of approval from the cabinet by the middle of February for the 12th five-year plan (2012-17) allocations for the coffee sector.
It has approval from the planning commission for a 60 per cent increase in allocation to the sector over the 11th plan, at Rs 950 crore, a top ministry official said.
"The Expenditure Finance Commission has also given its approval for the detailed packages for several schemes. However, it requires cabinet approval. We have circulated a note and are waiting for comments from the finance ministry," J S Deepak, additional secretary, ministry of commerce, told Business Standard on the sidelines of the India International Coffee Festival here on Friday.
He said the ministry had approved continuation of all major schemes such as the one on rejuvenation and replanting, mechanisation, export promotion and research and development (R&D).
"The major focus of the 12th plan would be on R&D. We have enhanced the allocation to R&D by 60 per cent to Rs 140 crore. There are no constraints on spending money here&D. Our thrust area is to find a solution for the White Stem Borer pest attack on Arabica gardens, which is destroying the crop in major growing regions and affecting productivity. We hope to find a solution during this plan period," he said.
Adding: "We have told the Coffee Board to bring the best minds in the scientific world to launch a combined effort to fight this pest and find a solution in the next few years. We want them to partner with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the horticulture research institute to find a solution."
He noted Coffee Research Institute scientists had found a solution for leaf rust disease.
Growers in Karnataka, where 72 per cent of India's output comes, had sought a subsidy package of Rs 300 crore from the central government for mechanisation during the 12th plan. During the 11th plan, the government had allocated Rs 50 crore in the fifth year, of which only Rs 22 crore was released to the beneficiaries.
It has approval from the planning commission for a 60 per cent increase in allocation to the sector over the 11th plan, at Rs 950 crore, a top ministry official said.
"The Expenditure Finance Commission has also given its approval for the detailed packages for several schemes. However, it requires cabinet approval. We have circulated a note and are waiting for comments from the finance ministry," J S Deepak, additional secretary, ministry of commerce, told Business Standard on the sidelines of the India International Coffee Festival here on Friday.
He said the ministry had approved continuation of all major schemes such as the one on rejuvenation and replanting, mechanisation, export promotion and research and development (R&D).
"The major focus of the 12th plan would be on R&D. We have enhanced the allocation to R&D by 60 per cent to Rs 140 crore. There are no constraints on spending money here&D. Our thrust area is to find a solution for the White Stem Borer pest attack on Arabica gardens, which is destroying the crop in major growing regions and affecting productivity. We hope to find a solution during this plan period," he said.
Adding: "We have told the Coffee Board to bring the best minds in the scientific world to launch a combined effort to fight this pest and find a solution in the next few years. We want them to partner with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the horticulture research institute to find a solution."
He noted Coffee Research Institute scientists had found a solution for leaf rust disease.
Growers in Karnataka, where 72 per cent of India's output comes, had sought a subsidy package of Rs 300 crore from the central government for mechanisation during the 12th plan. During the 11th plan, the government had allocated Rs 50 crore in the fifth year, of which only Rs 22 crore was released to the beneficiaries.
India seeks more Japanese investments: PM
New Delhi: The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has sought increased Japanese investment in India even as both the countries have agreed to explore the idea of concrete cooperation in manufacturing and research and development in the electronic sector as well as in energy efficient and energy saving technologies.
"I believe there is enormous untapped potential in our business ties," Singh said after the annual summit level meeting between India and Japan adding that the presence of Japanese companies in India increased 16 per cent last year. The Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, is currently in India for the annual summit meeting. Abe will also be the chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations to be held here on Sunday.
"Japan is at the heart of India's 'Look East Policy'. It is also a key partner in our economic development and in our quest for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Asia and the world. Anchored in our shared values and interests, the partnership between a strong and economically resurgent Japan and a transforming and rapidly growing India can be an effective force of good for the region," Prime Minister Singh said.
Commenting on the growing ties between the two countries, Singh said the bilateral maritime exercises have now been established on an annual basis and India has welcomed Japan's participation in the Malabar exercise this year.
"Our negotiations towards an Agreement for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy have gained momentum in the last few months. Our Joint Working Group on US-2 amphibian aircraft has met to explore the modalities of cooperation on its use and co-production in India," Singh said.
A joint statement issued after the talks, states that the two leaders welcomed the expansion of the bilateral currency swap arrangement to $50 billion from $15 billion and signing of the contract for its entry into force in January this year. The two Prime Ministers expressed their expectation that this expansion will further strengthen financial cooperation and contribute to the stability of global financial markets including emerging economies, the statement adds.
The two leaders also welcomed the signing of the Exchange of Notes for yen (¥) loan totalling ¥11.390 billion for the "Uttarakhand Forest Resource Management Project" which will help in the reconstruction efforts in the wake of devastating floods that hit the state in June last year, as well as the signing of the Exchange of Notes for grant aid totalling ¥1,495 billion for a "Project for Improvement of the Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children" in Chennai.
Recognising the importance of development in the Chennai-Bengaluru areas, they underlined their commitment to enhancing cooperation between the two countries on the Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC).
"I believe there is enormous untapped potential in our business ties," Singh said after the annual summit level meeting between India and Japan adding that the presence of Japanese companies in India increased 16 per cent last year. The Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, is currently in India for the annual summit meeting. Abe will also be the chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations to be held here on Sunday.
"Japan is at the heart of India's 'Look East Policy'. It is also a key partner in our economic development and in our quest for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Asia and the world. Anchored in our shared values and interests, the partnership between a strong and economically resurgent Japan and a transforming and rapidly growing India can be an effective force of good for the region," Prime Minister Singh said.
Commenting on the growing ties between the two countries, Singh said the bilateral maritime exercises have now been established on an annual basis and India has welcomed Japan's participation in the Malabar exercise this year.
"Our negotiations towards an Agreement for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy have gained momentum in the last few months. Our Joint Working Group on US-2 amphibian aircraft has met to explore the modalities of cooperation on its use and co-production in India," Singh said.
A joint statement issued after the talks, states that the two leaders welcomed the expansion of the bilateral currency swap arrangement to $50 billion from $15 billion and signing of the contract for its entry into force in January this year. The two Prime Ministers expressed their expectation that this expansion will further strengthen financial cooperation and contribute to the stability of global financial markets including emerging economies, the statement adds.
The two leaders also welcomed the signing of the Exchange of Notes for yen (¥) loan totalling ¥11.390 billion for the "Uttarakhand Forest Resource Management Project" which will help in the reconstruction efforts in the wake of devastating floods that hit the state in June last year, as well as the signing of the Exchange of Notes for grant aid totalling ¥1,495 billion for a "Project for Improvement of the Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children" in Chennai.
Recognising the importance of development in the Chennai-Bengaluru areas, they underlined their commitment to enhancing cooperation between the two countries on the Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC).
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Supertech to set up university; to invest Rs 750 crore
New Delhi: Real estate developer Supertech is all set to foray into higher education with Supertech University. It will be set up with an investment of Rs 750 crore in Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand, around 237 km from Delhi. It will be spread across 47 acres and will have state-of-the-art infrastructure and a fully residential campus.
“In 2006 we entered Uttarakhand and realised a big gap existed in the society in terms of quality higher education; we plan to fill that gap with this university,” said RK Arora, Chairman and Managing Director of Supertech Ltd during the press conference. “We and plan to expand up to 100 acres.”
The university will be funded by the Supertech Foundation, a trust of Supertech Ltd.
“The university's operations will start by end of this year and we plan to offer MDPs and skill development programmes starting from December,” said VPS Arora, Vice-Chancellor of Supertech University.
The academic session will be launched next year with graduate and postgraduate programmes. The university plans to admit 500 to 1,000 students in its first year, and will take this number up to 5,000 to 6,000 in the next five years after the launch. As per the UGC requirements 25 per cent of the students at university should hail from Uttarakhand.
Programmes OFFERED
The university will offer programmes in the domains of architecture and planning, earth, environment and space studies, engineering and technology, fashion and design, hospitality and tourism, languages and communication, law and governance, liberal arts, humanities and social sciences, management studies, medical and health sciences, natural and applied sciences and public policy.
The university also plans to create a Directorate of Skill Development to enhance the employability of its students.
“In 2006 we entered Uttarakhand and realised a big gap existed in the society in terms of quality higher education; we plan to fill that gap with this university,” said RK Arora, Chairman and Managing Director of Supertech Ltd during the press conference. “We and plan to expand up to 100 acres.”
The university will be funded by the Supertech Foundation, a trust of Supertech Ltd.
“The university's operations will start by end of this year and we plan to offer MDPs and skill development programmes starting from December,” said VPS Arora, Vice-Chancellor of Supertech University.
The academic session will be launched next year with graduate and postgraduate programmes. The university plans to admit 500 to 1,000 students in its first year, and will take this number up to 5,000 to 6,000 in the next five years after the launch. As per the UGC requirements 25 per cent of the students at university should hail from Uttarakhand.
Programmes OFFERED
The university will offer programmes in the domains of architecture and planning, earth, environment and space studies, engineering and technology, fashion and design, hospitality and tourism, languages and communication, law and governance, liberal arts, humanities and social sciences, management studies, medical and health sciences, natural and applied sciences and public policy.
The university also plans to create a Directorate of Skill Development to enhance the employability of its students.
Kirloskar Brothers installs world’s largest water pumping system
Pune: Fluid management company Kirloskar Brothers Ltd (KBL) has collaborated with Tata Power to install the world’s largest circulating water pumping system for the latter’s Ultra Modern Power Plant (UMPP) at Mundra.
Coastal Gujarat Power Ltd, Tata Power’s wholly-owned subsidiary, which has implemented the 4,000 MW UMPP, requires massive amounts of water to condense the heat generated while producing power. Around 10.5 million litres of water is circulated by the pump sets per minute.
Ravindra Ulangwar, AVP & Head, Power Sector, KBL, said, “The Mundra UMPP is India’s first and most energy efficient coal-based thermal power plant using supercritical technology to create lower greenhouse gas emissions and its main power generation equipment is sourced from Japan and Korea.”
The pumping system is designed to take care of fluctuations in the sea water level due to tidal variations.
The Mundra UMPP will meet 2 per cent of India’s power needs and 16 million domestic, industrial and agricultural consumers in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Haryana and Punjab will benefit from this project.
Coastal Gujarat Power Ltd, Tata Power’s wholly-owned subsidiary, which has implemented the 4,000 MW UMPP, requires massive amounts of water to condense the heat generated while producing power. Around 10.5 million litres of water is circulated by the pump sets per minute.
Ravindra Ulangwar, AVP & Head, Power Sector, KBL, said, “The Mundra UMPP is India’s first and most energy efficient coal-based thermal power plant using supercritical technology to create lower greenhouse gas emissions and its main power generation equipment is sourced from Japan and Korea.”
The pumping system is designed to take care of fluctuations in the sea water level due to tidal variations.
The Mundra UMPP will meet 2 per cent of India’s power needs and 16 million domestic, industrial and agricultural consumers in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Haryana and Punjab will benefit from this project.
Aurobindo gets USFDA nod for diabetes drug
Hyderabad: Aurobindo Pharma Ld has received the final approval from the US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) to manufacture and market Repaglinide tablets. The product is ready for launch.
The tablets are the generic equivalent of Novo Nordisk Inc’s Prandin tablets and are indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
The market size of the product is estimated to be $274 million for the 12 months ended November 30, 2013, according to IMS.
The Hyderabad-based company now has a total of 189 Abbreviated New Drug Approvals (ANDA) approvals (164 final approvals, including seven from Aurolife Pharma LLC and 25 tentative approvals) from the US regulator, according to a release.
The tablets are the generic equivalent of Novo Nordisk Inc’s Prandin tablets and are indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
The market size of the product is estimated to be $274 million for the 12 months ended November 30, 2013, according to IMS.
The Hyderabad-based company now has a total of 189 Abbreviated New Drug Approvals (ANDA) approvals (164 final approvals, including seven from Aurolife Pharma LLC and 25 tentative approvals) from the US regulator, according to a release.
PPP panel clears projects worth Rs 1280.65 crore
Pune: The Public-Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC) in its 62nd Meeting recommended Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects worth Rs 7595.19 crore while the Empowered Committee (EC) in its 19th Meeting approved Viability Gap Funding (VGF) of Rs 1280.65 crore for PPP projects.
The 62nd PPPAC meeting and 19th Meeting of the Empowered Committee (EC), both chaired by secretary, department of economic Affairs, ministry of finance met recently in New Delhi. The Public-Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC) granted approval to five (5) projects of ministry of road transport & highways.
The list of projects is given below. The estimated project cost of the approved projects is Rs. 7595.19 crore. Since its constitution in January 2006, the Public-Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC) has approved 272 central sector projects with TPC of Rs 296579.6 crore. These include NHs (223 proposals), ports (32 proposals), airports (2 proposals), tourism infrastructure (1 proposal), housing (8 proposals) and sports stadia (5 proposals). In this year, till date, a total of 19 projects with total cost of Rs. 43903.30 crore have been approved by the PPPAC.
The 19th meeting of the Empowered Committee (EC) chaired by secretary, department of economic affairs which also met here on Wednesday, accorded in-principle approval to four (4) projects including two (2) projects from government of Maharashtra and two (2) projects of government of Uttar Pradesh for Viability Gap Funding of Rs 695.20 and final approval to two (2) projects from Uttar Pradesh For Viability Gap Funding of Rs 585.45.
The 62nd PPPAC meeting and 19th Meeting of the Empowered Committee (EC), both chaired by secretary, department of economic Affairs, ministry of finance met recently in New Delhi. The Public-Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC) granted approval to five (5) projects of ministry of road transport & highways.
The list of projects is given below. The estimated project cost of the approved projects is Rs. 7595.19 crore. Since its constitution in January 2006, the Public-Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC) has approved 272 central sector projects with TPC of Rs 296579.6 crore. These include NHs (223 proposals), ports (32 proposals), airports (2 proposals), tourism infrastructure (1 proposal), housing (8 proposals) and sports stadia (5 proposals). In this year, till date, a total of 19 projects with total cost of Rs. 43903.30 crore have been approved by the PPPAC.
The 19th meeting of the Empowered Committee (EC) chaired by secretary, department of economic affairs which also met here on Wednesday, accorded in-principle approval to four (4) projects including two (2) projects from government of Maharashtra and two (2) projects of government of Uttar Pradesh for Viability Gap Funding of Rs 695.20 and final approval to two (2) projects from Uttar Pradesh For Viability Gap Funding of Rs 585.45.
Innovation Hub at National Science Centre, Delhi launched
New Delhi: The Union government has taken yet another step to promote innovation through science and technology by establishing innovation hubs across the country. Shri Sam Pitroda, Chairman, National Innovation Council & Adviser to the Prime Minister on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations inaugurated an ‘Innovation Hub’ at the National Science Centre, New Delhi today. It provides a unique opportunity for children of various age groups to work at the facility during the week-ends to develop their ideas on various aspects of Science & Technology. Membership is available for interested students for long-term hands-on and minds-on engagement in creative activities in science & technology. Over 40 students have already sought membership of the new facility and it will be functional from this weekend.
The Innovation hub has been equipped with components namely, Hall of Fame with stories of Inventions and Inventors; Innovation Resource Centre with online access to innovation-centric resources; Innovative Laboratory to carry out activities, experiments and projects; Tech Lab for Robotics & Microprocessor Programming; Tod-Phod-Jod (Break & Remake) for students to open gadgets and reassemble them on their own; Kabad Se Jugad (Build from Scrap) for students to develop things from scrap and low-cost materials and an Idea Box for children to propose ideas and create an idea bank. The best ideas will be chosen for experimentation, model making and project work. In addition, children are encouraged to identify real life problem/investigatory projects and work on for solutions under the guidance of experts/mentors.
While delivering the keynote address, Shri Sam Pitroda announced that the National Innovation Council along with the Ministry of Culture and the Planning Commission is working on the scheme to launch 100 such innovation hubs across the country. Similar hubs have been launched at the Bangalore and Kolkata Science centres under the Council of Science Museums, an autonomous body under Ministry of Culture. The basic idea is to encourage children to imagine and explore. He suggested that all Science centres must engage with the local community and create local ecosystems to own, support and nurture these innovation hubs. He also suggested that every science centre must have members of the local community including businessmen, scientists, professionals, academicians, and members of the civil society in its governing board.
The Innovation hub has been equipped with components namely, Hall of Fame with stories of Inventions and Inventors; Innovation Resource Centre with online access to innovation-centric resources; Innovative Laboratory to carry out activities, experiments and projects; Tech Lab for Robotics & Microprocessor Programming; Tod-Phod-Jod (Break & Remake) for students to open gadgets and reassemble them on their own; Kabad Se Jugad (Build from Scrap) for students to develop things from scrap and low-cost materials and an Idea Box for children to propose ideas and create an idea bank. The best ideas will be chosen for experimentation, model making and project work. In addition, children are encouraged to identify real life problem/investigatory projects and work on for solutions under the guidance of experts/mentors.
While delivering the keynote address, Shri Sam Pitroda announced that the National Innovation Council along with the Ministry of Culture and the Planning Commission is working on the scheme to launch 100 such innovation hubs across the country. Similar hubs have been launched at the Bangalore and Kolkata Science centres under the Council of Science Museums, an autonomous body under Ministry of Culture. The basic idea is to encourage children to imagine and explore. He suggested that all Science centres must engage with the local community and create local ecosystems to own, support and nurture these innovation hubs. He also suggested that every science centre must have members of the local community including businessmen, scientists, professionals, academicians, and members of the civil society in its governing board.
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