BUSINESS
Strides Pharma in advanced talks for Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing deal
Once a deal is inked, the Covid-19 vaccine, developed by a global vaccine maker, will be manufactured by Strides’ biotech associate Stelis Biopharma
BUSINESS
Strides' board approves demerger of biotech business under Stelis Biopharma
The board will form a committee of directors to explore various options of value discovery including listing of the business on a standalone basis.
BUSINESS
Condom Alliance seeks to help wilting male contraceptive market rise from stagnation
Condom sales in India have stagnated at a CAGR of 1 percent in recent years. Industry executives say COVID-19 made matters worse, with sales falling approximately 40% during the lockdown. HLL Lifecare, PSI India Private Limited, Raymond Group, TTK Healthcare and Reckitt Benckiser are now coordinating their actions to promote greater condom usage and revive the market.
BUSINESS
India to get 97.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from COVAX in first half of 2021
COVAX will be getting 240 million doses of AstraZeneca-Oxford University COVID-19 vaccine from SII and 96 million doses from AstraZeneca under the advance purchase agreement between Gavi and the vaccine makers. SII has agreed to supply COVID-19 vaccine at $3 per dose.
BUSINESS
Covaxin in US market: Bharat Biotech, Ocugen enter pact
Under the terms of the agreement, Ocugen will have US rights to the vaccine candidate and will be responsible for clinical development, regulatory approval including emergency use approval (EUA) and commercialization for the US market. Bharat Biotech will supply initial doses to be used in the US upon Ocugen’s receipt of an EUA.
BUSINESS
Budget 2021: Pharma sector sees higher spend on healthcare as positive, but some expectations remain unmet
The industry welcomes increased budgetary allocations but believes tax incentives would have encouraged investment in R&D and help position India as an innovation hub.
BUSINESS
Budget 2021 | Rs 35,000 crore allotment for COVID-19 vaccination brings cheers to vaccine makers
Adar Poonawalla, CEO, Serum Institute of India (SII) called the spending on healthcare infrastructure and vaccine by countries as the best bang for their buck.
BUSINESS
Budget 2021: Higher spends on infra, capex to help revive capital goods sector
Capital goods companies believe that the cascading effect of the government spending on capex and infrastructure will boost their order book and help them recover fast from the COVID-19 pandemic.
ECONOMY
Union Budget 2021: Healthcare spending boost led by COVID-19 vaccination, drinking water, sanitation
The increase was primarily led by Rs 35,000 crore allotment for COVID-19 vaccines and Rs 21,158 crore allocation to drinking water and sanitation. In addition to Finance Commission (FC) Grants of Rs 13,192 crore for health and Rs 36,022 crore for water and sanitation.
BUSINESS
Pharma wrap: Three more vaccines to be available in India soon
The data from clinical trials of Johnson & Johnson and Novavax which were announced this week were also positive, increasing the chances of the vaccine availability. Interestingly both these vaccines will be manufactured in India.
BUSINESS
COVID-19: Dr Reddy's expects to launch Sputnik V vaccine in India by March-end
The Russian vaccine is priced at $10 (Rs 720) per shot. If the drugs controller grants approval, the vaccine will become the third to be tried in India after Serum Institute of India’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin.
BUSINESS
Economic Survey 2021 highlights need for healthcare sector regulator
On the lines of banking and finance industry - that mitigates the information gap through credit rating agencies and credit bureaus, the Economic Survey suggests creating agencies to assess the quality of the healthcare providers – both doctors and hospitals; and patients.
BUSINESS
Lupin reports Rs 438.3 crore net profit in Q3 FY21, led by improved sales in US, India
Revenues of Lupin rose 5.4 percent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 3,917.3 crore, compared to previous year's Rs 3716 crore.
BUSINESS
Dr Reddy's terminates Kuwait clinical trial of favipiravir on moderate to severe COVID-19 patients
The data from the Kuwait study involving moderate-severe COVID-19 hospitalized patients did not show statistically significant difference for the primary endpoint or the time taken to resolve hypoxia. However, low risk category COVID-19 patients on the broad spectrum antiviral got discharged three days ahead of the placebo group.
BUSINESS
Bharat Biotech enters pact with GSK, PATH to produce, distribute malaria vaccine
As per the agreement GSK will transfer the manufacturing technology of the RTS,S antigens of the vaccine and will grant license on all rights pertaining to the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine to Bharat Biotech. GSK will retain the production of the adjuvant of the vaccine (AS01E) and will supply it to Bharat Biotech.
BUSINESS
Bharat Biotech's Covaxin found to work against UK variant of SARS-CoV-2: Study
Earlier ICMR's National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune isolated and cultured the UK variant of SARS-CoV-2 called as B.1.1.7.
BUSINESS
Estonia-based VIVEO Health bets big on India's online doctor consulting segment
Raul Kallo, Founder of VIVEO Health, told Moneycontrol that the expansion in India falls in line with an increased demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic for remote consulting platforms specially designed for medical professionals with an urge to provide a safe environment to doctors and patients.
BUSINESS
US giant Merck stops development of two COVID-19 vaccine candidates
Both V590 and V591 were generally well tolerated, but the immune responses were inferior to those seen following natural infection and those reported for other COVID-19 vaccines, said Merck
BUSINESS
Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 vaccines could possibly be available in India through COVAX route
India is eligible to get COVID-19 vaccines from COVAX for vaccinating about 20 percent of its population.
BUSINESS
Pharma wrap | After a slow start, India's COVID-19 vaccination drive is picking up
The vaccination turnout, hovering at around 60 percent nationally, is gathering momentum and is now close to 67 percent.
BUSINESS
Why fire at Serum Institute of India's Pune plant has sent jitters across vaccine industry
The companies that are making COVID-19 vaccines can be highly vulnerable targets for cyber attacks and other sophisticated attempts of sabotage, say experts.
BUSINESS
Alembic Pharma head Amin says confident of sustaining growth momentum
Analysts tracking the company say Alembic’s growth in the US will depend on new product launches and commercialisation of its injectable portfolio.
BUSINESS
Status check on COVID-19 vaccines in pipeline for India over next six months
In the initial phase, India will inoculate about one crore healthcare workers. This will be followed by two crore frontline workers, police, armed forces, municipal workers, revenue staff and others. In the third phase, 27 crore people above 50 years of age and those with co-morbidities.
BUSINESS
Why potential vaccine-related legal liabilities worry Covid-19 vaccine makers
As part of their purchase pacts, some countries have agreed to indemnify vaccine makers against claims following any adverse effects. India has not agreed to this so far. Executives of vaccine makers are also worried about the high cost of product liability covers they will have to buy given the limited data on adverse effects at this stage
