In this issue

BUILDING INDIGENOUS DIAGNOSTIC CAPABILITIES

India is facing a bigger burden of not having enough diagnostic kits in hand. Specifically, there is a shortage of reagents and consumables required to carry out the diagnostic tests for COVID-19. In order to overcome this burden, India is reaching out to South Korea, USA, Germany and China to arrange for more kits in order to increase the current testing capacity for COVID-19. Although this step might help India to some extent in its current containment plan, the real need can only be fulfilled by accelerating indigenous COVID-19 diagnostics manufacturing.

Roche Diagnostics India unveils Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 assay

Roche Diagnostics India has announced that it is bringing their serology-based SARSCoV-2 test - Elecsys AntiSARS-CoV-2 – having received the Import License issued by the Central Drug Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), due to the emergency health situation in public interest.

1 min

Relex Health focuses on medication therapy management

Bengaluru based startup Relex Health recently announced a first-of-its-kind Medication Therapy Management Programme in India.

1 min

Building indigenous DIAGNOSTIC CAPABILITIES

India is facing a bigger burden of not having enough diagnostic kits in hand. Specifically, there is a shortage of reagents and consumables required to carry out the diagnostic tests for COVID-19. In order to overcome this burden, India is reaching out to South Korea, USA, Germany and China to arrange for more kits in order to increase the current testing capacity for COVID-19. Although this step might help India to some extent in its current containment plan, the real need can only be fulfilled by accelerating indigenous COVID-19 diagnostics manufacturing.

10+ mins

Covid-19 Testing Continues To Be A Pressing Issue

One of the key constraints for Indian researchers and manufacturers to develop quickly testing kits in the country is dependency for raw materials such as enzymes, antigens, antibodies etc., required for research and manufacturing. All this is leading to delays in development of high quality and affordable testing solutions. Government should provide necessary support to develop the “ancillary” support for the researchers and manufacturers so that India can become self-reliant.

5 mins

Is PPE Shortage Driving Adoption Of Robots For Assistance?

Anticipating the threat on healthcare workers in contracting corona infection, hospitals in India have started turning to robots for COVID-19 management. Robots help lessen exposure of healthcare workers to the virus thereby reducing danger of infection. They not only help in contactless screening but are also capable of other operations.

5 mins

IF WISHES WERE VACCINES…

The long road till commercial availability compelling sustained funding at unprecedented levels. Combined with the $ 2 billion outlay expected from GAVI / CEPI and various government institutions and alliances across the globe, the total economic interest invested in this research would be at a never-before-seen or imagined level.

5 mins

Traditional Medicines & Covid-19

Allopathic drugs are already being tried to treat COVID-19 but even with promising results these drugs always comes with some side-effects unlike in case of traditional system of medicines.

8 mins

“Our efforts are focused on offering a safe and efficacious COVID-19 vaccine”

Zydus Cadila, an innovation-driven, global pharmaceutical company, has recently received the approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for use of Saroglitazar in the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus as an add on therapy with Metformin. The drug was previously approved in the year 2013 for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia and diabetic dyslipidemia in India. More than 1 million patients are being treated with Lipaglyn. BioSpectrum has spoken to Dr Sharvil Patel, Managing Director of Zydus Cadila about the future plans for the product and about the accelerated research programme launched for the development of the vaccine against coronavirus.

4 mins

“We intend to establish Takeda India as a CoE in clinical research”

Japanese multinational pharmaceutical company Takeda announced the appointment of Koki Sato as the Head for the company’s India business on April 1, 2020. Sato has been a part of Takeda since 2003 and has grown within the company to hold various senior international roles across multiple functions, including commercial operations, finance, and HR. Prior to this role, he was the General Manager of Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova (UBM) Cluster in Takeda’s ICMEA (India, C.I.S., Middle East, Turkey, and Africa) area. BioSpectrum India took this opportunity to interact with Koki Sato, General Manager (GM), Takeda Pharmaceuticals India Pvt. Ltd to find out more about the growth of the India business at Takeda.

4 mins

Thermo Fisher Brings SARS-CoV-2 Sequencing Program

To accelerate national, multi-institutional efforts focused on mapping coronavirus transmission and epidemiological studies, Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced the SARS-CoV-2 Global Access Sequencing Program for research consortia and industry groups battling the spread of the pandemic globally.

1 min

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Bio Spectrum Magazine Description:

India's leading publication that covers the business of bio-technology. With comprehensive analyses of policy issues, products and services across the bio-pharma, bio-informatics, bio-infrastructure and bio-agriculture segments, it is the industry's most authoritative source of information.