CATEGORIES

IIM Lucknow, IIT Kanpur partner to offer joint PG programme in healthcare management

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur to launch a joint postgraduate (PG) programme in Healthcare Management.

Impact of Digital Transformation on Lab Efficiency

The rapid advancement of technology has triggered a wave of digital transformation across various industries, and laboratories are no exception. Laboratories, especially those involved in research, clinical diagnostics, and development, have seen significant shifts in the way they operate due to the integration of advanced digital tools. From optimising workflows to improving accuracy, digital transformation is revolutionising lab operations, making them faster, more efficient, and capable of handling larger data volumes. This shift is not just a technological upgrade but a complete rethinking of how laboratories function to deliver more value while meeting increasingly stringent compliance and operational standards. Let's find out more.

How Seed Funding is Driving Indian Pharma Startups

For pharmaceutical businesses in India, seed capital is more than just a financial boost; it is an essential component of long-term success. In order to draw in future investors, it assists businesses in innovating, scaling up, and overcoming regulatory obstacles. This has a beneficial knock-on impact and helps to create a healthier and more inventive future for India's health industry. Let's explore further.

Targeted Transformation of Diabetes Care in India

According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) about 63 per cent of people with diabetes say that the fear of developing diabetes-related complications affects their well-being. And around 28 per cent of people with diabetes find it hard to remain positive in relation to their condition. Hence the theme for this year's World Diabetes Day (WDD) 2024-26 observed on November 14, the world's largest diabetes awareness campaign reaching a global audience of over 1 billion people in over 160 countries, is Diabetes and well-being. Let's look at ways to reduce or reverse diabetes in India.

How AI is Propelling Radiology & Medical Imaging Capabilities

Medical imaging has been used extensively for early diagnosis of various diseases. Be it computed tomography (CT), mammography, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and nuclear medicine tests, radiologists and pathologists have relied on these images to analyse the condition of patients. However, most of the analysis has been manual, heavily depending on the skill sets of the radiologists or pathologists to identify anomalies in the images. The challenge has been the enormous volumes of patient samples to be analysed and the limited number of radiologists or pathologists. Let's take an in-depth look at the impact and possibilities of AI and new applications in the Indian context.

Can India Leverage US Biosecure Act to Strengthen CRDMOS?

The United States of America (USA) is set to implement an Act that will impact the global biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, potentially opening opportunities for India to dominate the landscape – the Biosecure Act.

"A network of Biofoundries, will boost ecosystem's value creation status as 'Innovator"

After a policy shift under Narendra Modi’s regime, biotechnology research and Bio StartUps are prioritised and have taken centre stage. Now the centre has announced a BioE3 Policy aimed at ‘Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing’. The policy lays out plans for accelerating the transition to biomanufacturing by promoting integrated use of AI, digitalisation with ‘omics’, and upstream biotechnology innovations through bio-AI hubs, biofoundries, and biomanufacturing hubs across the country. In an interaction with BioSpectrum, Dr Manish Diwan, Mission Director, Make in India for Biotech Sector, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) and Head, Biofoundry, NCR Biotech Cluster & IVCOL shared some insights about new BioE3 policy and plans for upcoming iBRIC Biosciences Innovation Park and goals of this pioneering facility.

"To achieve our 'Skilled India' vision, we'll train a large number of individuals quickly and to high standards"

Jayant Singh Chaudhary, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India, in an interaction with BioSpecturm in Hyderabad, shares his insights on the various initiatives taken up by the Centre for skill development programmes, boosting self-employment. He exudes confidence that the new BioE3 Policy will give a new direction to the Indian industry, further grounding its roots and boosting its manufacturing prowess to meet the domestic needs and global demands in key areas of pharma, biotechnology and other sectors.

Will Boosting Biofoundries Transform India's Biomanufacturing Landscape?

Biofoundries hold the potential to emerge as the backbone of biomanufacturing and synthetic biology, offering integrated infrastructure to streamline the design, construction, and testing of genetically engineered organisms.

World Bank approves new financing for Nigeria to improve health outcomes

The World Bank has approved three operations for a total of $1.57 billion to support the government of Nigeria in strengthening human capital through better health for women, children and adolescents and building resilience to the effects of climate change such as floods and droughts through improving dam safety and irrigation.

Rwanda strengthens Marburg virus disease response

US-based pharmaceutical firm Gilead Sciences, Inc., in collaboration with Africa CDC (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention) and Rwanda’s Ministry of Health, has donated 5,100 vials of remdesivir to support Rwanda’s response to the Marburg Virus Disease (MVD).

UK to scale up production of mRNA vaccines

Scientists at the University of Sheffield, in the United Kingdom (UK), will receive up to £3.7 million ($4.8 million) from Norway-based Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to establish proof-of-concept for RNAbox, a specialised process designed to scale up production of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines at regional vaccine manufacturing sites.

Gavi harnesses innovation to mitigate effects of climate change on global health

Four global health innovators, from a pool of over 100 applicants, have been chosen as the 2024 Gavi Innovation for Uptake, Scale and Equity in Immunisation (INFUSE) Pacesetters.

WHO adds HPV vaccine, Cecolin for single-dose use

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that a fourth WHO-prequalified human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine product, Cecolin (developed by Xiamen Innovax Biotech) has been confirmed for use in a single-dose schedule.

WHO and multilateral development banks kick off $1.5 B primary health financing platform

Execution is starting under the new Health Impact Investment Platform on the first country health investment plans turning original commitment into operational reality.

BizDateUp leads $1 M Pre-IPO funding round in pharma packaging startup Sorich

BizDateUp, amongst the largest ecosystem enablers for startups that provide comprehensive support services, has taken a significant step in the health and wellness sector by announcing a $1 million investment in the pre-IPO funding round for Gujarat-based Sorich, an innovative company committed to revolutionising pharmaceutical packaging.

Lissun raises $2.5 M in Pre-Series A funding round

Gurugram-based mental healthcare startup Lissun has announced a successful Pre-Series A funding round, raising $2.5 million, marking a significant milestone in Lissun's continued growth and success.

Qure.ai completes $65 M Series D funding round

Mumbai-based startup Qure. ai, a global healthcare artificial intelligence (AI) innovator, has announced the completion of a $65 million Series D funding round.

Venture Center partners with UNIDO and BEE to strengthen technology transfer offices in India

Pune-based Venture Center, a leading technology business incubator for science-driven enterprises in India, has announced a partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) to support capacity-building efforts aimed at strengthening technology transfer offices in Indian institutions, to increase commercialisation of innovations.

Twist Bioscience teams up with MedGenome to diagnose rare diseases

To address the rare disease burden in India, Bengaluru-based MedGenome is partnering with Twist Bioscience, a leading and rapidly growing synthetic biology and genomics company based in the US, to establish the HOPE for Rare Diseases Programme in India.

Lupin partners with Celnova to commercialise orphan drug NaMuscla in Argentina and Colombia

Mumbai-based global pharma major Lupin has announced that its subsidiary Lupin Atlantis Holdings SA has entered into a distribution agreement with Celnova Pharma for Lupin’s orphan drug NaMuscla (mexiletine).

Neovantage Innovation Parks secures Rs 300 Cr for life sciences real estate portfolio

Neovantage Innovation Parks, South Asia’s largest private owner and operator of life sciences-focused real estate, has secured its inaugural green loan of Rs 300 crore from HSBC India.

Piramal Pharma Solutions announces $80 M expansion plan for sterile injectables facility in US

Mumbai-based Piramal Pharma Solutions (PPS), a leading global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO) and part of Piramal Pharma, has unveiled an $80 million investment plan to expand its Lexington, Kentucky facility in the US.

PMBI and Coal India ink MoU to provide highquality generic medicines

In a significant milestone under the mission to provide quality generic medicines and surgical equipment at affordable prices to the masses, the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) and Coal India Limited (under the administrative control of the Ministry of Coal, Government of India) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for opening of Jan Aushadhi Kendras in the premises of every coal field, selected hospitals or any suitable location specified or decided by Coal India Limited.

Cabinet approves 'Bio-RIDE' scheme to support cutting edge biotech R&D

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, has approved continuation of the two umbrella schemes of Department of Biotechnology (DBT), merged as one scheme‘Biotechnology Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (Bio-RIDE)’ with a new component namely Biomanufacturing and Biofoundry.

CDSCO becomes Affiliate Member of International Medical Device Regulators Forum

To achieve global alignment in its medical device regulatory system, enhance the competitiveness of the domestic industry, and boost transnational prominence, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, applied for Affiliate Membership in the International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF) in 2024.

Health Ministry releases revised operational guidelines for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver disease

The Union Health Ministry has released the revised Operational Guidelines and Training Module of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD).

Can phased trade margin rationalisation boost pharma growth?

The pharma representatives of the Laghu Udyog Bharati (LUB), an RSS affiliate and a not-forprofit Pan India Organisation with the aim of empowering Micro and Small enterprises in the country since its formation in 1994, on July 24, had a meeting with officials from the Department of Pharmaceuticals, and discussed key issues such as Trade Margin Rationalisation (TMR), Schedule-M extension, Revised PTUS Hurdles, and the Drug Tribunal Board formation. LUB Pharma proposed the innovative \"One Nation-One Molecule-One MRP\" and advocated for the top 100 companies to sell their generic brands at molecule name and affordable Maximum Retail Price (MRP) for patient benefits. Here we are looking at a series of recommendations from industry associations to make TMR more effective, balanced, and supportive of all stakeholders in the pharmaceutical supply chain.

Why industry-academia collaboration is crucial for biomedical sciences

India's growing biomedical sciences sector is ripe with potential, yet it faces several challenges. In recent years, there has been a notable shift in government policies, private investments, and educational reforms aimed at boosting research and innovation in this critical area. One of the key factors that can significantly influence this growth is the collaboration between industry and academia. Such partnerships have the power to not only fuel the biomedical sector but also strengthen India's position as a global player in healthcare research and innovation.

Study reveals role of Ayurvedic Whole System in management of Rheumatoid Arthritis

A new scientific study has revealed the significant effectiveness of the Ayurvedic Whole System (AWS) in the management of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), a chronic autoimmune disorder affecting millions worldwide.