Foreword
Biosimilars
A new era in biotech
The era of generics is all set to hit the biotech industry Not so long back the fledgling industry for biosimilars was threatening to not take off due to the lack of proper ground work of regulations But the strengthening regulatory framework for biosimilars especially in Europewith USA expected to follow suitmight have given biosimilars a fresh
Biobanking as an Enabling Technology for Biomarker Research
A Collaborative Approach in Translational Medicine
Rationale for pharma biobanking Despite significant advances there is still need for better highly effective and welltolerated therapies for many indications This requires the collaboration of scientists clinicians and basic researchers from academic as well as industrial research It is practically impossible to generate new kn
Reducing Post-Marketing Drug Withdrawals
Promise of new biomarkers
According to a Prospective Pilot Cohort study that was conducted for a week period in patients out of a total of were identified as having possible DILI and of these accepted to be included in the protocol During the oneweek proactive period seven patients out of a total of inpatients were identified with possible DILI
Drug Discovery
Back to Mother Nature
After more than a decade of showing disinterest the pharma industry is taking a relook at natural productsbased drug discovery Pharma companies had shifted their focus from natural products to combinatorial chemistry because of lower costs clarity on intellectual property and importantly because it could supply huge synthetic libraries in short per...
Pharma\\\'s Future
The pharma industry today operates in an uncertain environment Intensifying cost pressures declining revenue streams increasing latestage failures stringent price controls and an uncertain global economy add to its woes In the rapidly changing pharma landscape w
Asia Goes Global
Welcome to the latest edition of Pharma Focus Asia The issue of outsourcing in the pharmaceutical sector has been a hot topic for discussion recently particularly now that the US Congress is considering reforming patent law The new legislation could have significant repercussions for firms that use the USA as part of their business strategy especia...
Kittens to Tigers
Kittens to Tigers
These are tough days for worlds Big Pharma Depleting pipelines patent expirations soaring RD costs and risks etc have all put the Big Pharma in rough weather Against this backdrop fast growing Asian economies notably China and India represent new horizons of opportunities The silver lining to this gloomy scenario is the fast transforming Indian ph...
Pharma Partnerships
The changing model
Multinational companies are looking eastward in their endeavor to create new therapeutics by partnering with emerging pharma companies from China India and other south east Asian economies Big pharma companies are also investing in large scale RD facilities a recent example of this being Novartis announcement to invest US billion in a RD facility i
New Pharma Business Models
Regaining power
Changing patterns of diseases ageing population price controls dry RD pipelines patent expirations for many blockbuster drugs and declining global generic market opportunities are a wakeup call for pharma Moreover the shift in focus to improved outcomes is pushing pharma companies to rethink on the existing business models for more productive RD so...
Partnerships
A pill for growth
The pharma industry is treading a new path for sustaining growthpartnerships Escalating RD costs tough regulations and price controls continue to trouble the industry Further a severe blockbuster drought patent expiries and anaemic drug pipelines have only added to the industrys woes Innovation did provide hope but even that has become a high
