Driven by factors like cost containment measures by the government, patent expiry of blockbuster drugs, and increasing awareness, the Japanese generic market is expected to show solid growth in future.

Union commerce minister Kamal Nath will soon meet European Union (EU) leaders to find an amicable solution to the issue of increasing incidence of seizures of Indian drug shipments at EU ports, during its transit to other countries, on charges of counterfeiting and patent infringement. In this regard, the minister will take up the issue with his Dutch counterpart on February 10.

GlaxoSmithKline and Genmab A/S announced the submission of a Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) for Arzerra (ofatumumab) for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). If approved, ofatumumab would be indicated for the treatment of patients with CLL who have previously failed, or are inappropriate for, standard therapies.

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. announced that ANVISA, Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency, has granted BioMarin marketing approval for Naglazyme (galsulfase) for the treatment of patients with Mucopolysaccharidosis VI (MPS VI).