> India's Dr. Reddy's Laboratories ($RDY) signed a deal with Australia's Hatchtech to gain exclusive rights for a prescription head lice lotion branded as Xeglyze in the United States, Canada, India, Russia and the CIS, Australia, New Zealand and Venezuela. Hatchtech announced separately said it would file a New Drug Application for Xeglyze with the U.S. FDA. Release (PDF)
> Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical joined the Search consortium that seeks to make faster progress on new drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics for neglected tropical diseases like malaria and tuberculosis. Release
> The U.S. FDA banned the import of drugs from India's Polydrug Laboratories, citing flaws in GMP, Business Standard reported. This month the Financial Times said that 39 drug plants in India were under FDA import bans, covering 27 companies. Report
> Japan's Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency released the English-language Handbook of Health and Welfare Statistics for 2014, covering all aspects of the healthcare system. Release
> China biotech BeiGene said Jedd D. Wolchok, who holds the Lloyd J. Old Chair for Clinical Investigation at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, has joined its Scientific Advisory Board. BeiGene is focused on molecularly targeted and immuno-oncology drugs. Release (PDF)
> U.S.-based Abbott Laboratories ($ABT) challenged test results of its Phensedyl cough syrup that showed excessive levels of codeine that were conducted by a state laboratory in India's West Bengal last November, questioning the source of the product. In its response in late April, Abbott denied the allegations and urged regulators to not take any action until more details of the testing regime were made available. "We are awaiting response from the authorities," the company said in answer to Reuters' questions. Report
> South Korea's pharmaceutical industry needs to move into developing its own products or it faces weak business prospects, Kim Seung-ho, the founder and CEO of Boryung Pharmaceutical, told the Korea Times. "There are two types of pharmaceutical companies--those who are capable of developing their own drugs and those who aren't," he said. "Boryung is the former." Report
> A Thai consortium has developed the country's first locally made automated medicine dispenser labelled B-Hive1. The machine was developed under collaboration with the Institute of Field Robotics (FIBO) at King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, the TCELS and Supreme Hitera Co. Report