Advertorial

Health issues to be tackled

Global pharmaceuticals GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has pledged to reduce its prices for patented medicines in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), to take a more flexible approach to Intellectual Property (IP).

In an address titled 'Big Pharma as a catalyst for change' to the Harvard Medical School, GSK CEO Andrew Witty set out four commitments by the world's largest pharmaceuticals and vaccines company that would expand its roles and responsibilities in helping to address head-on the challenges of improving public health especially for those that cannot afford it.

On one of these commitments, pricing, Witty said that today they are setting out a new promise, where they will reduce prices for patented medicines in the LDCs so that the prices will be no higher than 25 per cent of the developed world, assuming they can cover their cost of goods.

This will be a maximum price, where possible we will go further and reduce our prices more aggressively.

In middle income countries we will also be more flexible, so that prices reflect more closely a country's ability to pay.

"We will be working to see what more we can do in other Low Income Countries and Middle Income Countries over the course of 2009," Witty said.

Pledging a more flexible approach to Intellectual Property in the LDC's, he said IP's primary objective is to incentivise and reward research. However, there are plenty of neglected tropical diseases where there is a severe lack of research. We need to see if we can use IP to help address that gap.

"One idea we are proposing is a Least Developed Country (LDC) Patent Pool for medicines for neglected tropical diseases," Witty said. We would put our relevant small molecule compounds or process patents for neglected tropical diseases into the pool, allowing others access to develop and produce new products.

The pool would be voluntary so as to encourage others to participate and any benefits from the pool must go in full and solely to LDCs.

"We have a dedicated research centres in DDW in Tres Cantos, Spain which employs 100 scientists funded in part by our partners - including Medicines for Malaria Venture and the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development.

However, globally research into DDW is still too fragmented, which represents a sub-optimal approach. We need to have a much greater critical mass and partnerships between the public and private sectors," he added.

Delmege appointed distributor for Milgro

Delmege Marketing (Pvt) Ltd, has been appointed as the new national distributor in Sri Lanka for Milgro milk powder.

According to the CEO of Delmege Marketing, Dinesh Nalliah, the milk powder used for the Milgro brand is sourced exclusively from New Zealand. "Milgro Creamy Full Cream milk powder is available in 4 pack references whilst Milgro Instant Full cream milk powder too is available in 4 pack references.

All manufacturing facilities of PIL have been awarded the highest international quality certifications such as ISO and HACCP," he said. Milgro's milk packing plant is fully automated with the product being untouched by human hands. This plant too is ISO and HACCP certified and has in-house testing facilities, including micro biology tests.

"Milgro entered Sri Lanka six years ago with a clear vision and a long term commitment to the market. The brand created a new segment 'Instant' and now has 8 SKUs in two product forms namely instant and regular," he said.

Chrishantha Fernando, Country Manager-Sri Lanka of PIL, stressed the fact that the milk powder was sourced strictly in line with laid down specifications and imported only from New Zealand, with the product currently being exported to over 25 countries.

The product was readily accepted by adults as well as children and now that the product had come under the Delmege mantle, the trade and consumers will be served better.

Luminous to enter Lankan market

Luminous Power Technologies (P) Ltd, a Global Power Technology Company will enter into the Sri Lankan market with its high quality power invertors, storage batteries, UPS systems, power conditioning products and corporate solutions in packaged eletrical power and renewable energy systems.

Liasion Officer in Sri Lanka Junaid M. Ayub said that Luminous follows its proprietary Universal Grid Compatibility (UGC) process to ensure consistency, and a very high standard of reliability of its products anywhere in the world. Luminous will offer complete packages in vast range, competitive priced, good quality products supported by excellent services and all promotional measures including training, to establish the Brand in Sri Lanka, he said.

Luminous seeks aggressive business partners in Sri Lanka to be part of its exciting growth over the next decade. It is a technology oriented company and working on different technologies of power back-up solution.

Luminous has manufacturing facilities in India and China with a team of 2,000 employees and a turnover of USD 65 million (year 2006-2007). Luminous has been conferred Frost & Sullivan for " Market Penetration Leadership Award in Asia Pacific for DC - AC Invertors in Non Renewable Energy Market". CLSA, a leading multinational Private Equity Fund has invested USD 20.3 million in Luminous, as an acknowledgement of its capabilities and business potential.