BOGOTA, Colombia – A Brazilian pharma company based in Itapira, Sao Paulo, has obtained the very first biodiversity-based registration from Anvisa of a biological active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). Cristália's API is an enzyme called collagenase Cristalia, used in ointments to treat wounds, burns and necrotic tissue. To date, Brazil has had to rely on imports of collagenase.
BOGOTA, Colombia – The Colombian government will set the price of Novartis AG's cancer drug Glivec (imatinib) after failing to reach an agreement with the company following price talks that started in April. Earlier this week, Colombian Minister of Health Alejandro Gaviria signed a resolution declaring Glivec, produced by Swiss pharma major Novartis, as a drug of public interest for the Latin American country.
BOGOTA, Colombia – A political U-turn in Argentina last year has led to a sudden burst of confidence in the future of the country's biotech sector and could set the stage for rapid growth in the future.
BOGOTA, Colombia – Proposed legislation in Colombia would ban generic drugs from the public health system in favor of more expensive branded versions and could, if it passes, pave the way for a similar move with biosimilars and their originator drugs.