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India and Brazil to strengthen cooperation in drugs, medicines

Anand Sharma, the Union Minister for Commerce, Industry and Textiles, led a delegation of officials, CEOs, FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) leaders and pharmaceutical companies, in Sao Paulo from 13-14 June 2012. 

Sharma participated in the pharmaceutical Round Table which covered a wide gamut of issues. Minister Sharma invited companies from Brazil to invest in India`s national infrastructure, manufacturing in Special Economic Zones and the food-processing sector. 

India has plans for one trillion dollars investment in the infrastructure sector over the next five years to build roads, ports, airports and highways. In the pharma field, he explained Brazil and India could further strengthen their ongoing cooperation in making drugs and medicines available at affordable prices. 

Commerce Minister stressed that the provision in TRIPs of invoking the route of compulsory licensing for making available cheaper drugs, though introduced at the behest of developing / under-developed countries, was in fact used more often by developed countries. As to India, in March this year, Hyderabad-based Natco Pharma was allowed, following the process of adjudication, and thus not an executive invocation, to manufacture and sell in public interest cancer-treatment drug Nexavar at a price over 30 times lower than charged by patent-holder Bayer Corporation, under compulsory licensing (CL). 

During the discussions in the round table, Indian pharma companies raised the issues of requirement of multiple testing despite having approvals from regulatory agencies in developed countries, delays in registration of products in Brazil / issue of import licenses as also port clearances; insistence by Brazil in respect of new molecules on reference price in India (where costs are less) than a higher one (as would be necessary given high costs of factors of production in Brazil) etc.

Brazilian side while pointing out that many of the problems being faced by Indian companies are also faced by Brazilian companies, referred to problems faced by their companies in India and agreed with the Indian side to constitute an industry level working group to identify hurdles in further strengthening of the pharmaceutical cooperation and relay concrete suggestions towards this end to the governmental channels. 

Speaking at the gathering of Indian and Brazilian business and industry leaders and others, Sharma highlighted the opportunities for bilateral cooperation in multiple areas including trade, investment, defence, technical cooperation, education, people to people exchanges, culture and tourism, etc. 

Sharma also welcomed the soft launch of the CEOs forum and the first meeting between the Indian and Brazilian Chairs of this Forum during the visit. 

During his presence in Sao Paulo,  Sharma met with the leadership of FIESP / CIESP (Federation / Centre of Industry of the State of Sao Paulo) and addressed a pharmaceutical round table of Indian and Brazilian business/ industry representatives and officials. He also met members of Brazil-India Chamber of Commerce, where he interacted with Indian and Brazilian businessmen. 

Earlier,  Sharma met the Foreign Minister of Brazil, Ambassador Antonio Patriota, in Rio de Janeiro on June 12. The Foreign Minister of Brazil hosted a private dinner for the Indian Minister and his delegation. During the meeting and the dinner, the two Ministers had discussions on the international economic situation, the Eurozone crisis and its impact on our countries, the need to consolidate South-South cooperation, and trade issues including the Doha Round. 

The Ministers also noted with satisfaction the progress being made in the constitution of the CEOs Forum and in establishing a sectoral dialogue in areas such as infrastructure, IT and services, mining and agriculture. 

There was also an extensive exchange on bilateral issues: the growing economic and commercial links between Brazil and India, our partnership in IBSA, BRICS and G-20, and the immense potential to take our relations to a higher level. 

The Minister and the delegation also met the President of the National Development Bank, Dr. Luciano Coutinho. Issues relating to inter-bank cooperation between BNDES and EXIM Bank, the proposal of a BRICS Bank, agreement on trade in local currency among BRICS countries, and the role that BNDES can play in financing joint ventures between Brazil and India, were discussed. 

In Focus Stories
 
Career in Nutrition

In recent times of hectic lifestyles and prohibitively high cost of curative healthcare, the concept of overall Wellness is fast gaining acceptance and accorded priority. Diet plays a major role in promotion of health and wellbeing of an individual. A good and balanced diet improves the quality of life while poor diet may lead to morbidity and diseases. From this point, the role of a dietitian begins. They are the professionals who can translate the theories of food science to the well-being of people. They suggest corrective food habits considering various aspects of an individual such as age, work routine, medical status, etc. and thereby improving their quality of life. They also educate their clients about preparation of food according to the principles of nutrition. They know about food production and processing, psychological factors influencing food choice, digestion and its effects on nutritional aspects.
 
Dietitians are working mostly in health care facilities like hospitals, slimming centers, gyms and in some extended healthcare facilities. Getting a job in community health settings for nutrition related projects is also common. Career opportunities also exist in diverse areas such as sports nutrition, wellness programmes for industry and sales of food supplements, food service equipment, etc. A dietitian can open his/her own clinic or can work in conjunction with doctors to provide multi-dimensional service to the patients. Working as a freelance food columnist, food stylist or corporate consultant is another attractive career opportunity. A recent opportunity is at high schools wherein they can look after direct food service operation and provide nutrition education to students.
 
Nutrition courses in India have gained in significant importance during the last decade as incidence of lifestyle related diseases has increased across cities. Nutritionists are also in demand because of rising health consciousness among masses. Increased working hours, sedentary job profile, lack of exercise and polluted environment all add up to the stress level of individuals, requiring the intervention of nutrionists.

The basic qualification required to be a professional dietitian is either a degree or a diploma in food and nutrition or dietetics.  There are many universities and colleges which are offering programmes in the field of nutrition, dietetics and food technology. The courses aim at creating awareness among people regarding the importance of nutrition and its role in postponing early aging. The objective is to help society to learn about the alternatives to keep fit and postpone degenerative disorders/diseases.

Dietetics and Nutrition is a remunerative job. Those who are working in government hospitals, academic institutions, research institutes and other agencies have salaries as fixed by the government depending upon work profile and experience. Some private sector wellness chains, hotels, food manufactures offer higher salary and attractive perks. Independent practitioner and private consultants also have good earning opportunity which largely depends upon numbers and nature of their clients.

Starting salaries vary from INR 1.25 - 3 lakhs / annum as per the ability and qualifications of the candidate. For mid-level positions, salaries can go up to INR 12 lakhs / annum again depending on qualifications, position held, experience and location.

The job prospects for a dietitian/nutritionist are very promising and are expected to grow in the years ahead.

Domestic News

Alembic Pharma settles Para IV patent litigation with Novartis

Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited announced today that BrecKenridge Pharmaceutical Inc, USA and Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited have settled their Paragraph IV patent litigation with Novartis concerning Rivastigmine Tartrate Capsules, a generic version of Exelon by Novartis, and that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved their Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA). The companies will launch product immediately. Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited is the sponsor and manufacturer of the ANDA, which will be marketed exclusively by Breckenridge. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Novartis has granted Breckenridge and Alembic a license to market a generic version of Exelon before the expiration of U.S. Patent No. 5,602,176, on February 11, 2014.

Rivastigmine Tartrate Capsules is a prescription medicine that is indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate dementia of the Alzheimer's type, and for the treatment of mild to moderate dementia associated with Parkinson's disease. The current generic market is approximately $46M, based on industry sales data, The product will be available in 4 strengths: 1.5mg, 3mg, 4.5mg & 6mg.

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International News

Bayer offers young environmentalists an opportunity to win trip to Germany

Once again, Bayer is providing young environmentalists with an opportunity to win an all expenses paid week long field trip to Germany. Entries from students with active participation in an ongoing or completed environment project will be shortlisted based on various criteria such as sustainability, inventiveness and project management. 

From the shortlisted entries two students will be chosen to represent India as a Bayer Youth Environmental Envoy 2012 to Germany. The India application form for the Bayer Young Environmental Envoy Program 2012 is now available online. The week long study trip, will give students the unique opportunity to gain a firsthand experience of best environmental protection practices by the company, people and government in industrialized countries.

Last year Tanvi Gadgil and Mayur Rastogi represented India from October 16-21, 2011 on a week-long all-expenses-paid field trip to Germany that was sponsored by Bayer. On this field trip, students got a first-hand experience of how sustainable environmental practices are pursued jointly by the people, government and industry. The excursion entailed visits to various waste management and recycling sites as well as workshops on nature monitoring and conservation.

The BYEEP (Bayer Young Environmental Envoy Program) is a global environment education program organized by Bayer and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to help young people learn about trends and perspectives in the field of environmental protection and sustainability. With this program, Bayer hopes to further strengthen young people’s environmental knowledge, thus contributing to greater youth involvement in environmental issues around the world. 

Bayer in India has been participating in this program since 2002. The program is open to all Indian students within the age group of 18 – 24 years, holding a valid passport and actively involved in a current or completed environmental project. Further details on the criteria, joining procedures and application forms are available on the India section of www.bayeryoungenvoy.com. The last date for submission of entries is July 31, 2012. 

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