Albert David - Placentrex: Current Status & Future Plans

By Swapan Das, Calcutta.

Albert David Ltd., the Rs. 214 crore Kolkata-based pharmaceutical company, a unit of the Kothari group had a press conference in Chennai on June 20, 2011.  Talking to reporters on this occasion Albert David Limited Executive Director K.P. Mundhra spoke about PLACENTREX - their HPE based product’s current status and company’s future plans.

On Company’s flagship product Placentrex:

K.P. Mundhra
ADL- Executive Director

• Production of placentrex injection and placentrex gel has restarted in Kolkata manufacturing plant following a Delhi High Court verdict and the central government lifting the ban on it May 30, 2011. The company challenged the decision in the Delhi High Court where the the government could not prove the reasons for the ban either scientifically or through material evidences.

• Placentrex,is  used to treat pelvic infections in women and heal open wounds, including burn injuries, and there are no safer or efficient alternatives to Placentrex.

• Efforts are being made to register the product in Russia. Currently the drug is exported to South Korea, Myanmar and Syria.

• The company's HPE formulations, Placentrex (gel and injection) is the only human placenta based product in India developed through indigenous research.

• Placentrex is manufactured using Human Placenta Extract (HPE) and has been recommended by more than 30,000 doctors in India over the past 50 years.

• Not a single negative adverse drug reaction or side effect had been noted in the 60 years of use of the injection and 11 years' use of the gel. The placentas are collected from multiple city hospitals in Kolkata, thanks to a special arrangement with the State's Health and Family Welfare Ministry. About 300 placentas are collected every single day, refrigerated, transported to the factory, where they are stored for seven days after which the process of extraction begins.

• During the processing, the product is tested at three stages for harbouring viruses or bacteria. As per the Company, the temperature used as part of their patented process, it is impossible for these organisms to survive. 

• The company had lost Rs.14 crore due to the ban.

On future plans of Albert David Ltd.:

• Albert David is scouting for manufacturing facilities to produce laxatives, vitamin, anti-oxidants and herbal products, which are currently being outsourced.

• The Company is looking to acquire WHO-certified, Current Good Manufacturing Practice-compliant readymade facilities close to their Ghaziabad plant for their brands Evict (laxative), Sioplex (vitamin) and Siooxy (anti-oxidant) and herbal products.

• The company, which makes pharmaceutical formulations, bulk drugs and injections, has three manufacturing plants — in Kolkata (for tablets, ointment and injections), Ghaziabad (for IV fluids) and Mandideep (needles). It plans to move into a new facility in Kolkata and is identifying land. This unit will also house an R&D centre.

• Albert David, which hopes to clock a turnover of Rs 250 crore this year, plans to invest Rs 50 crore in four years – on manufacturing and marketing of new products in the gynaecological and lifestyle diseases segments.

Compiled from: Albert David - Placentrex: Chennai Press Release
Compiled by: Swapan Das
Courtesy: Albert David Ltd. and the press media mentioned in the above link.

Cow's Placenta Extract capable of treating baldness: Scientists

This piece of news is not related to HPE, but  since the news is related to placenta, we thought to share this news from the domain of CPE (Cow Placenta Extract) with our readers. The Courtesy for this news and image is Deccan Chronicle.

Is your receding hairline giving you sleepless nights? Rest easy, for if experts are to be believed the cure for baldness has been found… in the 'goshala'.

Experts say that the extract obtained from a cow’s placenta or umbilical cord is capable of regrowing hair and treating baldness. A Korean team of scientists have been experimenting on Indian cows in goshalas and their findings are quite remarkable.

Though baldness is an irreversible process, certain hormones present in the placenta of the cow can trigger hair growth on a bald head. Cow placental extract is a natural and cheap equivalent to the chemical, minoxidil, which is used by hair experts.

“The hormones and cytokins in a cow’s placenta promote hair growth not only by elongating the hair shaft but also by increasing the number of hair follicles,” said Dr L. Mira, a part of the Korean team involved in the research.

According to Dr Mira, cow placenta extract is also useful in other cosmetic applications including whitening of the skin and enhancing tone and texture.

The discovery comes close on the heels of a finding by a team of German bacteriologists that cow dung has actually been protecting Indians from outbreaks of Escherichia coli.

The E. coli strain present in cows and buffaloes is more harmful than the strains that exist in human colon.

Originally Published at: Deccan Chronicle: Cow's umbilical cord capable of treating baldness: Scientists

Albert David - Placentrex: Chennai Press Release

Swapan Das, Calcutta. 

Congratulations & a Big Thank You to ADL Team from our HPE Blog for fighting back and keeping the HPE flag flying high. The Albert David’s initiative will also boost the supporters of HPE in other countries. Would request this Indian Company to take initiative in creating awareness about the benefits & safety regarding HPE.

THE PRESS RELEASE:

Kolkata-based pharmaceutical company Albert David Ltd., a unit of the Kothari group had a press conference in Chennai on June 20, 2011. Talking to reporters on this occasion Albert David Limited Executive Director K.P. Mundhra said the company challenged the decision in the Delhi High Court where the Union Government could not prove the reasons for the ban either scientifically or through material evidences.

Read more about the press meet at the following links:

Albert David seeks new overseas markets for drug
MSN India
Chennai June 20 (IANS) Kolkata-based Albert David Limited has restarted production of placentrex injection and gel and is looking at new overseas market for ...

Placentrex injection being produced again Chennaionline News
Thanks to the lifting of the ban by the Union Government on the directions of the Delhi High Court, the Kolkata-based Albert David Limited has started ...
news.chennaionline.com/newsitem.aspx?NEWSID...

Drug made from human placenta back in the market
Times of India
The makers of Placentrex, used to treat pelvic infections in women and heal open wounds, including burn injuries, said there were no safer or efficient ...

Ban lifted on human placental drug PLACENTREX.
Health(Y) Destination
Albert David Limited, a Kolkata based drug manufacturing company has resumed its production of its product PLACENTREX extracted from human placenta. ...

Times Chennai Placentrex injection being produced again
Placentrex is manufactured using Human Placenta Extract HPE and has been recommended by more than 30000 doctors in India over the past 50 years Albert David ...
www.timeschennai.com/index.php?mod=article&cat...

Business Line : Companies News : Albert David scouting for ...
Mr Mundhra was in the city to announce that the ban on the company's product ' Placentrex' has been lifted. Placentrex, made from human placental extract, ...
www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article2120801.ece

The Hindu: Ban on use of placental extracts and formulations for human use goes

CHENNAI: The Central Government has withdrawn its February 10 ban on the use of human placental extracts and their formulations for human use.


Sify: Albert David seeks new overseas markets for drug
Chennai June 20 (IANS) Kolkata-based Albert David Limited has restarted production of placentrex injection and gel and is looking at new overseas market for the product, a top company official said Monday.

Times Of India (TOI): Drug made from human placenta back in the market

CHENNAI: The union health ministry has lifted a ban, imposed in May on the manufacture, sale and distribution of drugs made from human placenta, following a Delhi high court order. The makers of Placentrex, used to treat pelvic infections in women and heal open wounds, including burn injuries, said there were no safer or efficient alternatives to their product.

Read the full article here-> Times Of India (TOI): Drug made from human placenta back in the market

PLACENTREX - The Indian HPE drug wants to penetrate International Markets

By Swapan Das, Calcutta
PLACENTREX, the flagship brand of Albert David Ltd. who are the pioneers in human placenta extract (HPE) domain in Indian Sub-continent is gearing up for international market. The recent rational review of the HPE by the 9-member Indian expert committee and Delhi High Court's judgment established the efficacy of Indian HPE brand - Placentrex. We at HPE blog have also observed that the awareness of this domain has increased compared to what it was four months ago, and have received good international traffic (several visits from countries like Russia, Ukraine, US, Taiwan, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan etc.) to our blog. 

Reference: MSN India - Indo-Asian News Service: Albert David seeks new overseas markets for drug

CIPI decides to surrender its petition at Madras High Court

Seeing many visitors on our blog looking for the latest news on the ongoing case at Madras High Court, we from our HPE Blog spoke to CIPI chairman T.S. Jaishankar on Saturday June 18, 2011 to have the latest update on this. Readers following this issue must be aware of the fact that the association, Confederation of Indian Pharmaceutical Industries (CIPI) took the  initiative by filing petition at Madras High Court to raise voice against the Govt. decision of sudden banning of drugs without giving enough time to the companies to liquidate the stock.

The latest update is:

IBN LIVE - Ban on HPE, Placentrex relaxed by HC: Albert David Limited

Lucknow, Jun 12 (PTI) Albert David Limited today said that ban imposed on human placenta extract (HPE) and its formulations (Placentrex) by the Centre on Feb 10 has been relaxed by it on directives of the Delhi High Court."The manufacturing and marketing of HPE and its formulations has been permitted for topical application for wound healing and injections for pelvic inflammatory disease," Executive Director Albert Davit Limited, KP Mundhra told reporters here.He said that a gazette notification has been issued by the Centre on May 30 in this regard.Stating that HPE is an original research product of Albert David, a Kolkata based pharmaceutical company of Kothari group with over Rs 218 crore turn over, Mundhra said during its presence for more than five decades not even a single case of adverse during reaction or cross infection was reported from anywhere.He said during the course of ban between Feb 10 and May 20 this year the company suffered loss of about Rs 14 crores but denied to file any damage suit for the losses the company had.

Courtesy:IBN LIVE

The Hindu says ‘Ban on drugs from human placental extract relaxed'

The following got published in The Hindu:

(By Staff Reporter Posted: Wed, Jun 08, 2011)

The ban imposed by the Centre on manufacture, sale and distribution of drugs from human placental extract has been relaxed after a Kolkata-based pharmaceutical company took the matter to the Delhi High Court, company executives said here on Tuesday.

The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry had passed a gazette notification to ban human placental extract and its formulations, among other drugs, on February 10 citing concerns about the safety of the product.

A city-based company, Albert David Ltd., which has been manufacturing drugs based on human placental extract for over five decades, challenged the order and filed a case in the Delhi High Court.

Albert David gets nod for 'placental extracts’ drugs

The following got published in The Financial Express:
(By INDU BHAN Posted: Friday, Jun 03, 2011 at 0225 hrs IST)

Kolkata-based pharma company Albert David has received a shot in the arm following the Delhi High Court asking the Centre to allow use of human placental extracts for its topical application for wound healing and injectibles for pelvic inflammatory diseases. A division bench comprising justices Sanjay Kishen Kaul and Rajiv Shakdher while noting the health ministry’s submissions that the government had accepted the recommendation's of a expert panel to amend its earlier notification, which banned the drug, said that the company “would be able to carry the necessary activities in terms of the notification” (amended).

Read more at The Financial Express
Check Out: 
Human Placental Extract & Its Formulations Returns With A Bang In India!
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Ministry of Health & Welfare releases Gazette Notification for Human Placenta Extract & its Formulations

The Central Government has released Gazette Notification for Human Placenta Extract & its Formulations. This confirms the use and manufacturing of Human Placental Extract for human use in India for:

• Topical application for wound healing, and
• Injection for pelvic inflammatory disease

CLICK HERE for Gazette Notification G.S.R 418(E) dated May 30, 2011

This confirms the efficacy and safety of Indian brand "PLACENTREX" which is based on human placental extract.

Courtesy: Official website of Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India)

Check Out: 

Human Placental Extract & Its Formulations Returns With A Bang In India!

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Human Placental Extract & Its Formulations Returns With A Bang In India!

By Swapan Das, Calcutta

For the supporters of Human Placental Extract & its Formulations in India, the wait is all but over!

Human Placental Extract and its Formulations is back vide the Gazette Notification No. G.S.R. 418(E) dated May 30, 2011 of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

On Friday May 20, 2011, the Delhi High Court on its verdict has given clearance to the manufacturing, sale and distribution of Human Placental Extract and its formulations for human use in India on the basis of the report submitted by the 9-member expert committee on Human Placental Extract and its formulations.

Earlier hearing the petition on April 6 filed by the Kolkata-based pharma manufacturer Albert David Ltd, which is a pioneer in human placental extract therapy in India, the Delhi High court asked the Indian Union Health Ministry to constitute a 9-member expert committee to go into the issue of efficacy and safety data of human placental extract. The expert committee was asked to submit a report on the matter by May 15, 2011. The 9-member expert committee formed by the Union Health Ministry which gave its clearance verdict after doing a thorough review on the issue of efficacy and safety data of human placental extract was consisted of:

• Dr YK Gupta of AIIMS, who headed the panel
• Dr Ajay Kumar of IMA
• Dr Vijay Kumar of IDRI
• Dr Sharma of ICMR
• Dr Kotwal of AIIMS
• Dr VK Tiwari
• Dr B.N. Chakraborty
• Dr CM Sharma
• Dr Lakhbir Dhaliwal of PGI, Chandigarh

Albert David Ltd., India applied the petition against the notification of the Union Health Ministry (GSR 82 E) dated February 10, 2011 in which Union Health Ministry had banned six drugs viz. non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug nimesulide (below 12 years age), gastroprokinetic agent Cisapride, decongestant drug Phenylpropanolamine (PPA), human placental extract & its formulations, Sibutramine & its formulations and R-Sibutramine & its formulations.


And on 30th May 2011, the Central Government has released an amended version vide gazette notification no. G.S.R. 418(E) allowing the use of Human Placental Extract and its formulations.

The rational review of the issue by the 9-member expert committee and Delhi High Court's judgment will boost the ongoing research work on Human Placental Extract in India and the general awareness on this domain which is quite low is expected to increase after this decision.


SUMMARY: Delhi High Court ruling & Central Government (India)'s notification no. G.S.R. 418(E) dated 30th May 2011 means:

• Manufacture, sale and distribution of Human Placental Extract and its formulations is once again allowed in India following the guidelines of the amended notification.

• The use of Indian brand "PLACENTREX" manufactured by Albert David Ltd.  ,Calcutta will continue while complying with the guidelines of the notification.

• CLICK HERE for Gazette Notification G.S.R 418(E) dated May 30, 2011