CATEGORIES

Ministry of Ayush inks donor agreement with WHO

The Ministry of Ayush, Government of India and the World Health Organization (WHO) have signed a Donor Agreement during a signing ceremony organised at WHO Headquarters in Geneva.

Why India Must Turn Biosimilar Powerhouse By 2030

Biosimilars could potentially enhance patient access to treatment of various malignant and nonmalignant conditions by reducing costs. Since the introduction of the first biosimilar in 2000 in India, a vaccine for hepatitis B, the development and utilisation of "biosimilars or similar biologics" have experienced significant growth.

VEGFR1 enzyme holds key to medical solutions for colon and renal cancers

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata have decoded the molecular mechanism in which a cell surface receptor belonging to the family of enzymes that bind growth factors, regulate cell differentiation, proliferation, survival, metabolism, and migration, prevents cancers.

Addressing Rare Disease Treatments with Biosimilars and Orphan Drugs

Approximately 10,000 rare diseases (RDS) impact about 400 million people worldwide, with 30 million in the United States alone.

Cementing India's place as global leader in biosimilars

Over the past decade, biologics and biosimilars have taken centre stage in medical advancements. Their potential in treating diseases previously considered untreatable, such as certain types of cancer, autoimmune disorders, and rare genetic conditions, has changed the face of healthcare. India, with its robust biotechnology and information technology sectors, has embraced this shift and is making significant strides in the development and manufacturing of biological drugs.

Union Budget Drives Home.'VIKSIT BHARAT' MANTRA

Presenting the Union Budget for the seventh time in a row on July 23, the Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman proposed to abolish 'angel tax' for all classes of investors and announced several measures like operationalisation of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) for basic research and prototype development and setting up a mechanism for spurring private sector-driven research and innovation at commercial scale with a financing pool of Rs 1 lakh crore in line with the announcement in the interim budget.

Takeda signs patent licence agreement with Cipla, Sun Pharma to commercialise GERD drug in India

Mumbai-based pharmaceutical firms Cipla and Sun Pharma have signed a non-exclusive patent licence agreement with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company for 'Vonoprazan' for the Indian market for treating acid-related illnesses among patients.

Navin Molecular injects $35 M for expanding manufacturing capabilities

Navin Molecular, a Madhya Pradesh-headquartered Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO), has announced a significant investment of Rs 288 crore (approximately $35 million) to expand its GMP manufacturing plant in Dewas.

AstraZeneca invests Rs 250 Cr to grow Global Innovation and Technology Centre in India

AstraZeneca India has announced an investment of Rs 250 crore ($30 million) to expand its Global Innovation and Technology Centre (GITC) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, which includes close to 1,300 roles focused on driving innovation, enhancing efficiency, and streamlining operations across the company globally.

Kerala to launch Institute of Organ Transplantation in Kozhikode

The Government of Kerala has decided to establish an Institute of Organ and Tissue Transplant at Kozhikode. It is being established as an Apex Institute for research, training and patient care in the area of organ transplantation and allied activities.

Ministry of Ayush strengthens standardisation protocols to ensure safety of ayurvedic medicines

In a significant development aimed at advancing the field of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences - Captain Srinivasa Murthy Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CSMCARI), Chennai, under the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India and the Commissionerate of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy (CIM&H), Arumbakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Integrating Research Data for Drug Efficiency in the Indian Pharma Landscape

The average cost to develop a new drug is approximately 2.6 billion, according to a study by the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development. This cost may be reduced by up to 30 per cent through the integration of AI/ML and data analytics, which would result in substantial savings for India's pharmaceutical industry and poised to strengthen its global competitiveness and contribute to a healthier world.

Setting Bigger Targets For Next-Gen Vaccines

New vaccine platform technologies could dramatically shorten the period from research to development, clinical trials, and vaccination. Reimagining R&D approaches in vaccine design and vaccine immunology may hold the key to significantly elevate the health impact of vaccines.

MediTech Stackathon 2024 to Drive Explosive Growth

India's medtech industry holds immense potential, with projections estimating a growth rate of 28 per cent annually, reaching a size of $50 billion by 2030.

Innominds, SCIINV Biosciences unveil Al-driven solution to combat AMR

Innominds, a US-based digital transformation and product engineering company, has announced its partnership with Hyderabad-based startup SCIINV Biosciences to introduce AMRX, an advanced AI/ML-driven digital diagnostic tool designed to combat the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Wipro collaborates with Centre for Brain Research at IISc for Al-driven health behaviour innovations

Wipro has announced a collaboration with the Centre for Brain Research (CBR), an autonomous, non-profit research organisation, hosted at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.

How Tech Innovations Impact Cardiac Care

Cardiac care has seen a transformation over the years with technology playing an important role. Armed with Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), cardiac care providers, with the right technology, have received the right impetus to revolutionise treatment mechanisms. Let us delve into the new technologies which the industry is offering to mankind and decipher the way forward.

Mynvax Offers ‘Warm Vaccine' For COVID-19

Biotech startup Mynvax, incubated at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru, has developed heat-tolerant COVID-19 vaccine formulations.

“R&D outsourcing has become a ‘must have' than ‘good-to have' strategy”

Aragen Life Sciences (formerly GVK BIO), a leading contract research and development organisation headquartered in Hyderabad, is marking its transition to a new brand identity in its 20th year. Established in 2001, the company is poised for growth in the outsourced discovery, development, and manufacturing services sector across both large and small molecule platforms with new investments and collaborations. In conversation with BioSpectrum, Manni Kantipudi, Chief Executive Officer, Aragen Life Sciences, Hyderabad reveals more about the company’s recent rebranding and growth plans. Edited excerpts;

Premas Biotech to commercialise VLP vaccine tech against Delta variant

Gurugram-based Premas Biotech has signed a licensing deal with Oravax Medical for the development and commercialisation of its virus-like-particle COVID-19 vaccine technology.

SARS-CoV-2: A Biochemical Treatise on its Past, Present & Future

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is unprecedented but equally unprecedented is the contribution of scientists who have helped us in understanding the mechanisms by which it infects human beings and also, developing a variety of vaccines to protect the masses, in a year’s time, which can be called truly groundbreaking. This article gives an overview of the progress made by scientists around the world working round the clock in developing an understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 evolution and COVID-19 disease pathogenesis, and also makes an attempt to suggest the possible ways of coping with this pandemic if we have to co-exist with it forever!

Merck launches Pergoveris Pen for fertility treatment in India

Merck Specialties, the healthcare business of Merck in India, has launched Pergoveris Pen for advanced infertility treatment in India.

GUNG-HO PHARMA R&D INVESTMENTS SURPASS $3B

While the pharmaceutical industry helped combat COVID-19, from R&D actions on potential treatment strategies to balancing the medicines supply chain in the time of crisis, it struggled to maintain the natural market flow. As a result, many pharma companies had to abort some of their ongoing R&D investment plans. However for FY20-21, the average R&D expenses constituted 7.2 per cent of the total revenues of the pharma companies, with Lupin, Alembic Pharma and Dr. Reddy’s spending more than others. The cumulative R&D expenditure of the leading 10 pharma companies has been around Rs 10,627 crore ($1.43 billion) in the previous fiscal. This figure eventually reaches an approximate amount of Rs 22,500 crore ($3.03 billion) after considering the cumulative expenditure by other small and medium players of the India pharma industry.

Glenmark ties up with SaNOtize to commercialise COVID-19 nasal spray

Mumbai-based Glenmark Pharmaceuticals and Canadian biotech firm SaNOtize Research & Development Corporation

CEPI prioritises Rift Valley fever vax

Sep 01, Norway-based Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has signed an implementing partner agreement with Integrum Scientific (US) as part of its ongoing efforts to combat Rift Valley fever (RVF)—one of its priority diseases with epidemic potential.

3D printing moulds healthcare innovations

Pharmaceuticals, bio-medicine, aviation, and automobiles industries have rapidly adopted 3D printing over the years, worldwide, to develop new solutions and prototypes. It is also helping many industries, healthcare, in particular, increase productivity. Despite all its advantages, 3D printing technology is currently posing a number of challenges in the market such as initial costs, limitation to the metals and plastics used for 3D printing, lack of policy standardisation, etc.

WHO Updates Guidelines For TB Detection

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an update to its consolidated guidelines on the detection of tuberculosis (TB) and drug-resistant TB.

Is The 5G Health Scare Unfounded?

The introduction of the 5G network has been mired in numerous controversies. Governments across the globe, activists and telecom operators are embroiled in a bitter fight, filing lawsuits and protesting in large numbers. Although most of the available research on electromagnetic fields (EMF) reveals that there are no harmful effects from mobile radiation, some studies do reveal that it has the potential to damage the very structure of the DNA. Cancer, impaired reproductive health and numerous other disorders, including psychiatric, have been attributed to 5G. Will the implementation of the 5G network have serious health implications, or are these fears unfounded? We try to weigh-in the opposing sides.

Is Antibody Cocktail Offering The Right Mix?

Although the clinical outcomes, as well as clinical trials, have been very promising for patients treated with the antibody cocktail so far, the Delta plus variant is considered to be resistant to the monoclonal antibody (mAb) cocktail treatment.

“Our allergic rhinitis drug is technologically superior, masks bitterness and 52% cheaper”

Alok Malik, Group Vice President & Head, India Formulations, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Mumbai