SOLVAY : Operating result from the Chemicals and Plastics activities for the second quarter of 2010 (EUR 183 million)

July 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, Jul 29 (MARKET WIRE) —
EMBARGO: July 29, 2010 at 7:30 AM

REGULATED INFORMATION

Operating result from the Chemicals and Plastics activities for the second
quarter of 2010 (EUR 183 million) significantly higher compared to both
the second quarter of 2009 (EUR 63 million) and the first quarter of 2010
(EUR 115 million)

– Sales (EUR 3,761 million): Up by 25% compared to the first half of 2009,
not including the pharmaceuticals activities, thanks to a more sustained
global activity; up by 32% in the second quarter

– Operating result (1) (EUR 329 million)

– Overall, the operating result benefited from efforts to control costs

– Chemicals (EUR 147 million): up by 10% compared to the first half of
2009 thanks to improvement in sales volumes across all activities

– Plastics (EUR 173 million): clearly improved compared to the first half
of 2009 (EUR 14 million) especially thanks to significant increase in
sales volumes in Specialties

– Pharmaceuticals (EUR 31 million from January 1 to February 15, 2010)
shown as “discontinued operations”

– Net income of Group (EUR 1,789 million) up compared to the first half of
2009 thanks to the capital gain realized in the 1st quarter of 2010 on the
sale of the Pharmaceuticals activities (EUR 1.7 billion net of taxes)
(sale closed on February 15, 2010)

Group sales for the first half of 2010 amounted to EUR 3,761 million. They
were up by 25% compared to the first half of 2009, not including the
Pharmaceuticals activities; compared to the first quarter, sales from the
second quarter improved by 16%. Sales from the Chemicals Sector (EUR 1,444
million) were slightly up (+3%) compared to the first half of 2009, with
the improvement in sales volumes (+16%) compensating for the lower sales
prices (-16%). Sales from the Plastics Sector (EUR 2,005 million) clearly
improved (+48% compared to the first half of 2009), especially thanks to a
significant increase in sales volumes in the “Specialties” cluster. Thus,
sales volumes of Specialty Polymers in the first half were up by 45%
compared to last year and, in the second quarter, were up by 15% compared
to the first quarter.

Recurring Group operating result (REBIT (1)-(2)) from the first half of
2010 amounted to EUR 329 million. Not including Pharmaceuticals
activities, it significantly improved compared to last year (EUR 298
million in the first half of 2010 compared to EUR 126 million in the
first half of 2009). In the second quarter (EUR 183 million), it was up
by 193% compared to the second quarter of 2009 (EUR 63 million) and by
59% compared to the first quarter of 2010 (EUR 115 million).

The Group’s operating margin (REBIT on sales), excluding the
Pharmaceuticals activities, was 8.6% in the first half of 2010 compared to
4.6% in the first half of 2009; it amounted to 9.9% in the 2nd quarter
2010.

The net income of the Group (EUR 1,789 million) was up compared to the
first half of 2009 due to the capital gain realized on the sale of the
Pharmaceuticals activities (EUR 1.7 billion net of taxes). The net income
of the Group for the second quarter is down by EUR 26 million in
comparison with last year, due to an increase of EUR 37 million in non
recurring items.

The REBITDA (1)-(3) of the Group amounted to EUR 549 million. Excluding
the Pharmaceuticals activities, it improved by 63% compared to the first
half of 2009.

Following receipt of the payment for the sale of the Pharmaceuticals
activities on February 15, 2010 and in anticipation of reinvestment of
these funds in industrial activities, the Solvay Group is in a net cash
surplus situation (EUR 2,526 million, or 36% of equity). The significant
efforts made by the Group last year in terms of cost reduction and
improvement of operating cash flow are continuing. Thus, as previously
announced, the Solvay Group is working on a study (the “Horizon” project)
aiming to optimize the effectiveness of its organization and to prepare
for its future growth.

Chemicals Sector sales from the first half of 2010 (EUR 1,444 million)
were slightly up (+3%) compared to the first half of 2009, with the
increase in sales volumes (+16%) compensating for the lower sales prices
(-16%), primarily in soda ash and caustic soda. Compared to the first
quarter of 2010, sales improved by 12% in the second quarter in a context
of slight improvement in sales volumes. Operating result from the first
half (EUR 147 million) was up by 10% compared to the first half of last
year (EUR 133 million); in the second quarter, it amounted to EUR 80
million, compared to EUR 72 million in the second quarter of 2009 and EUR
67 million in the first quarter of 2010. It benefited from the better
utilization rates in the context of a more sustained global activity than
last year and energy expenses that were under control. The clear
improvement in results from fluorinated products and peroxides should be
noted. The strong integration of the Chemicals Sector in raw materials
enabled it to avoid a material impact from input cost increases.
Additionally it should be noted that in line with the IFRS, following the
decision to terminate the sale of the precipitated calcium carbonate
activity, this activity was reintroduced in June 1 The cost of
discounting provisions (EUR 33 million on June 30, 2009 and EUR 26
million on June 30, 2010) was transferred to financing rather than
operating charges in line with IAS19, considering the financial nature of
this item. 2 REBIT: measure of operating performance (this is not an IFRS
concept as such) 3 REBITDA: REBIT, before recurring depreciation and
amortization of 2010 into the Chemicals Sector while it had been shown as
“assets and liabilities associated with asset held for sale” since October
2008. Consequently, the cumulative depreciation of the assets involved,
since this date, were expensed in the second quarter of 2010, with a
negative impact on the Sector’s operating result of EUR 10 million.

Plastics Sector sales for the first six months of the year (EUR 2,005
million) were significantly higher (+48%) than those of last year. They
continued to improve in the second quarter (EUR 1,088 millions, +19%
compared to the first quarter of 2010). This can be explained by the sharp
increase in sales volumes in the “specialties” cluster (Specialty Polymers
and Inergy Automotive Systems), while prices remained globally stable.
Although all regions of the world were involved, this improvement was
particularly notable in Asia. In Vinyls and at Pipelife, the improvement
in demand remains limited in the context of a stagnant European
construction sector. The operating result for the Plastics Sector in the
first half of 2010 (EUR 173 million) clearly improved compared to last
year (EUR 14 million). That of the second quarter (EUR 114 million) is
significantly higher than that of the first quarter 2010 (EUR 59
million). This improvement derived primarily from the “Specialties”
cluster. The operating result for Vinyls improved compared to the low
level of last year but it continued to be penalized by the low level of
margins in Europe and Mercosur and by the absence of a resumption of
demand in construction in Europe.

It is interesting to note that many innovative Specialty Polymers find
their application in the solar airplane Solar Impulse which recently
achieved its first night flight.

On July 28, 2010, Plastic Omnium and Solvay signed a binding agreement for
purchase in the second half of 2010 by Plastic Omnium of Solvay’s stake in
Inergy Automotive Systems. Solvay will receive for its shares EUR 270
million in cash. This represents an Enterprise Value of about EUR 330
million for the 50% stake of Solvay taking into account the assumption of
debt and other liabilities for an adjusted value of about EUR 60 million.
Consequently, the assets and liabilities of Inergy Automotive Sytems are
transferred to “Assets held for sale” and “Liabilities linked to assets
held for sale” in the balance sheet as of the end of June 2010.

The 1st half of 2010 was characterized by demand recovery. At current
market conditions, the Chemicals Sector should realize a recurring
operating result in line with that of last year, notwithstanding the price
decreases; in Plastics, the volume growth should support sharp REBIT
expansion. The priority goes this year to the optimal reinvestment after
the disposal of the pharmaceuticals activities.

SOLVAY Group – Summary Financial
Information

+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Million EUR (except for |1st half |1st half 2010 |1st half 2010/ 1st |
|per-share figures in EUR)|2009 | |half 2009 |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Sales | 4,051 | 3,761 |-7% |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|REBIT | 339 | 329 |-3% |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|REBIT – continuing | | | |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|operations | 126 | 298 |ns |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|REBIT- discontinued | | | |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|operations | 213 | 31 |ns |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|REBIT/Sales | 8.4% | 8.8% |ns |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Non-recurring items | -34 | -116 |ns |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|EBIT (4) | 305 | 213 |-30% |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Charges on net | -104 | -91 |-12% |
|indebtedness | | | |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Income on investments | -3 | 1 |ns |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Capital gain Pharma | 0 | 1,695 |ns |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Earnings before taxes | 198 | 1,818 |ns |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Income taxes | -16 | -29 |77% |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Net income of the Group | 181 | 1,789 |ns |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Net income (Solvay share)| 168 | 1,769 |ns |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Total depreciation | 262 | 258 |-1% |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|REBITDA | 586 | 549 |-6% |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Cash flow | 443 | 2,047 |ns |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Results per share (5) | 2.05 | 21.65 |ns |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Net debt to equity ratio | 40% | -36% | |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+

+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Million EUR (except for |2nd quarter 2009 |2nd quarter 2010 |
|per-share figures in EUR)| | |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Sales | 2,067 | 1,849 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|REBIT | 181 | 183 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|REBIT – continuing | | |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|operations | 63 | 183 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|REBIT – discontinued | | |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|operations | 118 | 0 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|REBIT/Sales | 8.8% | 9.9% |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Non-recurring items | -31 | -68 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|EBIT (4) | 150 | 115 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Charges on net | -61 | -45 |
|indebtedness | | |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Income on investments | -3 | 1 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Capital gain Pharma | 0 | -1 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Earnings before taxes | 86 | 70 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Income taxes | -2 | -13 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Net income of the Group | 83 | 57 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Net income (Solvay share)| 77 | 44 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Total depreciation | 132 | 127 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|REBITDA | 308 | 300 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Cash flow | 215 | 184 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Results per share (5) | 0.93 | 0.60 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Net debt to equity ratio | | |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+

+————————-+——————–+
|Million EUR (except for |2nd quarter 2010/ |
|per-share figures in EUR)|2nd quarter 2009 |
+————————-+——————–+
|Sales |-11% |
+————————-+——————–+
|REBIT |1% |
+————————-+——————–+
|REBIT – continuing | |
+————————-+——————–+
|operations |ns |
+————————-+——————–+
|REBIT – discontinued | |
+————————-+——————–+
|operations |ns |
+————————-+——————–+
|REBIT/Sales |ns |
+————————-+——————–+
|Non-recurring items |ns |
+————————-+——————–+
|EBIT (4) |-23% |
+————————-+——————–+
|Charges on net |-27% |
|indebtedness | |
+————————-+——————–+
|Income on investments |ns |
+————————-+——————–+
|Capital gain Pharma |ns |
+————————-+——————–+
|Earnings before taxes |-18% |
+————————-+——————–+
|Income taxes |ns |
+————————-+——————–+
|Net income of the Group |-32% |
+————————-+——————–+
|Net income (Solvay share)|-43% |
+————————-+——————–+
|Total depreciation |-4% |
+————————-+——————–+
|REBITDA |-3% |
+————————-+——————–+
|Cash flow |-14% |
+————————-+——————–+
|Results per share (5) |-36% |
+————————-+——————–+
|Net debt to equity ratio | |
+————————-+——————–+

Notes on Solvay Group summary financial information

Non-recurring items amounted to EUR -116 million in the first half of
2010. They included among others an asset write-off of EUR 20 million
related to the closed hydrogen peroxide unit at Bitterfeld, other
restructuring 4 EBIT: results before financial charges and taxes 5
Calculated on the basis of the weighted average of the number of shares
in the period, after deduction of treasury shares and own shares
purchased to cover the stock option program, or a total of 82,134,172
shares for the first six months of 2009 and 81,679,218 shares for the
first six months of 2010 charges and an environmental provision of EUR 19
million for remediation and containment works in Spinetta (Italy).

Charges on net indebtedness amounted to EUR -91 million at the end of June
2010 compared to EUR -104 million at the end of June 2009. Charges on
borrowing amounted to EUR -70 million. Gross financial debt is covered at
81% at the average fixed rate of 5.1% with a duration of 5.7 years; the
first significant maturity for debt reimbursement will not occur until
2014. Interest on cash deposits and investments amounted to EUR 9 million.
It should be recalled that the proceeds from the sale of the
pharmaceuticals activities have been invested in short duration government
bonds and highest rated treasury instruments since February 15, 2010.
Annual cash yield in the first half of 2010 was 0.41%.

The capital gain realized on the sale of the Pharmaceutical activities
amounted to EUR 1.7 billion net of taxes.

Income taxes amounted to EUR -29 million compared to EUR -16 million in
the first half of 2009; excluding the capital gain realized on the sale
of the Pharmaceuticals activities, the effective tax rate is 24%.

The net income of the Group (EUR 1,789 million) improved compared to the
first half of 2009 thanks to the capital gain realized on the sale of the
Pharmaceuticals activities (EUR 1.7 billion EUR net of taxes). The “non-
controlling interests” amounted to EUR 20 million. The net result per
share amounted to 21.65 EUR (compared to 2.05 EUR at the end of June
2009).

The Free Cash Flow from continuing operations amounted to EUR -293 million
at the end of June 2010. It includes an amount of EUR -206 million related
to the substitution of a previously issued guarantee by a prepayment in
the first quarter 2010 of fines imposed in 2006 by the European Commission
concerning peroxygen antitrust cases (still in appeal). It should be noted
that the Group continues its efforts regarding the rigorous management of
working capital. At the end of June 2010, the industrial working capital
amounted to EUR 1,251 million, slightly up (EUR +113 million) compared to
the end of June 2009 (excluding pharmaceuticals activities) in a clearly
improved sales context (+25%).

RESULTS BY SEGMENT (6)

+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|
Million EUR |1st half |1st half 2010 |1st half 2010 / 1st |
| |2009 | |half 2009 |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|GROUP SALES(7) | 4,051 | 3,761 |-7% |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Chemicals | 1,406 | 1,444 |3% |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Plastics | 1,353 | 2,005 |48% |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Sales – continuing | 2,759 | 3,449 |25% |
|operations | | | |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Pharmaceuticals – | | | |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Discontinued Operations | 1,292 | 312 |ns |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|REBIT GROUP | 339 | 329 |-3% |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Chemicals | 133 | 147 |10% |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Plastics | 14 | 173 |ns |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Corporate and Business | -10 | -10 |-1% |
|Support | | | |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|New Business Development | -11 | -12 |11% |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|REBIT – continuing | | | |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|operations | 126 | 298 |ns |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Pharmaceuticals – | | | |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Discontinued Operations | 213 | 31 |ns |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|REBITDA GROUP | 586 | 549 |-6% |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Chemicals | 216 | 246 |14% |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Plastics | 119 | 290 |ns |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Corporate and Business | -6 | -6 |6% |
|Support | | | |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|New Business Development | -11 | -12 |12% |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|REBITDA – continuing | | | |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|operations | 318 | 518 |63% |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Pharmaceuticals – | | | |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+
|Discontinued Operations | 268 | 31 |ns |
+————————-+———+————–+——————–+

+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Million EUR |2nd quarter 2009 |2nd quarter 2010 |
| | | |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|GROUP SALES(7) | 2,067 | 1,849 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Chemicals | 683 | 762 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Plastics | 724 | 1,088 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Sales – continuing | 1,406 | 1,849 |
|operations | | |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Pharmaceuticals – | | |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Discontinued Operations | 661 | 0 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|REBIT GROUP | 181 | 183 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Chemicals | 72 | 80 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Plastics | 8 | 114 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Corporate and Business | -12 | -5 |
|Support | | |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|New Business Development | -5 | -6 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|REBIT – continuing | | |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|operations | 63 | 183 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Pharmaceuticals – | | |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Discontinued Operations | 118 | 0 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|REBITDA GROUP | 308 | 300 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Chemicals | 114 | 135 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Plastics | 63 | 175 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Corporate and Business | -10 | -3 |
|Support | | |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|New Business Development | -5 | -6 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|REBITDA – continuing | | |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|operations | 162 | 300 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Pharmaceuticals – | | |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+
|Discontinued Operations | 146 | 0 |
+————————-+—————–+—————–+

+————————-+——————–+
|Million EUR |2nd quarter 2010 / |
| |2nd quarter 2009 |
+————————-+——————–+
|GROUP SALES(7) |-11% |
+————————-+——————–+
|Chemicals |12% |
+————————-+——————–+
|Plastics |50% |
+————————-+——————–+
|Sales – continuing |32% |
|operations | |
+————————-+——————–+
|Pharmaceuticals – | |
+————————-+——————–+
|Discontinued Operations |ns |
+————————-+——————–+
|REBIT GROUP |1% |
+————————-+——————–+
|Chemicals |11% |
+————————-+——————–+
|Plastics |ns |
+————————-+——————–+
|Corporate and Business |-60% |
|Support | |
+————————-+——————–+
|New Business Development |19% |
+————————-+——————–+
|REBIT – continuing | |
+————————-+——————–+
|operations |Ns |
+————————-+——————–+
|Pharmaceuticals – | |
+————————-+——————–+
|Discontinued Operations |ns |
+————————-+——————–+
|REBITDA GROUP |-3% |
+————————-+——————–+
|Chemicals |18% |
+————————-+——————–+
|Plastics |ns |
+————————-+——————–+
|Corporate and Business |-71% |
|Support | |
+————————-+——————–+
|New Business Development |21% |
+————————-+——————–+
|REBITDA – continuing | |
+————————-+——————–+
|operations |85% |
+————————-+——————–+
|Pharmaceuticals – | |
+————————-+——————–+
|Discontinued Operations |ns |
+————————-+——————–+

It should be noted that the “New Business Development” (NBD) segment
in 2009 showed a REBIT of EUR -25 million, constituted for the most part
of research costs. Included in 2009 in the “Corporate and Business
Support” segment, it has been part of specific reporting since January 1,
2010.

The R&D budget for NBD in 2010 amounts to about EUR 30 million.

(1) The cost of discounting provisions (EUR 33 million on June 30, 2009
and EUR 26 million on June 30, 2010) was transferred to financing rather
than operating charges in line with IAS19,considering the financial
nature of this item.

(2) REBIT: measure of operating performance (this is not an IFRS concept
as such)

(3) REBITDA: REBIT, before recurring depreciation and amortization

(4) EBIT: results before financial charges and taxes

(5) Calculated on the basis of the weighted average of the number of
shares in the period, after deduction of treasury shares and own shares
purchased to cover the stock option program, or a total of 82,134,172
shares for the first six months of 2009 and 81,679,218 shares for the
first six months of 2010

(6) Results by segment include results from the five segments of the Group
(until February 15, 2010 for Pharma).

(7) These are sales after elimination of inter-company sales.

PATRICK VERELST
Head of Investor Relations
SOLVAY S.A.
Tel. +32 2 509 7243
patrick.verelst@solvay.com
www.solvay-investors.com

The full press release is available on

http://www.solvay-investors.com/

This information is provided by HUGIN

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

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Tragic recordings expose MJ”s troubled mind

May 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 12 (ANI): A set of tapes has emerged in which Michael Jackson can be heard pleading for financial help.

What”s more, the tragic recordings revealed by The Sun, also reveal the late singer”s fears for his life.

The tapes were handed to US journalist Daphne Barak after she wrote a book on celebrity addiction.

Barak told The Sun: “Some of Michael”s closest confidents talked to me exclusively about his addictions – and provided audio tapes of Michael never heard before.

“These demonstrate different states of mind he was experiencing under the influence of pharmaceuticals.”

The messages date back to 2003. In February at that time, MJ was under fire after the Martin Bashir TV documentary exposed him for sharing his bed with kids.

In the first message he is determined to move away:

“It is Michael calling. It is very important, I want that 150 in that account for me, because… I am very concerned about my life. I am hearing a lot of stories that (name withheld) is still trying to sabotage (inaudible) me and I want to be in a different environment and, um, I”ve found a place that I like and now (inaudible) I want to be away for a while where they can”t find me. So please help me, help (inaudible) help me, and, um, more important than (inaudible). We are brothers.”

“We think the man”s bad. We think he is the Italian Mafia. I don”t trust him.”

In a second, his voice is slurred and slow, which Daphne believes is due to medication. He expresses concern about a figure who he says could be involved with the Italian Mafia.

“It is Michael. Ahh, it is 4:30 in the morning here that”s why I sound very sleepy (laughs) and I”m really worn out… but please check the message I left a day or so ago. I am very concerned. I don”t trust that man. We think he”s bad, we think he is Italian mafia. Please… we must be smarter than him. So please, help me with this. I need to get that, those funds so I can do that, I wanna be away. . . I don”t want to be in Neverland right now.”

In a separate message Jackson again seems to be seeking money urgently.

“If you get this message call me immediately at 805 *** ****. What I want to talk to you about is very top – top secret… I need a German or Swiss bank… ”

A little later Jackson calls again asking for cash to be put into an account. He appears to use a code word “Sun Screen” – possibly suggesting protection money.

“I need to get those funds. I wanna be away… I don”t wanna be in Neverland

“I am very embarrassed. But, um, there should be that I have some finance that”s coming up January, February 2nd, and um… that”s why I, we need to have on Sun Screen to the account 150. Please don”t be mad at me for… (inaudible) It”s something that”s very important to me and my family, because I”m (inaudible) that I”m being stalked and I think it is (name withheld).”

In one tape, the singer is at his most lucid.

Jackson urges his friend to work with him, saying: “I would love to work together, but as far as timing… The, uh, I really feel in my heart – we must move as fast as we can because the, on the film side of it, ah, I don”t know if you have been reading the paper… but Marvel already have sold off their internet rights and the fact that stock is so low now.

“They put out Spider-Man, now they got Incredible Hulk coming, they got X-Men 2 coming and they also got Spider-Man 2 coming. It is going to jump, it”s going to change! I mean, you know… and this huge frenzy for superheroes… and all the things we can do… I wanna get in before the stocks… we have to jump in now. The timing is perfect.” (ANI)

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Drug companies deal to save taxpayers $1bn

May 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Federal Government is believed to be close to securing a deal with drug manufacturers to cut the cost of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

It is understood the pharmaceutical industry has agreed to cut about $1 billion from the price of medicines used in the scheme.

Both the Government and the industry group Medicines Australia have declined to comment.

Yesterday, the Government announced a new five-year agreement with pharmacists that is expected to save a further $1 billion.

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Callidus Software to Present at Security Research Associates 6th Annual Growth Stock Conference

April 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

SAN JOSE, CA, Apr 05 (MARKET WIRE) —
Callidus Software Inc. (NASDAQ: CALD), the leader in Sales Performance
Management (SPM), today announced that Leslie Stretch, president and CEO,
and Ron Fior, senior vice president, finance and operations and CFO of
Callidus Software, will present at the Security Research Associates 6th
Annual Growth Stock Conference at the Omni Hotel in San Francisco, CA.

Callidus Software is scheduled to present on Tuesday, April 6 at 1:00
p.m. PT in the North Beach B room. Callidus Software’s executives will be
available for one-on-one meetings from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. PT in the
Union Square room. Breakout meetings will take place in North Beach A.

The audio-recording of the presentation will be available via webcast at
http://www.wsw.com/webcast/sra10/cald/ for approximately 30 days
following the conclusion of the presentation.

The presentation is intended to provide analysts and institutional
investors with an overview of the company’s business strategies and value
proposition.

Callidus Software’s award-winning solutions manage the entire sales
life-cycle from on-boarding, deployment and payment, to talent
development, while providing visibility into sales operations and
financial performance. This gives customers the ability to align their
sales force and channels with their business objectives and consistently
and reliably execute to improve sales results. The software is used by
leading companies in a broad range of verticals including high-tech,
telecommunications, banking, insurance and pharmaceuticals. Since its
inception nearly 15 years ago, the company has evolved into the most
experienced, proven, and reliable SPM vendor in the marketplace. Callidus
Software manages over $50 billion in incentives and compensation for more
than 2 million payees in over 140 countries.

For more news on sales performance management, follow Callidus Software
on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

About Security Research Associates, Inc.
Security Research Associates,
Inc. (SRA) was founded in San Francisco in 1980 and, today, offers
investment banking and M&A services as well as institutional brokerage
services. A boutique firm by design, SRA works with a select group of
portfolio managers from around the country and focuses on technology and
life science companies in the micro and small cap arenas. For more
information about SRA see our web site at www.sracap.com or call us at
415-925-0346.

About Callidus Software(R)
Callidus Software (www.callidussoftware.com)
(NASDAQ: CALD) is the market and technology leader in Sales Performance
Management (SPM). Callidus’ customers gain a competitive advantage by
maximizing sales cost efficiencies and driving improvements in sales
execution. Our award-winning Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications
set the standard for performance management of a company’s sales force
and its other employees. Over 2 million employees and channel partners
have their performance managed by Callidus Software.

Copyright 1998-2010 Callidus Software Inc. All rights reserved. Callidus
Software, the Callidus Software logo, and TrueComp Manager are
trademarks, service marks, or registered trademarks of Callidus Software
Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other brand, service
or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective companies or owners.

Investor Relations Contact:
Ron Fior
408-808-6577
ir@callidussoftware.com

Press Contact:
Jock Breitwieser
408-975-6683
pr@callidussoftware.com

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , ,

Australia too reliant on resources: Tanner

March 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Federal Finance Minister says Australia has become too reliant on resources and needs to expand its export base.

Lindsay Tanner says there has been a “worrying period” over the last decade where resources have increased their domination of Australia’s exports.

Lindsay Tanner says the 1990s saw great diversification, with strong exports across a range of sectors, and he says there needs to be a return to that kind of diversification.

“We had a huge growth in tourism, in education, in specialised manufacturing, in wine, in pharmaceuticals that helped us to diminish our enormous reliance on minerals,” he told ABC radio 774 in Melbourne.

“That’s kind of almost gone into reverse in recent times. So it’s not so much that there’s one country that we’re dependent on, it’s that we have, I think to some extent, too many eggs in that basket.”

Mr Tanner says Australia’s future prosperity should not be pinned to one industry, and the Government is looking at ways to boost productivity in other sectors.

“Minerals are always going to be critical for Australia, there’s no question about that,” he added.

“But our strategy of improving infrastructure and skills and lifting our productivity very much has in mind the need to revive our performance in some of our other aspects which have been languishing and, also, to strengthen newer areas like financial services.”

Mining can’t guarantee prosperity

One of Australia’s leading economists says he has some sympathy with Mr Tanner’s view.

The Grattan Institute’s program director for productivity growth Saul Eslake says, while the mining boom certainly has contributed to wealth creation and an increase in tax revenues, it also has some negative side-effects.

He says the recent boom in mining activity may actually be damaging some of the sectors of the economy that Lindsay Tanner wants to revive.

“The mining industry can’t possibly guarantee prosperity for the vast majority of Australians, given that it accounts for less than 3 per cent of total employment,” Mr Eslake told ABC News Online.

“One of the corollaries of the present mining boom is a very high value of the Australian dollar that is hurting the competitiveness of sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and education, most of which employ considerably more Australians than the mining industry does.”

He says the currency impacts will be exacerbated by wage pressures as Australia’s economy nears full-employment again.

“Growth in demand from the mining sector could well put upward pressure on wages in other sectors of the economy contributing, in the context of a strong exchange rate, to a further squeeze on the profitability of employers in other parts of the economy and thus diminishing the viability of those industries.”

Mr Eslake says, while the damage to those other industries could be long-lasting, the current mining boom has a finite lifespan.

The danger is that, when the mining boom does come to an end, there will be few other internationally competitive export industries left standing to provide employment alternatives.

“The mining boom, though it may well go on for more than a decade, isn’t going to go on indefinitely any more than previous mining booms have, and future generations of Australians are going to look for other sectors of the economy for their employment prospects long after this present mining boom has come to an end,” he noted.

Mr Eslake says a resource rent charge is likely to be one tax canvassed by the Henry Review, which is due to be released before the Federal Budget is handed down in May.

He says, while the Government would not want to actively constrain the mining sector, shifting the tax burden to those resources companies that are highly profitable by introducing a resource rent tax to replace the current mining duties would make sense.

“There are reasonable arguments for moving away from a production based system of taxing the mining industry, one which takes no account of the profitability of individual mine ventures, to one which allows the community to share in high prices as well as increased volumes of production of mineral resources, whilst also ensuring that in periods when commodity prices are very low mining companies are not punitively taxed.”

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Biocon limited, Amylin pharmaceuticals enter global development agreement

September 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Bangalore/ California Sep 11(ANI/Business Wire India): Biocon, Limited (NSE: BIOCON) and Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMLN) announced today that they have entered into an exclusive agreement to jointly develop, commercialize and manufacture a novel peptide therapeutic for the potential treatment of diabetes.

Amylin and Biocon will collaborate to develop the therapeutic potential of the compound and share development costs. Research will center on Amylin’s “phybrid” technology. A phybrid is a peptide hybrid molecule that combines the pharmacological effects of two peptide hormones into a single molecular entity.

Under the terms of the Development and Commercialization Agreement, Amylin will provide expertise in peptide hormone development, particularly in the area of phybrid technology, as well as metabolic disease therapeutics. Biocon will utilize its expertise in recombinant microbial expression to manufacture the compound and also leverage its experience in pre-clinical and clinical development of diabetes products.

“This agreement fully leverages the synergistic capabilities of the two companies,” said Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairman and Managing Director, Biocon, Ltd. “Amylin’s knowledge of peptide therapeutics and their leadership in the diabetes market, paired with Biocon’s capabilities in process development, manufacturing and clinical development, provides this global program with the potential to effectively bring a novel therapy to patients living with diabetes.”

“This program could unleash the potential of cutting-edge peptide science to transform the lives of patients with diabetes,” said Daniel M. Bradbury, President and Chief Executive Officer, Amylin Pharmaceuticals. “We are pleased to work with Biocon, a biologics innovator and world-class manufacturing expert, and look forward to collaborating with them on this exciting program.”

Amylin Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company committed to improving lives through the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative medicines. (ANI)

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Jordan’s lover Alex Reid’s secret cocaine shame

August 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, August 30 (ANI): Jordan’s new lover Alex Reid has admitted that he snorted cocaine to relax after bouts.

The cage fighter, who was reportedly at the receiving end after a string of rows with the glamour girl over his part in violent hardcore porn film, alleged “every fighter needs to break the rules completely” and that sportsmen like him needed some “pharmaceuticals to get you high”.

The 34-year-old made the confession to the author of forthcoming ‘Warriors of the Cage’, published by Pennant Books, saying he used so much of the Class A drug that it took a toll on his health.

“I’ve done cocaine once too often, say like once every month or after a fight and that’s not good,” the News of the World quoted Reid as saying.

“It’s not good for a fighter because it’s taken vital years off my longevity in my health to come back,” he added.

The revelation may fuel the wrath of Peter Andre as he battles for custody of his children from Jordan, a.k.a Katie Price.

A source close to Andre said: “As far as Peter is concerned, Reid is not an ideal father figure and shouldn’t be responsible for another man’s children.

“Now that he’s admitted taking cocaine, it will send Peter through the roof knowing that this man is anywhere near his kids.” (ANI)

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Novel target for migraine prevention identified

May 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, Apr 29 (ANI): Researchers have found a potential target for developing new treatment for acute migraine attacks.

The new research by Addex Pharmaceuticals showed that targeting glutamate receptor ‘mGluR5′, the most common neurotransmitter in the brain, could prevent migraines.

The research team suggest that mGluR5 could play a role in the “migraine circuit,” a positive feedback loop that generates the symptoms of a migraine attack.

During the study, the researchers conducted trials with the help og potential drug candidate ADX10059, a negative mGluR5 allosteric modulator.

It showed efficacy in treating acute migraine attacks and provides evidence that inhibition of this glutamate receptor subtype could play a role in stopping migraine attacks before they start.

In the study involving 129 migraine patients, the researchers found that more patients taking ADX10059 than those taking placebo were pain-free two hours after dosing.

ADX10059 administration yielded better pain improvement at all time points up to two hours after treatment of a migraine attack.

“Medication is available to prevent migraine but these treatments are often secondary uses of the drug and come with potentially limiting side-effects,” said Dr. Peter Goadsby of the UCSF Headache Center.

“New therapies specifically developed for migraine prevention are urgently needed especially for the substantial proportion of migraine sufferers who have frequent attacks and have significant disability in their daily lives.

“Targeting mGluR5 signaling with ADX10059 is an interesting approach that is showing significant promise in early clinical evaluation.

“The clinical trial data for ADX10059 proved the concept that by terminating acute attacks in some patients, mGluR5 inhibition plays a role in migraine pathophysiology.

The study was presented at annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology. (ANI)

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GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals net sales up 9.3 percent

May 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Mumbai, Apr 28 (ANI/Business Wire India): GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Limited has announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31. The Company has posted a net sales growth of 9.3 per cent compared to the previous quarter, while Profit Before Tax has grown by 7.9 percent, on a comparable basis.

Commenting on the performance during the quarter, Dr. Hasit B. Joshipura, Managing Director, said, “The Company’s major products in the Priority range, including vaccines, registered good growth.

During the quarter under review, we launched Cervarix, our vaccine for protecting women against Cervical Cancer and the initial response for the same has been encouraging”. (ANI)

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Pharmaceutical firm Roche’s first quarter sales increase

April 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Basel – Roche, the Swiss pharmaceutical giant, said it was confident it would meet full year targets after reporting an 8 per cent growth in sales in the first-quarter.

Last month Roche bought for 46.8 billion dollars the remaining 44 per cent stake in the US biotech firm Genentech that it did not already own.

The Swiss company said in July it would set out its plan for the rest of the year to include Genentech, including bringing a head of the US company to the Roche board.

New drugs Roche produced for leukemia and cancer had received approval by state regulators in the United States and the European Union.

Along with other well performing products, especially medicines for cancer, these were expected to further push sales growth in the remaining quarters.

Given the sales increases in both its pharmaceuticals and diagnostics divisions, Roche Chief Executive Officer Severin Schwan said in a statement he was “confident that we can achieve our full-year targets.”

The Roche Group recorded total sales of 11.6 billion Swiss francs in the first quarter of 2009. In local currencies, this was an increase of 8 per cent and 7 per cent in Swiss francs when compared to the same period last year.

However, the sales presented a 1 per cent drop in US-dollar- terms, due to the recent strengthening of the currency. (dpa)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Groundbreaking First Response Spray Now Available in Europe

April 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Solution Provides 99.99 Percent Reduction of Many Dangerous Pathogens

UNION, Ky., April 15 /PRNewswire/ — Union Springs Pharmaceuticals, LLC today
announces the European distribution of its flagship product, MyClyns, a
portable spray that reduces 99.99 percent of many harmful pathogens and helps
prevent infection. European first responders and public safety officials will
now have access to the spray, which is a critical component to effective,
portable protection.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090415/CL99689 )

MyClyns is available from a number of distributors throughout Europe.

After coming into contact with bodily fluids from a potentially infected
person, first responders can quickly and easily spray MyClyns in their eyes,
mouth or on other points of contact. Response time is critical to lower the
chances of becoming infected after an exposure, and MyClyns offers immediate
protection.

The pocket-sized units contain a powerful solution that has been found to
reduce 99.99 percent of HIV-1, Hepatitis C, MRSA, TB, and 60 pathogens in
independent laboratory testing. The spray is alcohol-free and proven safe for
use on all mucous membranes, including the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.

“MyClyns has found significant success within the public safety sector, as
first responders are frequently exposed to the dangers of bodily fluids and
other harmful pathogens,” says Union Springs Pharmaceuticals president Joel
Ivers. “The expansion of this product into European markets is in response to
the need for personal protection anywhere in the world where public safety
officials risk dangerous exposure.”

The spray has already proven to be an asset to public safety officials,
military, corrections, and EMS in the United States and Canada.

New Orleans EMS Deputy Director Carl Flores agrees. “One of our employees had
a combative patient who was HIV positive spit in his face,” said Flores. “He
used MyClyns and felt better knowing it was readily available for this
incident. As a manager, I cannot tell you how pleased I am to provide our
employees with this added layer of protection and sense of confidence when
they needed it most.”

Visit www.myclyns.eu for more information about the product.

About Union Springs Pharmaceuticals, LLC
Union Springs Pharmaceuticals, LLC specializes in providing innovative
infection control products for the EMS, fire, law enforcement, corrections,
military, government, healthcare, and consumer markets. Union Springs
Pharmaceuticals offers personal and environmental exposure response products
including MyClyns, the revolutionary personal protection spray that can be
applied into the eyes, nose, and mouth. Union Springs also offers the T-5000
and T-5000V P95 respirators, the only disposable respirators with
antibacterial and antiviral technology. More information on Union Springs
Pharmaceuticals and its products can be found at www.uspharma.com.

SOURCE Union Springs Pharmaceuticals, LLC

Bryan Reynolds, Union Springs Pharmaceuticals, LLC, +1-859-384-4029,
breynolds@uspharma.com

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Air Cargo World Presents an Exclusive Webcast on April 14: Insight and Analysis on…

April 13, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Air Cargo World Presents an Exclusive Webcast on April 14: Insight and
Analysis on the New Government Mandate for 100% Screening of air Cargo by 2010

WASHINGTON DC, April 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — How is the air cargo
industry preparing itself to implement the U.S. Government’s mandate for
screening 100 percent of all international inbound cargo aboard passenger
aircraft by August 2010? That’s the number one question for the air freight
industry as it faces the challenge of meeting the 2007 Homeland Security law.
Aviation and security experts will address this critical issue during a free
webinar to be released tomorrow, April 14, by Air Cargo World. The webcast
will be available afterward, on demand, at

http://www.aircargoworld.com/screening.

The discussion and analysis will include presentations from a panel
discussion held at AirCargo 2009 and newly released interviews with the
panelists by Paul Page, editorial director of The Journal of Commerce. The
webcast will be broadcast for the first time at 2:00 p.m. EST, April 14.
The topic is especially timely as the industry has only recently met the
congressional deadline to screen 50 percent of all air cargo and now faces
major operational and financial hurdles to meet the 2010 deadline of 100 per
cent. Participants in the Air Cargo World webinar will include The Honorable
Asa Hutchinson, former Under Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security
and chairman of the Safe Commerce Coalition; Dave Brooks, President of
America Airlines Cargo; Brandon Fried, Executive Director of the
Airforwarders Association; Chris Connell, President, Commodity Forwarders
Inc., and Brad Elrod from Global Logistics Security at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals.
“It is imperative that our industry pulls together if we are to meet the
mandate,” said Steve Prince, publisher of Air Cargo World. “We need to share
best practices and explore ideas for innovative operational, security and
financial steps that can be taken to adapt to the 100 percent screening
environment.”
Prince added, “While initial reports are somewhat optimistic about the
impact on the supply chain, a number of critical issues remain. For example,
how will the new ruling impact businesses and consumers who rely on
just-in-time delivery, such as medicines? This free webcast will help
airlines and forwarders to establish or strengthen procedures that will
ensure compliance by the deadline.”
The webinar is sponsored by American Airlines Cargo. To register for the
broadcast please visit http://www.aircargoworld.com/screening or contact
Steve Prince at +1 770-642-9170.
About Air Cargo World
Air Cargo World (http://www.aircargoworld.com), founded in 1942, is the
air freight industry’s leading global publication. Each domestic and
international monthly issue, and its companion website, provides global
airfreight news, analysis, features, special reports and statistics to
logistics professionals, shippers, airfreight forwarders, importers,
exporters and others who purchase transportation products and services in the
airfreight sector. It is published by UBM Aviation (

http://www.ubmaviation.com)

SOURCE UBM Aviation

Media contact: Alison Pickering, Corporate Communications, UBM Aviation,
apickering@ubmaviation.com +44(0)1582-695477

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IOL Chemicals to hire 400 new employees this year

April 9, 2009 By Leave a Comment

IOL Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Limited, a leading organic chemicals manufacturer and supplier, has announced that it will hire around 400 new employees by the end of this year.

The company has an existing workforce of over 900 professionals.

Market experts believe that despite the global economic slowdown, this is a big step by Ludhiana-based IOLCP towards preparing itself to tap global opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry.

According to company officials, the company’s new manpower will primarily take care of the proposed expansion of its manufacturing capacity with an investment worth Rs 216 crore.

The capacity expansion for its various product lines includes; forward integration in chemical division as well as backward integration in pharmaceutical division to produce raw materials for its flagship product Ibuprofen; and increase in cogeneration of power.

Recently, IOLCP has got coveted certifications for exports of its pharmaceutical products, Ibuprofen, to various countries. The company intends to produce 4800 tablets per annum of acetyl chloride, which is a raw material used to manufacture Ibuprofen.

Apart from latest development, the company is also constructing a new captive co-generation plant with additional capacity of 13 MW in addition to the existing cogeneration plant of 4 MW.

The plant is expected to begin working by the end of year 2010 and will generate a total of 17MW of power for exclusive consumption by IOLCP s manufacturing facilities.

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Aurobindo Pharma secures first nod for Finasteride APL Tablets

April 8, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Aurobindo Pharma, one of the largest API manufacturers in Asia, on Wednesday received its first approval from Swissmedic, Government of Switzerland for the license of Finasteride APL Tablets 5mg.

The drug is generic equivalent of MERCK and CO., Inc’s Proscar Tablet.

Finasteride APL Tablet 5mg is used alone or in combination with another medication to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH, enlargement of the prostate gland). The drug is seen very effective in symptoms of BPH such as frequent and difficult urination. In addition, it also may decrease the chance of needing prostate surgery.

Further, the drug is also used to treat male pattern hair loss (a common condition in which men have gradual thinning of the hair on the scalp, leading to a receding hairline or balding on the top of the head.)

Earlier this month, Aurobindo Pharma has secured a tentative approval from the U. S. Food and Drug Administration to sell its emtricitabine and tenofovir disproxil fumarate combination drug in tablet form. The anti-HIV drug is the generic version of Gilead Sciences Inc’s branded drug Truvada.

On the same day, the company got another nod for its Topiramate tablets in 25mg, 50mg, 100mg and 200mg strengths from the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA).

The drug is generic equivalent of Ortho McNeil Janssen Pharmaceuticals’ Topamax tablets and indicated for the treatment of epilepsy in both children and adults.

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Orchid Chemicals to focus on lowering debt

April 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Drugmaker Orchid Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. aims to cut debt and interest costs even as new launches in the U.S. and Europe are seen aiding growth over three years, its chief said on Wednesday.

Orchid, which had about 19.5 billion rupees in loans as of March 2008 with a debt-equity ratio of three to one, hopes to bring it down to 1.5 by December 2009, Managing Director K. Raghavendra Rao told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday.

The company expects revenue to grow 20 percent in fiscal 2009/10 largely driven by antibiotic combination drug piperacillin-tazobactam sales in Europe and U.S., he added.

However, for the year to March 2009, the company’s growth will be in line with results for the nine months to December, when revenue grew 10 percent on a standalone basis.

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Plethico Pharma expects 10 pct rev growth for 2009

April 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Plethico Pharmaceuticals Ltd said on Wednesday it expects to notch 10 percent growth in revenue in calendar 2009. The pharmaceutical company on Tuesday announced its annual results for year ending Dec 31, 2008.

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Ranbaxy gets USFDA’s permission to manufacture cardiovascular drugs

March 9, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Mumbai, Mar. 9 (ANI): Drug-maker Ranbaxy Laboratories has got approval from the US Federal Drug Administration to market and manufacture Ramipril, which is used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

The pharmaceuticals company has received final nod from US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) for Ramipril capsules, it said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

“Ranbaxy is pleased to receive this final approval for Ramipril capsules. This is the third Abbreviated New Dug Application (ANDA) approval that materialised specific to Ohm Laboratories, in the last two months,” Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc VP (Sales and Distribution) Jim Meehan said.

Ramipril is a bio-equivalent to King Pharmaceuticals’ Altace drug, which can be used to treat hypertension.

The drug will be available in the strength of 5mg and 10mg capsules.

Ranbaxy’s US-based subsidiary Ohm Laboratories’ facility at New Jersey filed the application for the drug manufacturing permission.

Shares of Ranbaxy were trading at 139.70 rupees, down 1.13 percent on the Bombay Stock Exchange. (ANI)

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Anti-HIV gel shows promise in Aids prevention

February 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, Feb 10 (ANI): In the first human clinical trial of its kind, a vaginal gel intended to prevent HIV infection in women has shown promise in fighting against the infection.

Called PRO 2000 (Indevus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Lexington, Mass.), the microbicide gel was found to be safe and approximately 30 percent effective.

A microbicide is a gel, foam or cream intended to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections is applied topically inside the vagina or rectum.

The clinical trial, which enrolled more than 3,000 women and conducted in Africa and the United States, suggested that PRO 2000 might prevent male-to-female sexual transmission of HIV infection.

“Although more data are needed to conclusively determine whether PRO 2000 protects women from HIV infection, the results of this study are encouraging,” said NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.

He added: “An effective microbicide would be a valuable tool that women could use to protect themselves against HIV and one that could substantially reduce the number of new HIV infections worldwide.”

“The study, while not conclusive, provides a glimmer of hope to millions of women at risk for HIV, especially young women in Africa. It provides the first signal that a microbicide gel may be able to protect women from HIV infection,” said lead investigator Salim S. Abdool Karim, MBChB, Ph.D., from the Center for the AIDS Program of Research in South Africa.

Mostly, women become infected with HIV through sexual intercourse with an infected male partner. An effective microbicide could provide women with an HIV prevention method they initiate.

This would be particularly helpful in situations where it is difficult or impossible for women to refuse sex or negotiate condom use with their male partners.

The study, known as HPTN 035, began in 2005 and enrolled 3,099 women at six sites in Africa and one in the United States.

The clinical trial tested two candidate microbicide gels for safety and their ability to prevent HIV infection: PRO 2000 (0.5 percent dose), and BufferGel (ReProtect Inc., Baltimore).

PRO 2000 inhibits the entry of HIV into cells; BufferGel boosts the natural acidity of the vagina in the presence of seminal fluid, which can help to inactivate HIV and other pathogens.

In the final analysis, 194 women in the study became infected with HIV. Of these infections, 36 occurred in the PRO 2000 group, 54 in the BufferGel group, 51 in the placebo group and 53 in those who did not use gel.

Based on these data, PRO 2000 was 30 percent effective, while BufferGel had no detectable preventive effect on HIV infection. Both PRO 2000 and BufferGel were found to be safe.

Findings of the study were presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Montreal. (ANI)

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Kolkata takes first step towards preserving umbilical cord blood

January 21, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Kolkata, Jan.21 (ANI): Parents often search for the perfect gift for their children. Well, here is the opportunity to give your baby a gift of a lifetime – bank his or her cord blood at birth. This gift would ensure treatment against diseases like leukemia, Alzheimer, breast cancer, diabetes and Parkinson’s for your baby in future.

Umbilical cord blood is the blood which remains in the umbilical cord after birth of the baby. It is the richest source of adult stem cells which is collected, processed and cryogenically stored for future use if required.

This blood provides a ready source of genetically matched stem cells which could be used for the entire family in treatment of over 80 diseases, including blood and breast cancer, blood disorders like Thalassemia, Anemia, several kinds of malignant Lymphomas like Hodgkin’s Disease and other immuno-deficiencies.

Eastern India, where there is a high incidence of diseases like Thalassemia and Diabetes, has now got a facility near Kolkata to store cord blood. The facility has been set up by CordLife Sciences India Pvt. Ltd, a majority owned subsidiary of Australia’s CordLife Ltd, is a joint venture with its Indian equity partner Strassenburg Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

This is CordLife’s first such facility in India . It already operates the largest network of cord blood banks in the Asia Pacific with stem cell processing and storage units in Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Indonesia.

This state of the art Cord Blood Stem Cell Banking laboratory is situated on 20,000 sq ft at Bishnupur in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. Built as per international standards, the building is designed to withstand any natural calamity. It can store up to 1,50,000 cord blood samples which is scalable up to few lacs with minimum alterations.

According to Meghnath Roy Choudhury, MD, CordLife Sciences India Pvt. Ltd, the initial storage cost would be Rs 38000 and then Rs 3600 annually as storage fees. Parents can also opt to pay Rs 70,000 one time for 18 years, after which the baby can decide to extend the storage lease.

Indians have high incidence of diseases like Diabetes and Heart ailments, in the treatment of which cord blood can be a godsend, Mr Roy Choudhury says, adding, the company is committed to investing about Rs 30 crore to make stem cell therapy a reality, and cord blood banking accessible throughout India.

The potential of these stem cells, according to Dr Mark Kirkland, Haematologist and Associate Professor, University of Melboure, are far higher because they prevent ‘Graft vs Host Disease’, a common phenomenon after a transplant where the transplanted cells are recognized as foreign bodies and attacked by the existing cells of the body receiving the transplant.

Stem Cells are the Master Cells of the human body which have unique properties like Self Renewal – the ability to subdivide and produce new and more stem cells and Differentiation – the ability to differentiate into various types of other mature cells fo the human body. Though adult stem cells are available from three different sources – Peripheral Blood, Bone Marrow and Umbilical Cord Blood, the cord blood stem cells have the highest potential as they are the youngest cells. The collection of cord blood stem cells is a painless process and takes only a few minutes without causing any harm to the mother or child.

In the context of an old adage – …if health is lost, everything is lost… Any baby would prefer that its parents store its Cord Blood in the bank rather than cash Fixed Deposits. After all, the latter can be acquired if health remains safeguarded. By Ajitha Menon (ANI)

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