Drug maker Lupin Ltd is expected to soon launch its generic version of the anti-HIV drug, Combivir, in the United States. The move was likely to lend a significant upside to the Mumbai-based company’s bottom line in the forthcoming quarters, a source said.

Lupin’s drug, a combination of lamividine and zidovudine tablets, is a generic version of Viiv Healthcare’s Combivir that is prescribed in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection. “Lupin is likely to launch generic Combivir in the US as early as this month,” the source said. The 1968-founded company is waiting for the final approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In a crack down, Govt has decided to install testing centres at entry points of the City to identify adulterated milk and drain out the affected milk
In a significant move which will benefit Mumbaikars, the State Government has decided to crack down on milk adulteration. Tankers bringing milk to the city will be tested at entry points for adulteration and if it tests positive, the entire stock will be destroyed.

Coke and Pepsi are changing the way they make the caramel coloring used in their sodas as a result of a California law. Coca-Cola Co and Pepsi Co Inc are changing the way they make the caramel coloring used in their sodas as a result of a California law that mandates drinks containing a certain level of carcinogens bear a cancer warning label.

The companies said the changes will be expanded nationally to streamline their manufacturing processes. The changes have already been made for drinks sold in California.

Mumbai: There may soon be changes in the labelling of widely-used cholesterol lowering drugs — statins — sold in the country. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned that patients taking statins may face a “small increased risk” of higher blood-sugar levels and diabetes. Doctors here said that these warnings need to be taken seriously as Indians are at a high risk of the killer disease, but those prescribed with statins should not stop taking them.

Mumbai: Ever heard of a medical iron tablet actually containing free iron particles, that too in a huge quantity? State food and drug administration commissioner Mahesh Zagde initially did not believe it. However, when a Thanebased consumer presented him with the evidence, he was left both stunned and horrified. “The consumer walked into my office, and in the presence of officials showed how the iron tablet was attracted to a magnet,’’ Zagde told TOI.

MUMBAI: Ever heard of a medical iron tablet actually containing free iron particles, that too in a huge quantity? State food and drug administration (FDA) commissioner Mahesh Zagde initially did not believe it. However, when a Thane-based consumer presented him with the evidence, he was left both stunned and horrified. "The consumer walked into my office, and in the presence of officials showed how the iron tablet was attracted to a magnet,'' Zagde told TOI.

MUMBAI: A Thane-based consumer has alerted the food and drug administration about iron pieces being found in a medically-prescribed iron tablet. The content of elemental iron in the tablet, prescribed for anaemia or lack of red blood cells, was way above permissible limits. FDA commissioner Mahesh Zagde has directed the Himachal Pradesh-based Galpha Laboratories to withdraw the entire stock of the product from Maharashtra. Simultaneously, the FDA has told 76,000-odd medical stores, public health and medical education departments not to prescribe the product.

Change the current drug policy was the refrain at a meeting of doctors at the KEM Hospital on Wednesday to chart out and discuss the plan of containing the XXDR-TB (extensively drug resistant TB). Presenting his case to a team from Delhi and top city doctors, Dr P Keskar, head of the Mumbai TB cell, argued that the current drug policy is not effective enough to stop over-the-counter (OTC) sales of powerful drugs, including antibiotics, and this is one of the prime reasons why diseases like TB are developing resistance to antibiotics.

The most prestigious market for Indian basmati rice, the USA, has put on hold all consignments of the rice being imported there. In a major setback to Indian basmati exporters, the US Food and Drug Authority has refused to accept basmati being exported to that country, on account of traces of pesticides found in the food grain.

On a mission to take stringent action against those involved in milk adulteration, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has sent letters to 350 milk packaging units in the state warning them of surprise raids.