Business Development Asia LLC

South East Asian Health News

ISSUE 7, JUNE 1998

PHILIPPINES

Bionax Philippines Corp is studying the feasibility of making local herbal remedies commercially available. Local cures are currently unpatented and under-produced, making them less commercially successful than herbal remedies developed in foreign countries. Bionax believes that the underdevelopment of indigenous remedies is encouraging foreign firms to dominate the Philippine herbal drug market. (May 29^th 1998)

Euro-Med Laboratories Phils Inc, a manufacturer and distributor of pharmaceutical products, is pursuing a US$22m expansion program. The company is listed on the Manila Stock Exchange and specializes in the production of intravenous fluids. When the expansion is complete, at the end of June 1998, Euro-Med expects to become one of the largest manufacturers of IV fluid in Asia. The expansion will increase the company's production capacity to 40 million units a year. (May 27^th 1998)

Merck Sharp & Dohme Philippines will begin marketing a new asthma pill, Montelukast Sodium, in September. The drug is intended for adults and children who suffer from chronic asthma. (May 22^nd 1998)

Parkway Holdings, the Singaporean hospital group, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Republic Glass of the Philippines to build a JV hospital in Manila. The expected cost for the hospital is US$70m. Parkway will take a 30%-40% stake. (May 14^th 1998)