Ipca, Holley into pact for marketing artemisinin-based API
The Mumbai-based Ipca Laboratories has entered into a joint venture agreement with the China-based Chongqing Holley Holding Co Ltd for marketing artemisinin-based Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) and its formulations mainly to international institutions, NGOs, government and semi-government bodies across the globe, said a press release.

HLL Q1 net drops 15 per cent; stock bashed four per cent
India’s largest fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) company Hindustan Lever Ltd (HLL) reported a 15.13 per cent drop in net profit for the first quarter ended March 31, 2005 to Rs 250.25 crore against Rs 294.88 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

Wockhardt’s formulations plant inaugurated in HP
Wockhardt Ltd has inaugurated its new pharmaceutical formulations plant in Himachal Pradesh (HP) recently.

Sun Pharma FY net spurts 20 per cent
The consolidated net profit of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd during the quarter ended March 31, 2005 has increased marginally to Rs 118.3 crore from Rs 116.8 crore registered during the same period in the previous year.

GSK Consumer Q1 PAT up 35 per cent
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Ltd (GSKCH) has reported an increase of 35.2 per cent in its profit after tax at Rs 26.4 crore for the first quarter ended March 31, 2005 as compared to Rs 19.5 crore in the same period last year. Sales during the quarter under review grew by 7.1 per cent at Rs 254.3 crore, up from Rs 237.3 crore last year.

J B Chemicals ties up with Australian firm for development, supply of products
J B Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd (JBCPL) has recently entered into a development and supply agreement with Pharm-a-Care Laboratories Pty Ltd (Pharm-a-Care), a leading OTC pharmaceutical company in Australia to give further fillip to its fast growing export business.

Ranbaxy Q1 net down 63 per cent
Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd has reported a 62.8 per cent dip in first quarter net profit to Rs 70.8 crore as the Vat regime, Quinapril litigatiion in the US and phasing of European launches drove sales down 13 per cent to Rs 1,138.3 crore for the March 2005 ended period.

Aarti Drugs gross sales drop 6.1 per cent
Aarti Drugs results for the fourth quater FY05 were impacted by the changes in the excise duty from ex-factory price to MRP based prices for pharmaceutical formulations and due to the uncertainties in VAT implementation.

Panacea Biotec launches UpRight for pain management
City-based Panacea Biotec has expanded its pain management drugs portfolio with the introduction of UpRight, aceclofenac-paracetamol combination.

Ajanta Pharma’s FY ’04-05 sales up by 48 per cent
City-based pharmaceutical formulation company Ajanta Pharma Ltd posted a healthy growth of 48 per cent in sales for the financial year ended March 31, 2005 with sales of Rs 179 crore against Rs 121 crore for the previous year.