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markets Report forecasts 7.4 percent growth in solid dosage excipients PARSIPPANY, NJ—Currently val- ued at approximately $2.3 billion, the global market for excipients used in oral solid dosage forms is expected to grow 7.4 percent yearly until 2018, according to a report from Kline & Co. The report says rising incomes in India and China and a willingness to spend on healthcare, as well as high demand for pharmaceuticals among aging populations in the USA and Europe, are important factors in the market's growth. The major markets of Europe and the United States have similar volume to the markets of India and China (about 100,000 tons annually per region), but the market values differ greatly from one region to another due to the different types of excipients used. While the mature markets are dominated by functional, and usually more expensive excipi- ents, the emerging markets favor cheaper alternatives, such as native starches. The report is available for a fee at www.klinegroup.com. The firm plans to release a study later this year on its analysis of the market for poly- meric excipients that improve the solubility of oral solid dosage forms. Report: Vietnam's pharma market to grow at 20 percent rate through 2017 BURLINGTON, MA—The phar- maceutical market in Vietnam grew by nearly 17 percent in 2013 and is val- ued at more than $3 billion, making it one of the fastest growing markets in Southeast Asia, according to a report from Decision Resources Group. The report cited increasing affluence, a rapidly aging population, and the steady extension of health insurance as the driving factors for higher demand for prescription medicines. The report forecasts that the pharmaceutical mar- ket in Vietnam, population 90 million, will grow at a 20 percent rate through 2017. It also noted that the country has few domestic pharmaceutical man- ufacturers but, with weak protections for intellectual property rights, foreign direct investment will be limited. industry news Fixed-dose combinations improve patient adherence, health SYDNEY, Australia—Data pre- sented at the World Heart Fed eration's World Congress of Cardio logy shows a significant improvement in patient adherence and risk factor control when patients at high risk of heart attack or stroke receive a "polypill," compared to usual care. Polypills are fixed-dose combination of common APIs, such as those used to treat high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The "Single Pill to Avert Cardiova - scular Events" project was led by re - searchers from The George Institute for Global Health. It analyzed data from 3,140 patients. The results showed a 43 percent increase in patient adherence to medication at 12 months with the polypill, in addi- tion to improvements in systolic blood pressure and LDL-cholesterol. Novartis, GSK swap assets; Lilly to buy Novartis animal-health business WASHINGTON, DC—Novartis, Basel, Switzerland, and GlaxoSmith - Kline, Brentford, UK, agreed to trade more than $20 billion in assets. The deal calls for GSK to turn over its oncology products and for Novartis to divest its vaccines (excluding flu) to GSK. The two companies also plan to create a joint venture that combines their consumer divisions. In a separate agreement, Eli Lilly, Indianapolis, IN, plans to acquire Novartis Animal Health for approxi- mately $5.4 billion, strengthening and diversifying Lilly's Elanco animal- health business. Upon completion of the deal, Elanco would be the world's second-largest animal health com- pany in terms of revenue. FDA approves three once-daily sublingual allergy tablets WASHINGTON, DC—The FDA approved Oralair, Ragwitek, and Grastek, all of which are once-daily tablets for the treatment of allergic rhinitis (hay fever) with or without 6 May 2014 Tablets & Capsules conjunctivitis (eye inflammation). The tablets, which rapidly dissolve after placement under the tongue, are the first sublingual allergen extracts approved in the USA. They offer an alternative to allergy shots, which must be given in a healthcare provider's office. Oralair is made by Stallergenes, Antony, France, and Grastek and Ragwiteck are Merck products manufactured by Catalent in Swindon, UK. Acura Pharmaceuticals buys back anti-abuse technology from Pfizer PALATINE, IL—Acura Pharma - ceuticals and Pfizer agreed that Pfizer will terminate its license to Acura's Aversion technology and return its Oxecta (oxycodone HCl) product, for which Acura will pay Pfizer $2 million. The Aversion technology is an anti-abuse platform that contains polymers that cause the drug prod- uct to gel when dissolved. It also contains compounds that irritate nasal passages. Acura also offers Impede, which disrupts the process- ing of pseudoephedrine tablets into methamphetamine. Albemarle sells antioxidants, ibuprofen business to SI Group BATON ROUGE, LA—Albemarle agreed to sell its antioxidants and FDA-regulated ibuprofen and propo- fol businesses and related assets to SI Group, a manufacturer of chemical intermediates and specialty resins based in Schenectedy, NY. The sale includes two manufacturing sites in Orangeburg, SC, and Jinshan, China. Terms were not disclosed. Mallinckrodt to buy Questcor DUBLIN, Ireland—Mallinckrodt, which offers opioid treatments and other prescription pain relievers, agreed to acquire Questcor Pharma - ceuticals, a biopharmaceutical com- pany based in Anaheim, CA. The transaction, expected to close in the third quarter, is valued at approxi- mately $5.6 billion. www. tabletscapsules .com b-TOCFN_1-7_Masters 5/14/14 12:31 PM Page 6