From Sun Star Bacolod:

THE Department of Health (DOH) has approved the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9711 or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Act of 2009 to ensure a tougher, more robust FDA.

The IRR will strengthen FDA’s technical capacity to regulate establishments and products under its jurisdiction to ensure public health and safety. FDA’s post-market surveillance system will also be strengthened.

This will allow intensified monitoring of products already released in the market to enable the FDA to quickly respond to adverse effects involving these products as per the IRR.

Aside from the establishment of a modern and complete testing laboratory facilities in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, the new FDA is empowered to seize and hold in custody, without hearing or court order, food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products found violating existing rules and regulations as well as those deemed unsafe for public consumption.

The IRR also increases the penalty both for criminal and administrative sanctions. It empowers the FDA director to hold in direct or indirect contempt any person who disregards orders or writs issued, making it an effective deterrent in the commission of any prohibited acts provided by laws the FDA is tasked to enforce.

The DOH also warned the public against counterfeit drugs and vitamins or food supplements flooding the market.

It said counterfeit drugs may contain harmful ingredients or lack the necessary ingredients and have low concentration of active ingredients, which could affect its efficacy. “All drugs or medicines being sold must pass or register with the FDA. Imported medicine is also considered as counterfeit drug because it is not registered with the FDA.”

The DOH assured it is continuously monitoring drugstores for possible sale of counterfeit drugs even as it warned small pharmacies and even sari-sari stores not to buy drugs from unlicensed direct sellers, who usually do their trade by using a motorcycle or a van.

“The public should buy their medicines from reputable drugstores and for pharmacies to purchase their supplies from registered or licensed dealer. Counterfeit drugs may do the patients more harm than cure them,” it added. “Go for generic brands which are cheaper as effective as branded medicines. FDA registered generic drugs have the same efficacy as branded ones and had been strictly monitored and checked.” (CGC)

source: Sun Star Bacolod

March 15-17, 2011 marked the 2011 Philippine Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (PSEM) annual convention at Edsa Shangrila Plaza Hotel. Endocrinologists across the country gather and take this opportunity to share updates on latest on endocrinology and metabolism.

This event  also marks Ambica’s 5^th year of partnership with PSEM. As memorabilia, Ambica team gave away  black-leatherette covered Ambica planners, product literatures and samples. As added perks, Ambica threw in an exciting raffle for Semi-Precious Stones and ladies’ branded bags which drew the crowd all the more.

The event was such a success that at least 270 doctors paid a visit to Ambica booth. Other participants of the said convention are other pharmaceutical companies, local and multinational ones.

Not only the event was an opportunity to showcase Ambica’s wide range of products, it also was a memorable event for our team. The event showed the importance of building a solid foundation with the presentation of Key Opinion Leaders. PSEM would not have been  successful without the cooperation and teamwork of everyone. A warm congratulations to the organizers of PSEM, doctors, other delegates who attended, and the Ambica team! This is just a step closer to moving forward.

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Here are the list of Raffle Winners:

The winners for March 15, 2011 are the following:

Semi Precious Stones

Dr. Reynaldo Perez – PDMMC, Caloocan City

Dr. Melvie Malubay – San juan

Dr. Suzette Rigor – Medical Plaza Ortigas

Dr. Cherrie Gail Lumapas – St. Lukes

Signature Bag Winner

Dr. Leilani Asis

The winners for  March 16,2011 are the following :

Semi-Precious Stones

Dra Leilani May Uaje

Dra Irene Catambing

Dra Emerita Barracheau

Dra Rosemarie Holandes

Dra Remedios Niola

Signature Bag Winner

Dra Cecilia Jimeno

The winners for March 17,2011

Semi Precious

Dra Ermelinda Balolong

Dra grace Isabel Guilia

Signature Bags Winners

Dra Imee Andag Silva

Dra Maryjane Gutierez

Ambica is proud to carry the first topical Fluroquinolone in the Philippines–Nadoxin (nadifloxacin) from Wockhardt, a major  global pharmaceuticals and biotechnology company. Wockhardt also manufactures Wosulin, the effective and affordable insulin.

Nadoxin (generic: nadifloxacin) is used to treat bacterial infections and is suitably used for acne vulgaris. It has antibacterial activity against aerobic Gram-positive, Gram-negative and anaerobic bacteria, including P. acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis. It is also said to be effective in combating Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Nadoxin 1% cream, a part of our wide array of dermatological products, comes in 10 g tubes.

It is a fact that most of our generic drugs come from India. Globally the Indian pharmaceutical industry ranks fourth in terms of volume (with an 8% share in global sales), 13th in terms of value (with a share of 1% in global sales) and produces 20% to 24% of the world’s generic drugs (in terms of value)*. Even other countries like the United States import medicines from India due to lower cost yet dependable efficacy of drugs.

THE PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER (Nov 24, 2010)

THE PHILIPPINE STAR (Nov 25, 2010)

MANILA BULLETIN ( Jan 11, 2011)

*http://www.stockmarketsreview.com/extras/indian_pharmaceutical_industry_has_tremendous_potential_to_grow_from_the_current_levels_20100219_3068/

From Philstar (Nov 2, 2010)

MANILA, Philippines – “To protect the health of American citizens, the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) upholds the strictest and highest quality standards for pharmaceutical products . . . the fact that the US is the biggest buyer of medicines from India is best proof of the quality and safety of India’s pharma products. These are the same medicines that are now being made available to budget-conscious Filipinos at very affordable prices, often several times lower than the price of multinational brands,” says Kamal Abichandani, president of Ambica International Trading Corp., one of the main distributors of Indian pharmaceuticals/medicines in the Philippines. “I hope this puts to rest the totally false allegations made by certain parties that low-priced Indian medicines are unsafe and ineffective. Apparently, they are trying to scare people into buying overpriced drugs just to protect their business profits, regardless of the impact on people’s lives, especially the poor who can hardly afford to buy food, much less medicines.”

In the Philippines, Ambica has been the main distributor of pharma products from these companies for nearly 15 years. “By making these affordable world-class medicines from India available even to low-income Filipinos, Ambica is living up to its central mission, which is to help create a healthier Philippines,” notes S. Suresh Kumar, Ambica’s vice president for marketing and sales. “Our main divisions, such as the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Division, Oncology Division, Biotechnology Division, Dermatology and Hospital Division, and Pharma Distribution Division are all working towards this central mission.”

For more information on top quality, safe, and affordable medicines approved by USFDA and RP-FDA, visit the Ambica website at www.ambicaphilippines.com; call 828-6617 to 18; 828-6542; fax 828-6615; text or call mobile 09175546073, 0917554-6072;

email kamal@ambicaphilippines.com, suresh.kumar@ambicaphilippines.com, smhp07@gmail.com.

source: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=626223&publicationSubCategoryId=80

MAKATI – Bernard and Yasmin Pia Bailon became the first ReliCord patrons on March 10, 2010 after Yasmin gave birth to a healthy baby girl in Makati Medical Center at around 6 pm. Their third baby, who will be christened Tea Ysabel, is the first Filipino to have her cord blood and tissue sent and stored at the Reliance Life Sciences repository in Mumbai, India. By enrolling their child, she and possibly her relatives will benefit from this highly advanced technology that provides a lifeline of hope in several diseases such as diabetes, cardiac disease, spinal cord injury and many more. The gospel of cord blood and tissue banking has finally reached Philippine shores!

An alliance with Alviar Medical Laboratory is a very good tandem with Ambica Biotechnologies Division. Backed up with more than 35 years of experience in the industry, teaming up with Ambica and Reliance Life Sciences would bring to the Filipino people the latest biotech advancements.

Reliance Life Sciences is involved in cytogenetic research and provides cytogenetic testing services using modified Karyotyping and Fluorescence In-Situ Hybridization (FISH) based assays to detect numerical and structural chromosomal abnormalities, including translocations, amplifications and micro-deletions in peripheral blood cells, bone marrow, products of conception, chorionic villi, amniotic fluid and cord blood.
Prenatal diagnosis for all karyotypic aberrations and rapid FISH based assays for Down’s syndrome, Chronic Myeloid Leukemia and Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia, add to the repertoire of essential high-end molecular genetic testing services offered by Reliance Life Sciences.

In April 2009, Ambica launched Ambica Biotechnologies to bring the latest diagnostic advancements closer to the Filipino people. Offering a wide array of services, getting a world-class quality molecular diagnostics such as PCR, FISH, and Karyotyping is no longer a far-fetched search.

Watch Ambica Biotechnologies as featured in ABS-CBN’s Salamat Dok!