INTRODUCTION
Fritz Hoffmann was the founder of F. Hoffmann-La Roche &
Co. on 1st October 1896 in Switzerland. Shortly, after the foundation of the Company, offices and manufacturing
sites of Roche were opened in several other countries. Headquartered
in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world's leading research
- oriented healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals
and diagnostics. Roche's innovative products and services address
needs for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease,
thus enhancing people's well being and quality of life. Since
then Roche has grown into one of the leading healthcare companies
in the world.
ROCHE
PRESENCE IN INDIA
In
November 1957, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (FHLR), Basle, finalised
negotiations with the Government of India for the local manufacture
of synthetic Vitamin A and pharmaceutical specialties in line
with the Indian Government's policy of industrialisation.
The activities of Roche in India commenced with the import of
finished pharmaceutical products and bulk vitamins by Volkart
Brothers and subsequently by Voltas Ltd. Later the manufacture
of two pharmaceutical specialties -SARIDON® and SIROLIN®
commenced after an Indian Roche entity was incorporated on 1st
April, 1958.
After its presence in India for more than three decades, in
November 1993, FHLR entered into Agreements with Nicholas Piramal
India Ltd. (NPIL) after which some products of Roche were to
be distributed in India by NPIL for a specified period of time
and certain brands of Roche like SARIDON®, BACTRIM®,
SUPRADYN® LIBRAX®, LIBRIUM®, PROSTIGMIN®, VALIUM®,
AROVIT®, BECOZYM®, BENADON®, EPYHNAL® (under
toll manufacture), REDOXON® (Qsolv.Tab Chew), ROVIGON®
(Chew Drag), VITAMINETS® (Forte Drag) and AIROL® Cream
(under toll manufacture) were licensed to NPIL for manufacturing.
In addition to these drugs certain other products like ROCALTROL®,
RIVOTRIL®, SYNTARIS®, LARIAM® and MADECASSOL®
were also licensed to NPIL for manufacturing for a specified
period of time.
In 1997, consequent to Roche acquiring Bohereinger Manheim (BM)
the following products have been deemed to be licensed in perpetuity
by Roche to NPIL in India viz. BEZALIP®, CALCILUVIN®,
DISPEPTAL®, EUGLUCON®, ISMO, MITTAVIN®, PARAXIN®,
and SEMBRINA®.
After a contractual relationship of 10 years with NPIL, it was
decided by FHLR to end the Frame Co-operation Agreement with
NPIL in November 2003. This means that NPIL does not have access
to any new ROCHE Pharma products for distribution post November
2003. But, if any locally formulated product is to be launched
by Roche after November, 2003, NPIL is to be given the first
opportunity subject to Roche requirements of technical standards
being met by NPIL and also if NPIL has no product which competes
with the Roche product offered. However, pre-1993 Roche products
licensed to NPIL may continue to remain with NPIL for a specified
period of time.
In November 2003, the distribution rights of NPIL ceased in
respect of Roche's strong biotech range- CellCept®, Zenapax®,
Cymevene®, Mabthera®, Xeloda®, Herceptin®.
Effective 4th November, 2003, FHLR has appointed a new distributor
in India viz. Taksal Pharma Pvt. Ltd. (Taksal) for distribution
of FHLR products in India. Taksal presently has distribution
rights in India for products such as CellCept®, Zenapax®,
Cymevene®, Mabthera®, Xeloda®, Herceptin®, Pegasys®,
Fortovase®. In addition, Taksal currently has distribution
rights for Recormon®, Neupogen®, Roferon®, Vesanoid®.
ROCHE
SCIENTIFIC COMPANY (INDIA) PVT. LTD.
On 5th April, 1994, ROCHE SCIENTIFIC COMPANY (INDIA) PVT. LTD.
(RSCIPL) was incorporated in India as a wholly owned subsidiary
of Roche Group mainly to :-
-
ensure
registrations of new products and obtain amendments to registrations.
- initiate
and monitor clinical trials with new chemical entities for
generation of data for international use and for registration
with Drug Controller General of India.
- monitor
and ensure adherence of International Federation of Pharmaceutical
Manufacturers' Association (IFPMA) guidelines in respect of
F. Hoffmann - La Roche products.
-
sponsor R & D projects for process developments for
new bulk drugs in India.
-
provide support
in conducting programmes for continuous Medical Education,
assist in protocol studies, hands on experience with new
therapies in new therapy management and dissemination of
updated scientific and technical information in fields of
Oncology, Virology, and Nephrology.
Roche
in Transplantation
Roche
is strongly committed to improving a long – term outcome of
transplantation and enhancing the quality of life of transplant
recipients. Roche has developed three innovative therapies that
improve graft and post – transplant health; Cellcept is the
cornerstone of low toxicity immunosuppressant therapies. Cellcept
is the largest selling branded immunosuppressive in North America,
offers both physicians and patients the possibility of an effective
long term immunosuppressive regimen with low toxicity, Zenapax
prevents the acute rejection of the newly transplanted organ,
and Cymevene/Cytovene/Valcyte has been developed for the prevention
and treatment of cytomegalovirus, a dangerous viral infection
associated with transplantation. Recently, Roche have announced
a co-development agreement with Isotechnika for their new medicine,
ISA TX
247, a potentially
more potent and less toxic calcineurin inhibitor.
For further
information please visit our website at:-
www.rochetransplantation.com
Roche
in Oncology
Roche has developed and introduced a number of targeted novel
medicines to treat different forms of cancer, providing longer
survival and new treatment options for cancer patients worldwide.
Roche is at the forefront of oncology research with major advances
in early diagnosis and better - targeted drugs.
With their advanced mechanisms of action, these drugs represent
much needed progress in fighting cancer.
Non-Hodgkin's
Lymphoma
Please
visit the
www.lymphoma-net.org
Breast
cancer and its treatment
