Spotlight On... Sanofi and LG Life Sciences bicker over diabetes drug marketing, report says; Yabao teams with Sciecure; India pushes back tracing deadline; and more...

A partnership dispute over co-promotion duties between LG Life Sciences and Sanofi-Aventis Korea, the local affiliate of France's Sanofi ($SNY), threatens to spill over into the courts if the two companies cannot settle their differences, according to a report by the Korea Herald, and could crimp sales of LG's top diabetes drugs in the country. The spat started in December when LG complained to Sanofi-Aventis Korea and said it would cancel the 2012 deal because LG felt Sanofi wasn't holding up its end of the bargain in its promotional efforts for the drugs Zemiglo and ZemiMet. "After an internal review, we deemed Sanofi did not properly carry out the conditions stipulated in the original contract, leading to the termination of the agreement," an LG spokesperson told the Korea Herald. Sanofi, however, was miffed that LG sent the termination threat and denied it had shirked its duties. "We were abruptly notified by LG Life Sciences that it has decided to unilaterally terminate the co-promotion agreement with Sanofi-Aventis Korea for Zemiglo/ZemiMet. Sanofi has performed all its contractual duties," Sanofi-Aventis Korea told the Korea Herald. Sanofi told the newspaper that it plans to "consider all necessary options" should LG renege on the deal, which remains in effect for a "sizeable period of time," according to the report. Report

> Beijing-based Yabao Pharmaceutical and U.S.-based Sciecure Pharma said they have entered a strategic partnership to develop, produce and sell "high technological barrier generics" in the U.S. and Chinese markets. Release

> India has once again delayed the deadline for drugmakers to implement a "track and trace" system on the drugs they produce. Report

> The Competition Commission of India approved the Bangalore-based Strides Shasun purchase of two Indian business units from Sun Pharmaceutical Industries. Report

> Ahmedabad-based Torrent Pharmaceuticals has launched a biosimilar of AbbVie's ($ABBV) best-selling Humira, (adalimumab) in India, named Adfrar, with price and other marketing details not immediately available. Release

> Seoul-based CrystalGenomics has signed a deal for its osteoarthritis treatment Acelex to be sold by Istanbul-based TR-Pharm in Turkey, the Middle East and North Africa. Release

> Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has approved an atrial septal defect closure device from Swiss-based Occlutech. Release (PDF)

> India's Department of Pharmaceuticals has taken action in the country's Cabinet to raise production of bulk drugs and cut imports, many of which come from China. Report

> Los Angeles-based Targeted Medical Pharma said it had finalized an exclusive licensing pact with Hong Kong-based Healthy Focus that gives the Hong Kong company a three-year renewable license to sell Theramine, Percura and Trepadone in Hong Kong and China. Release