Veronica Labs tries out its herbal anti-AIDS drug
Mumbai: Mumbai based Veronica Laboratories has engaged SRL Ranbaxy Ltd, a special reference laboratory network, to carry out clinical investigations in HIV positive patients. These patients will then be be put on `Herbovera', Veronica's herbal anti-AIDS drug which boosts immunity in HIV positive patients. The trials are being conducted at Mumbai's Poddar Hospital and the monitoring of patients will be done at SRL Ranbaxy, the company has informed the BSE .
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i-flex solution for Korean co
Bangalore: I-flex solutions has announced that Woori Financial Group of South Korea has selected its Reveleus, a business intelligence and analytical application for the financial services industry, to establish an enterprise-wide management information system across its various subsidiaries, including Kyongam Bank.
According to an I-flex press release the Reveleus solution will be deployed at the Woori Finance Information Systems, which takes care of all the IT requirements of the Woori Financial Group.
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HLL: Some more reductions
Mumbai: Hindustan Lever Ltd (HLL) has announced a reduction in prices of its Clinic Plus health shampoo. The company has also withdrawn the one for one offer. Apart from its 100ml 200ml and 300ml versions the company also has a 25-ml bottle, priced at Rs 5, which it intends to aggressively distribute across the country.
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New prostrate drug from Dr Reddy's
Hyderabad: Dr. Reddy's Laboratories has announced the launch of Dutas (generic name Dutasteride), a drug for the treatment of enlarged prostrate. The Hyderabad-based pharma major is the first company to launch the product in the Indian market, according to a company press release. Symptomatic enlarged prostrate affects around 55 per cent of men over the age of 50 and almost 90 per cent of men over the age of 70 worldwide. In India, there are over 77 million men over the age of 60 who are affected by the disease.
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Accent GVS: Hyundai hikes price
New Delhi: Hyundai Motor India has announced a price hike of two per cent on the Accent GVS with immediate effect. The price hike, however, is confined to the GVS, which is the cheapest variant of the Accent. The revised price of the Accent GVS now stands at Rs 5,82,000 (ex-showroom Delhi). The company also said that it would soon increase the price of other Accent variants. Currently, five variants of the Accent are being offered.
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Merck net up to Rs.14.34 crore
Mumbai: Merck Ltd has posted a net profit of Rs 14.34 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2004, as compared to Rs 7.41 crore in the quarter ended March 31, 2003. Total income has increased from Rs 78.39 crore in the same quarter last year to Rs 85.90 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2004.
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Tata Motors to go in for FCCBs
Mumbai: Tata Motors Ltd has informed the BSE that the company has decided to make an issue of foreign currency convertible bonds aggregating $400 million in the international market in one or more tranches. The bonds will have a tenor of 5 years to 7 years and is convertible into GDSs or shares at a premium over the current market price.
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Maruti sets up centre for excellence
New Delhi: Maruti Udyog has invested Rs 10 crore in setting up a 'centre for excellence' in collaboration with its suppliers.
The centre will work closely with Maruti's partners to implement world-class practices such as TQM, TPM and TOPS (team oriented problem solving techniques), apart from training Maruti's employees in quality related issues.
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New handset schemes from Reliance Infocomm
Bangalore: Reliance Infocomm has lowered the price barrier of a couple of handset schemes and has launched a new scheme.
The Nokia 2280 handset will now be priced at Rs 2,999 with a pre-loaded voucher of Rs 324. The subscribers get free access to Internet-based service, R-World and Internet service provider, R-Connect.

The second handset, which came bundled with LG 2030, has now been priced at Rs 3,499 with a pre-loaded free voucher of Rs 324. In this handset scheme, subscribers can download video clips through R-World. Reliance Infocomm has also introduced another handset scheme, which is priced at Rs 3,499, and comes with LG-2230 handset and a pre-loaded voucher of Rs 324. The Internet-based R-World, which offers live video of news and games, is expected to go pay from July 1.
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Sagem mobile phones launched in Kerala
Kochi: The Kozhikode-based Mehta & Co has launched Sagem MyX series of mobile phones in Kerala. Manufactured by Sagem SA, a French group, the phones have already been introduced in North India. The Sagem group has a presence in more than 20 countries and offers a 12-month warranty and quality services for the sets.
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Xerox unveils new office products
Mumbai: XEROX Modicorp Ltd, the document management player, has launched six network laser printers and two multi-function devices in the domestic market. In keeping with its strategy of moving towards a two-tier distribution model, Xerox has also announced that it has appointed Ingram Micro as the national distributor for its channel products. The new products launched by the company include the Phaser03121, 3420 and 4500 (laser monochromes), priced at Rs 12, 800.
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Emerson launches new UPS
Mumbai: Emerson Network Power India (ENPI), a player in the online UPS and precision air-conditioners market, has launched the UP Station GXT 2U UPS. According to an official statement, a feature of the UPS, available in 1-3 kVA ratings, is the flexibility in installation as a space saving rack mounted unit or a space saving, free standing tower. With this offering, ENPI aims to target the Rs 300-crore small UPS market, which accounts for 25 per cent of the power-conditioning segment.
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Sonata Q4 net down 19 per cent
Bangalore: Sonata Software Ltd's net profits for the quarter-ended March 31, 2004 fell 19.6 per cent to Rs 3.31 crore compared to a net of Rs 4.12 crore in corresponding period last year. Sales revenues also declined 4.69 per cent to Rs 20.3 crore (Rs 21.3 crore).

The company on Monday declared a final dividend of 30 paise per share (30 per cent on par value of Re 1 each). This, together with the interim dividend makes the total dividend for the year to 50 paise per share (50 per cent on par value of Re 1 each).
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Sify reports marginal profit for Q4
Chennai: SIFY Ltd has reported a net profit of $0.54 million (Rs 2.34 crore) on sales revenue of $19.01 million (Rs 82.50 crore) for the quarter ended March 31, 2004 as against a net loss of $3.38 million (Rs 14.66 crore) on sales revenue of $13.97 million (Rs 60.62 crore) for the corresponding quarter last year.

The net profit during March 2004 quarter includes a one-time gain of $1.45 million (Rs 6.29 crore) on selling shares of Wisden CricInfo, a cricket-related Web site, said a company press release. For the year ended March 31, 2004, the Internet, network and e-Commerce services company reported a net loss of $8.55 million (Rs 37.10 crore) on a turnover of $64.54 million (Rs 280.10 crore) as against a net loss of $30.62 million (Rs 132.89 crore) on a turnover of $45.96 million (Rs 199.46 crore) for the previous year, says a company release.
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Dentsu bags Blaupunkt account
Bangalore: After a five-way pitch, involving strategy and creative presentations, Dentsu Communications has bagged the advertising account of global audio major Blaupunkt. The Blaupunkt India advertising account is estimated to be between Rs 3.5 crore and Rs 4 crore. The account moves from Grey Worldwide to Dentsu Communications.
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FCUK launches watch collections
Mumbai: FCUK, the designer label from the UK, has introduced its watch collection in India which will be marketed by Timex Watches Ltd here. FCUK claims to offer an eclectic mix of `super cool, trendy and funky' and vintage and contemporary classics.
The range is available in 27 designs with 12 for men, 14 for women and one unisex, and the prices are between Rs 6,000 and Rs 11,000.
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MRF tops JD Power study
Mumbai: MRF has been ranked the highest in customer satisfaction for the third consecutive year in the JD Power-Asia Pacific 2004 India Original Tyre Customer Satisfaction Study released today. More than 1,500 owners of 28 different vehicle models participated in the 2004 study, which was carried out during the period June to August 2003.

MRF received the highest ratings in the study in four of the five factors determining overall satisfaction with tyres: appearance, durability, traction, and handling. Bridgestone, JK Tyre and Goodyear follow MRF in the rankings. In 2002 and 2003, MRF tied with Bridgestone to rank the highest in original tyre customer satisfaction in India. According to JD Power, over 40 per cent of new-vehicle buyers indicate that tyre related features were among the considerations influencing vehicle purchase decisions. The study also reveals that more than one-fifth of all new-vehicle buyers choose the brand of tyres on their new vehicles.
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Intas Biotech launches Arsenox for cancer
Mumbai: Intas Biotech - Oncology has launched Arsenox for patients suffering from cancer of the white blood cells or Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia (APML). The company says that the existing standard treatment, using Anthracyclines or chemotherapy drugs, costs between Rs 6 lakh and Rs 8 lakh. Arsenox would be accessible and very affordable as compared to the regular treatment available, as it will be one tenth the standard treatment costs. According to an Intas company communiqué, arsenic trioxide has shown complete remission or disappearance of all visible cancer cells in a significant number of patients.
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Toyota launches Qualis MYST
Bangalore: Toyota Kirloskar Motor has launched a limited edition variant of its multi-purpose vehicle, Qualis MYST. A press statement from the company said the new Qualis MYST is priced at Rs 6,62,580 and is available in black colour. The cheapest Qualis is priced at around Rs 6 lakh. The company sold a total of 31,898 Qualis units during 2003-04 posting a growth of nearly 12 per cent over the previous year.
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