Posted: Thursday, September 21, 2006 7:00 pm
BASEL, Switzerland — Roche Holding AG said Friday it will help three African companies to produce one of its anti-HIV drugs.
Roche will provide the companies — Aspen Pharmacare in South Africa and Cosmos Ltd. and Universal Corp. Ltd. in Kenya — with the technical assistance necessary to produce saquinavir, the active ingredient in the Swiss-based pharmaceutical’s Invirase treatment.
The three companies will produce the drug in Africa and will be allowed to export it to other developing countries around the world.
Roche said the program allowing production of saquinavir eventually would extend to 25 companies in 14 countries. The drug is used to treat patients who have developed a resistance to initial anti-HIV therapies.
Cargill to open Duncan feed mill Wednesday
Cargill Animal Nutrition’s Great Plains business will open its remodeled Duncan mill Wednesday. The Duncan mill will be a full feed manufacturing plant, although its main focus will be on Cargill’s Right Now Mineral line and pelleted beef feed.
Cargill purchased the mill in 1991 from Farr Better Feeds. The recent expansion will add capacity to service the beef market in the Great Plains region. Improvements include specialized mineral production capabilities, new packing lines and bins and a new pelleting line, the company said.
The $6.5-million expansion includes an additional 12,000 square feet in warehouse capacity and new load-out bins.
The Duncan plant will employ a staff of 19 production, sales and administrative personnel, with the intent to expand the production staff in the next year.
Indian court overrules ban on Coke, Pepsi
COCHIN, India — The High Court in the communist-ruled southern Indian state of Kerala overturned a ban Friday on the production and sale of Coca-Cola and Pepsi in the state.
The bans were put in place after a New Delhi-based private research group alleged the soft drinks had high levels of pesticides.
Kerala’s top elected official vowed to re-impose the order.
“The court’s verdict quashing the Kerala government’s order is unfortunate, and the government is exploring legal steps to take corrective measures to reinforce the ban,” Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan told reporters.
The High Court upheld the argument by Coke and Pepsi that Kerala had no jurisdiction to impose a ban on the manufacture and sale of their products. Only the federal government can ban food products, it ruled.
Tribune committee explores company’s fate
CHICAGO — In a pivotal board meeting Thursday, Tribune Co. named a committee of directors to explore options that could include a breakup or outright sale of the venerable news media company that owns the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, other newspapers and TV stations nationwide.
Tribune said the special panel of independent directors would study “alternatives for creation of additional value for shareholders.”
Companies often use such language when they put themselves on the path toward a sale or a breakup. Tribune said it expected to complete the process by the end of this year.
Tribune, which also owns the Chicago Cubs baseball franchise, bought Times Mirror Co., then the parent of the Times, in 2000 for about $8 billion, expecting that ownership of television stations and newspapers in the same cities would give the company an edge with advertisers and in pursuing the emerging Internet arena.
Those benefits did not materialize. The shares have lost almost half their value in the six years since the merger — and that has led Wall Street to clamor for action.
— From staff and wire reports