Washington - Pfizer Inc, the worlds biggest drugmaker, Tuesday said profits were down 2 per cent and revenues were down 8.3 per cent compared to first quarter 2008 despite blockbuster drugs like the impotence pill Viagra and cholesterol-busting Lipitor. Net income dropped to 2.73 billion dollars, while revenues were down to 10.9 billion dollars, the company said.

Profits were eroded by the rising dollar, which lowered income from abroad, the company said.

Biocon Ltd, a fully integrated healthcare company that delivers innovative biopharmaceutical solutions, has registered 61% decline its net profit to Rs 24.14 crore for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2009, against Rs 62.03 crore reported during the same quarter ended March 31, 2008.

In addition, company's total income for the quarter has also increased to Rs 239.84 crore from Rs 236.71 crore during the same quarter in 2007-08.

For the financial year ended March 2009, the company posted a net profit after tax of Rs 111.81 crore, down 74 per cent against Rs 434.94 crore in FY'08.

Geneva - The Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche, maker of influenza medication Tamiflu, saw its stock price rise 3.6 per cent in trading late Monday afternoon on the Zurich exchange on the back of the global swine flu outbreak. During the avian flu epidemic the drug was used heavily, particularly in South Asia.

Shares in Roche were trading at close to 145 Swiss francs (126 dollars), up over five francs since the opening.

Leading drug maker Cipla on Friday reported 40.94% surge in its net profit for the fourth quarter ended March 31.

The company posted net profit of Rs 252.92 crore, against Rs 179.45 crore in the same quarter ended March 31, 2008.

Further, during the quarter, total operating income of the company rose to Rs 1,366.74 crore, as against Rs 1,122.10 crore in the same quarter of the previous fiscal.

For the full-year ended March, the company posted a net profit of Rs 767 crore, as compared to Rs 701 crore in the corresponding period last year

Covidien, a $10 billion global healthcare products leader, has announced its entry into the Indian healthcare market with the establishment of its headquarters at Gurgaon.

The company intends to collaborate with the region's healthcare providers to offer its cutting-edge medical solutions and services throughout the country.

According to sources, Covidien will setup three 'dry labs' this year to initiate training programmes for medical practitioners in the country. In addition, it will also introduce some of its patented products in India.

Exhibiting one of its worst quarterly performances ever, Ranbaxy Laboratories – now owned by Japanese firm Daiichi Sankyo - has posted its third straight quarter of losses, for the quarter ended March 31, 2009.

Citing foreign exchange instability, a 14 percent drop in its US market, and pricing strain in key markets, Ranbaxy posted a net loss of Rs 761 crore during the quarter – a dramatic turnaround from the Rs 153 crore net profit figures in 2008. In the previous two quarters, Ranbaxy posted losses of Rs 680 crore and Rs 394 crore.