Uncle Sam's effect's

Even as the US economy grapples with a financial crisis, the developing Asian economies continue to be watched with growing apprehension. Last week, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) downscaled the growth expectations of many Asian economies — including India’s — in its half-yearly report, Asian Development Outlook 2008.

ADB attributes this to the worsening conditions in major industrial economies. “The myth of uncoupling has been exploded,” the report says. Among the other factors are the slowdown in Asia due to inflation; high borrowing costs; dampening investment and low consumer spending.

India’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth estimate for the current financial year (FY08-09) has been downgraded from 8 per cent to 7.4 per cent, and, for the next financial year (FY09-10), from 8.5 per cent to 7 per cent. ADB bluntly states that “Very large fiscal imbalance created by the current level of subsidisation of oil, fertiliser and food, as well as other off-budget items, sets a daunting task for economic management.”

Last month, a Citigroup research note had also revised its own estimates of India’s GDP from 7.7 per cent to 7.5 per cent for FY08-09 and from 7.9 per cent to 7.4 per cent for FY09-10.

Local economists, however, are not as pessimistic. “An 8 per cent GDP growth is possible thanks to growth in consumption (which will get a boost from the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations) as well as services and capital goods,

The debate continues.

Ranbaxy expresses disappointment over US FDA action

In response to the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA)'s warning letters and import alert for drugs issued to Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd regarding drug products produced in two Ranbaxy plants at Dewas and Paonta Sahib in India, the company said that it is very disappointed by the action taken by the US FDA.


In a press release, it said, "Ranbaxy is very disappointed in the action FDA has taken. The company has responded to each concern FDA has raised during the past two years and had thought that progress was being made. We are, however, pleased that FDA's testing and review led the agency to conclude that there is no reason to question the safety or effectiveness of Ranbaxy's drugs. The company has just received the warning letters that FDA has issued and has not had the opportunity to review those concerns that FDA has determined are unresolved. Once it has had an opportunity to review the issues, the company looks forward to continuing to cooperate with FDA to resolve the remaining issues."


According to the FDA announcement, the warning letters and import alert do not apply to Ranbaxy's other facilities including its three manufacturing facilities in the US, Ohm's Laboratories facilities in New Brunswick, North Brunswick, New Jersey, and Gloversville, New York, from which Ranbaxy delivers some 59 drug products to the US healthcare system, including: Simvastatin, Acyclovir, Minocycline, Clindamycin, Lorazepam, Loratadine-D, Cetirizine, Acetaminophen Extended release tablets, Lisinopril and Zolpidem.

Pharmabiz