India's First Indigenous Drug Eluting Stent Receives CE Approval

Sahajanand Medical Technologies (SMT) has received CE approval (Conformité Européenne), an authorisation certificate, for qualification for the sale of Infinnium in European community and many other countries in the world. The Infinnium paclitaxel eluting coronary stent system is the first (Asian) indigenously developed coronary stent for the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD) and offers unmatched clinical outcomes with excellent safety profile.

The CE approval of Infinnium was based on stringent review of chemical pharmaceutical data, pre-clinical data and clinical (human trials) data demonstrating sustained long term efficacy and excellent safety, informs a company release.

"SMT is proud to be the only Indian company to have received CE mark for our indigenously developed Infinnium paclitaxel eluting coronary stent which will help make the DES therapy affordable for millions of patients suffering from CAD.

Besides SMT, there are only 4 more companies in the world to have got the CE authorisation for their DES out of 40 companies worldwide.

(Ref : Chronicle Pharmabiz dated December 15, 2005)

Hindustan Latex Sets Rs. 1000 Cr. Turnover Target By 2010

Hindustan Latex Limited (HLL) has drawn up an ambitious turnover target of Rs 1000 crore by 2010 and to achive this it has chalked out a comprehensive plan of expanding its portfolio of health care and contraceptive products. The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with AIMU Medical Science and Technology Ltd, Anshan, China, for introducing a new generation of intra uterine devices (IUD).

"The IUDs are memory MCU IUDs. The uniqueness of these IUDs is that they regain their original shape, even if distorted, at body temperature. The memory IUD has an effective life of over 8 years," said the company sources. HLL has commenced the marketing of its spiral condoms by the brand name MOODS. The product was launched at Hyderabad recently.

Further, the company has launched women's healthcare pharma division to cater to the reproductive healthcare needs of women. The division will initially focus on the gynaecology segment, the products of which will be promoted by the doctors. All products for this division will be manufactured at HLL's Kanagala Plant. The division will cover all sectors of women health issues like autoimmune diseases, hormone-gynaecological infections, sexually transmitted diseases, hormone related disorders, osteoporosis, cancer and urinary bladder disorders.

Another major project on the anvil is the production of anti retro viral (ARV) drug. The commercial production will be undertaken by Kanagala plant for which the formulation development is under process. Trial license from the state drugs control authority has been obtained.

(Ref : Chronicle Pharmabiz dated December 22, 2005)