BUSINESS
Akums, India’s largest contract manufacturer of drugs, plans European foray
Akums plans to supply to existing customers who have businesses abroad, besides acquiring new customers. In five years, it expects to log annual revenues of Rs 1,200 cr from exports.
TRENDS
Measles outbreak: Missed vaccinations, high refusal rate pose challenge for BMC in Mumbai
The civic body is battling to contain the surge in the number of cases being reported
TRENDS
Nikon India looks to tie up with government for research; assessing retinal imaging market: MD Sajjan Kumar
The Nikon India head says the microscopy market in India is worth Rs 200-250 crore and is projected to grow significantly in the coming years.
TRENDS
Will pose an initial challenge, but a well-thought-out move, drug makers say of mandatory QR codes on branded medicines
The move is aimed at curbing the sale of spurious, counterfeit or substandard drugs.
TRENDS
Health ministry trashes reports of hasty approval to Covaxin under political pressure
Bharat Biotech said company faced no external pressure to accelerate development of Covaxin, adding they had an internal pressure to develop a safe, and effective vaccine for the Covid-19 pandemic, to save lives and livelihoods in India and globally.
INDIA
Access, digitisation crucial for enhanced cancer-care infrastructure: Elekta India MD
Manikandan Bala said India will take at least two decades to match the current demand for radiotherapy machines. India needs at least 1,400 RT machines but has only around 650
TRENDS
We are focused for making Apollo 24/7 a stable company: Krishnan Akhileswaran, CFO
The Group CFO said that all three lines of business—healthcare services, diagnostics, retail health and pharmacy distribution, and digital health, which is Apollo 24/77—have seen growth in this quarter.
INDIA
ASG Eye Hospitals enters Haryana, expands footprint in Uttar Pradesh
The leading eye hospital completes partnerships with two leading eye hospitals in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh and Ambala, Haryana.
TRENDS
'Freebies' to doctors: Pharma industry lobby seeks new code to regulate marketing interaction
The structure of interaction between pharma companies and doctors should be defined by the government, industry groups say. The Centre had earlier said the existing Universal Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices worked adequately.
INDIA
How does one treat in fear? Doctors urge Health Minister to reinstate marshals in hospitals
The presence of marshals/bouncers in hospitals serves as a confidence-booster to doctors and nurses to impart the right treatment to patients without fear of violence from patients’ relatives/caregivers, say industry body representatives.
TRENDS
Locomotive breath: why north India will inhale bad air for at least another week
As the air quality worsened, the Delhi government ordered the closure of primary schools. Construction activities and the entry and movement of commercial diesel vehicles have also been restricted with immediate effect.
TRENDS
N95 masks mandatory, air purifiers preferable to brave toxic air in Delhi: Pulmonologists
Surgical or cloth masks won’t work in such high pollution levels, avoid exercising early morning, they say, as air pollution in the national capital hits the 'severe' category.
TRENDS
Heat-related deaths rose 55% in India during 2017-2021: Lancet report
On an average, from 2012-2021, each infant experienced an additional 0.9 heat-wave days per year while adults over 65 experienced an additional 3.7 per person, compared to 1986-2021, the Lancet countdown India data said.
TRENDS
Dengue cases rise pan-India, Kerala sees most deaths
A senior scientist with the National Institute of Virology, Pune, said the extended spell of rains till October is one of the reasons behind mosquito breeding leading to the rampant spread, adding that the DENV-2 serotype was being detected mostly.
TRENDS
Treating VIPs: AIIMS under fire for issuing preferential treatment SOPs
While the authorities say there is nothing new in the SOP, doctor associations allege the authorities are only concerned about MPs and not common people. Any SOPs, they say, should first be for patients in the long queues outside. A public servant shouldn’t be given priority over the very public he/she serves, said association leaders.
TRENDS
Recombinant COVID variant detected in three states; Govt says no association with case rise in India
The new Omicron sub-variants have been detected in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Officials say there is no reason for panic as the variants detected in India so far haven’t been associated with severe disease.
TRENDS
Central panel blames knowledge gaps for rabies deaths in Kerala, calls for uninterrupted supply of vaccines
A three-member panel has flagged knowledge gaps in wound assessment and treatment of rabies victims in Kerala for the deaths of people who suffered animal bites, and given a clean chit to anti-rabies vaccines used in the state.
TRENDS
Biocon, Yoshindo partner to commercialise 2 biosimilar assets in Japan
The Japanese pharma firm will get an exclusive commercialization right in Japan for two biosimilars developed by Biocon Biologics, for an addressable market opportunity of USD 700 million.
INDIA
Gambia Cough Syrup Deaths | Data received is inadequate to determine aetiology: DCGI tells WHO
The DCGI once again reiterated the Indian Government's demand of sharing the reports on causal relations of children's deaths in Gambia as observed by the Technical Committee for further examination and follow-up action.
TRENDS
Post-Gambia deaths, CDSCO and state regulators start testing cough syrups sold in market
The authorities are trying to ensure that the ingredients used to make cough syrups conform to standards and are safe for consumption.
TRENDS
Haryana regulator raises red flag over glaring lapses at Maiden Pharma plant
In a five-page note accessed by Moneycontrol, Haryana drugs officials have listed out 12 contraventions which were detected during an inspection of the manufacturing facility in Sonepat.
TRENDS
Gennova gets DCGI’s nod for developing Omicron-specific mRNA vaccine
The Pune-based firm has has been told by CDSCO that only CDL, Kasauli certified batches shall be used in the clinical trial of mRNA vaccine.
INDIA
Kerala halts sale of drugs made by Maiden Pharma under fire for children's death in Gambia
The company will only be allowed to sell drugs again if the government authorities get satisfactory results after running quality checks on the available stock of medicines, Kerala state drug controller PM Jayan has told Moneycontrol
INDIA
Maiden Pharma’s factory wears a deserted look as its fate hangs in the balance
All production activities at the factory have been stopped; staff have been told not to attend work till clarity emerges on the issue.
