December 2015

(BWI); NeoBiocon, a collaboration between Asia’s leading biopharmaceuticals company Biocon Ltd and Dr. B.R. Shetty, Chairman of the UAE-based Neopharma, announced today that it has partnered with Novartis Middle East FZE, to market Jalra (Vildagliptin) and Jalra-M (Vildagliptin + Metformin) in UAE. This partnership will help NeoBiocon expand its product offerings in the metabolics segment and will immensely benefit diabetics in UAE.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved BENDEKA™, (bendamustine hydrochloride) injection, a liquid, low-volume (50 mL) and short-time 10-minute infusion formulation of bendamustine. BENDEKA is approved for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and for the treatment of patients with indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that has progressed during or within six months of treatment with rituximab or a rituximab-containing regimen. Efficacy in CLL relative to first-line therapies other than chlorambucil has not been established.

Hetero received the approval for the fixed-dose combination (FDC) Ledipasvir-Sofosbuvir (90mg/400mg) from Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). Following the non-exclusive licensing agreement signed with Gilead Sciences in September last year, to manufacture and market chronic hepatitis C medicines, Hetero is all set to launch the fixed-dose combination therapy ‘Ledipasvir-Sofosbuvir’ for the Indian patients. The product will be available under the brand name ‘Ledisof’ in India.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Kanuma (sebelipase alfa) as the first treatment for patients with a rare disease known as lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) deficiency. Kanuma is produced by Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc., based in Cheshire, Connecticut.

Baxalta Incorporated, a global biopharmaceutical leader dedicated to delivering transformative therapies to patients with orphan diseases and underserved conditions, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved VONVENDI [von Willebrand factor (Recombinant)]. VONVENDI is the first and only recombinant treatment for adults living with von Willebrand Disease (VWD).

Drug firm Aurobindo Pharma has received final approval of the US health regulator to manufacture and market its Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate injection, used to treat various conditions such as severe allergic reactions, arthritis and blood diseases.

Google Lifesciences filed a patent for a needle free blood draw device at US Patent and Trademark Office. This device seems like designed for people who are frequently needed to test their blood.