These are the two quotes from the
SHANDONG XINHUA PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY LIMITED 2010 interim report, pg 12:

my bold.....

quote:

Transforming growth mode and adjusting development structure

"The Company’s product mix was optimised and upgraded. After obtaining the GMP certification, the new production line of Ibuprofen actively utilised its production capacity within a short time period and recorded a double year-on-year growth in its domestic sales. The Company’s distinctive raw material drugs achieved admirable production and sales results. The levodopa raw material drug, a new product, exceeded its sales target for the first half of 2010."


PLANS FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR 2010

quote:

"Taking advantage of the approval of the bulk pharmaceutical raw material, Ibuprofen and Levodopa by the U.S. FDA, the Group will explore every possible ways to tap into the international market with a view to further consolidating the Company’s leading position in the antipyretic and analgesic drug markets. The Group will explore its target markets by reinforcing its market position in preparation products, strengthening the terminal network building and team building as well as formulating practical market development measures in accordance with product features and market characteristics."

Paula, I guess one of the questions is, when is a drug a drug, when it is raw material, when it is manufactured, when it is packed, when it is imported......

At the height of the shortage here we were able to see that the branded 100/25 regular was 7p and generic cost 13p which really made us think......

It would be interesting to know what the difference in manufacturing cost is now since transferring from the first company that Bob mentioned, which had been the main global supplier for 40 YEARS, and the new one....... and who that cost differential is benefitting, because it surely is not the patient. I am thinking about your co-pay differences here......

It seems very clear from the first link I posted, which is dated 2 years before the shortage was announced, that it was not a sudden event that forced the company into a bad position, it was a planned move.

Further to that it was possible to see bulk labelling of raw material dating to April last year, and the movement of large amounts of raw material. So what was the shortage about....... to maximise profit, or just to get us jittery,
uh oh, I'm starting to see white rabbits......... or is that people in suits...

From looking into info on pharmaceutical manufacturing practices that indicated that most medications are made in vast batches, not, as many would assume, like candy bars in an ongoing fashion, it would seem very likely that production was held back for a cheaper source of raw material...... of course this may be a far fetched assumption, but, uh oh, we are in wonderland again.....

What was deeply dispiriting to me is that the new manufacturer is basing some of it's financial forecasting on ldopa. And that some of it's other products are caffeine (for the other well-known cola brand) and ibuprofen that is being pushed as a panacea for everything........

Perhaps some questions need to be asked ............ no time like the present.

Agree lindy, iit's time. Thank you for the information. just in time for pAN.

I'll be there but the govt might not be.