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Pharmaceuticals                                                                  Hydrocarbons


 qualifi ed  institutional  placement  (QIP)   In addition, the board has announced  markets aren’t conducive right now for a   REGULATION
 and private placements, to be executed in  the evaluation of a merger between  public listing. The board has constituted
 one or more tranches. “The QIP process  Biocon Biologics and Biocon Ltd., a  a  committee  to explore all strategic   Oil regulator mandates registration for LNG terminals,
 has just begun, and we aim to complete  move that replaces earlier plans to list the  options that can unlock greater value for
 the fi rst tranche by the end of Q1 FY26,”  biologics business separately. “While the  our stakeholders. A merger is one of those   drops common carrier capacity requirement
 Mr. Mittal said.  company is well-positioned, the capital  options,” Mr. Mittal noted.
          The oil regulator has made it man-  The PNGRB nod in both cases will  need  to  “submit the  business  plan  and
 LACK OF SCIENTIFIC VALIDATION  datory for companies planning to establish  hinge on “promoting competition among  detailed evacuation plan of LNG or re-
 ‘Irrational’ fi xed dose combinations harmful, may   new  liquefi ed  natural  gas  (LNG)  import  entities, avoiding infructuous investment,  gasifi ed natural gas from its LNG terminal,
       terminals or expand existing ones to obtain  maintaining or increasing supplies or  along with copy of its approved Detailed
 face ban: Panel  prior approval, but dropped the require-  securing equitable distribution or ensur-  Feasibility Report (DFR)” to PNGRB.
       ment to reserve a portion of the terminal  ing adequate availability of natural gas
       capacity for third-party access.  throughout the country, protecting custo-  The clause for the expansion of
 Personal  care products   ingredients in a fi xed  ingredients, dosage forms, it’s strength,   mer interest and availability of gas evacua-  existing terminals is not there. As per the
 containing aloe vera, jojoba   dose ratio, but in  amount of usual ingredients per dosage   The Petroleum and Natural Gas  tion facility from the terminal,” according  notifi ed  rules,  PNGRB  can  suspend  or
 oil and orange oil may be   India several FDCs  form and the countries where the drug is   Regulatory  Board  (PNGRB)  has  notifi ed  to the rules.  terminate the registration of a terminal or
 harmful and are likely to   are found to be irra-  marketed, approved, withdrawn, among   Registration for Establishing and Ope-  forfeit its bank guarantee if it is found to
 be banned soon after the   tional or are not sci-  other details.  rating Liquefi ed Natural Gas Terminals   The rules, however, do not contain  be involved in unfair trade practices or
 expert committee looking   entifi cally  validated   Regulations, 2025.  the requirement of new LNG import  breaching regulatory obligations. Compa-
 into these fi xed dose combi-  for safety or effi  cacy   FDCs were earlier considered as   facilities reserving a fi fth of the capacity  nies also need to furnish a bank guarantee
 nations (FDCs) found they   through rigorous tests  “irrational” by a panel led by Chandrakant   “These regulations lay down a robust  for third-party access on a common carrier  equal to 1 percent of the estimated project
 may pose a risk to human beings. Consi-  for patients.  Kokate, vice-chancellor of KLE Univer-  framework focused on registration and  principle.  cost of the terminal or Rs. 25-crore, which-
 dering that they are “irrational,” the experts   sity in Karnataka. However, a sub-com-  oversight of LNG terminals, (and) pro-  ever is less.
 have recommended their prohibition.  Earlier in March 2023, companies  mittee formed under the chairmanship of   motion of competition among entities and   PNGRB  had,  in  the  fi rst  draft  rules
 producing such FDCs were asked to give  Nilima Kshirsagar, former dean of G.S.   prevention of infructuous investments,”  for the LNG terminal registration in 2018,   The regulator will approve the “com-
 There are about 16 odd FDCs in-  a presentation, representing their case  Medical College and KEM Hospital in   the regulator said, adding that the rules  proposed fi rms off ering “at all times, after  pletion schedule” of the LNG terminal
 cluding  Aloe vera+Jojoba oil+Vitamin  justifying the need for these products.  Mumbai, was asked to examine and re-  are a step in alignment with India’s vision  registration, 20 per cent of its short-term  and can impose a fi nancial penalty on the
 E,  Aloe vera+orange oil,  Aloe vera+  The companies were asked to submit a  view the safety, effi  cacy and therapeutic   of increasing the share of natural gas to 15  (less than 5 years contract) uncommitted  operator for not sticking to the completion
 Vitamin E+herbal,  Aloe vera+Jojoba  summary with the “highest level of evi-  justifi cation  of  these  drugs.  The  sub-  per cent in the energy mix by 2030.  re-gasifi cation  capacity  or  0.5-million  schedule.
 oil+wheat  germ  oil+tea  tree  oil,  among  dence,” supporting the claim of postulated  committee recommended “prohibition”   tonnes per annum, whichever is higher, as
 others, which are likely to be part of a  advantage/rationale, along with the  of these FDCs, saying they could pose   The norms also seek to ensure equita-  common carrier capacity”. This capacity   India currently has seven operating
 list of products to be banned. The other  published data regarding safety and effi  -  a risk to human beings.  ble and adequate natural gas availability  could be booked by a third party to import  LNG terminals – a 17.5-million tonnes
 FDCs  which  fall  under  the  same  cate-  cacy of FDC. They were asked to share   across the country, protection of consumer  its own LNG. After opposition from the  import facility of Petronet LNG Ltd. at
 gory are paracetamol+lidocaine, acetyl  whether these FDCs are marketed in the   The report was recently submitted   interests  through  improved  access  and  industry, PNGRB dropped the clause in  Dahej in Gujarat, Shell’s 5-million tonnes
 salicylic acid+ethoheptazine used as  EU, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan and  before India’s top technical body on   supply reliability, and facilitate infrastruc-  another draft regulation issued in June  terminal at Hazira, GAIL India’s 5 million
 pain  relievers.  They  have  been  under  the US.  drugs, which agreed with the recommen-  ture availability for evacuation of regasi-  last year. The fi nal rules notifi ed now are  tonnes Dabhol facility in Maharashtra,
 the government scanner from 2021.  dations of the subcommittee. The recom-  fi ed  LNG  through  pipelines.  An  entity  based on the draft issued last year.  Petronet’s 5-million tonnes Kochi terminal
 The companies were also told to  mendations have now been sent to the   wanting to build an LNG terminal will   in Kerala, IOC’s 5 million tonnes Ennore
 A FDC contains two or more active  mention country-wise product names,  health ministry for further action.  have to inform PNGRB before taking the   Companies seeking nod for setting  terminal in  Tamil Nadu, Gujarat State
 Dr. Reddy’s receives two USFDA observations   fi nal investment decision (FID). The same  up new LNG terminals need to “have a  Petroleum Corp’s 5-million tonnes facility
       will have to be done for expanding the  credible business plan for utilisation of  at Mundra and Adani Total Gas’ 5-million
 for US API facility  capacity of an existing LNG terminal.  capacity in the LNG terminal” and will  tonnes Dhamra terminal in Odisha.

       FORECAST
 Hyderabad-based Dr. Reddy’s Labo-  pany’s API (active pharmaceutical ingre-  address within the  stipulated timeline,”
 ratories said the US health regulator has  dients) Middleburgh facility in New York,  the company said. As per USFDA, Form   OPEC expects India’s oil demand to rise 3.4% in 2025,
 issued a Form 483 with two observations  Dr. Reddy’s said in a regulatory fi ling.  483  is  issued  to  a  fi rm’s  management
 after inspecting its US-based facility.  The inspection was  conducted during  at the conclusion of an inspection when   double the pace of China
 May 12-16, 2025, it added.  the investigator has observed any con-
 The US Food and Drug Administra-  ditions that may constitute violations of   India’s oil demand is expected to grow  and 2026, Organization of the Petroleum   India’s oil demand is projected to rise
 tion completed a Good Manufacturing   “We have been issued a Form 483  the Food Drug and Cosmetic (FD&C)   at the fastest pace among major economies  Exporting Countries (OPEC) said in its  from 5.55-million barrels per day (bpd)
 Practice (GMP) inspection at the com-  with  two  observations,  which  we  will  Act and related Acts.  and double the rate of rise in China in 2025  latest global outlook.  in 2024 to 5.74-mn bpd in 2025, up 3.39


 134  Chemical Weekly  May 27, 2025  Chemical Weekly  May 27, 2025                                     135


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