21-Apr-16 The Indonesian government has decided to develop its own vaccine with state-owned company PT Bio Farma. The Health Ministry said it would not use the vaccine issued by Sanofi because it did not match with the types of dengue commonly found in Indonesia. [image: Break Dengue]

20-Apr-16 India's Cipla has renewed its focus on over-the-counter (OTC) products five years after it exited the segment. The company aims to build three-to-five INR1 bn (USD5 mn) brands in five years with the launch of novel products and tapping into the growing health and wellness consciousness amongst the urban population. [image: Business Standard]

19-Apr-16 Walgreens Boots Alliance has bought a 15% stake in Russian pharmacy chain 36,6. In return Walgreens Boots Alliance has sold its Russian distributor Alliance Healthcare Russia to 36,6. The country’s commercial drug market can be very promising for foreign investors. [image: Newseurope]

19-Apr-16 The Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued draft rules that establish registration and quality system requirements for medical devices and IVDs distinct from pharmaceutical products. Although the new rules pertain only to manufacturers based in India, they are significant by showing that the government now distinguishes medical devices as a separate industry from pharmaceuticals. [image: Business Today]

10-Apr-16 China's online pharmacy business has grown from virtually nothing five years ago to more than RMB7 bn (USD1.1 bn) in 2014, accounting for 3% of all retail medicine sales. But the boom is only a preview of explosive growth to come, provided authorities allow online pharmacies to sell prescription drugs. So far online pharmacy sales consist mostly of OTC medicine. [image: Asia Pacific Daily News]