In this issue

30 COVID-19 Vaccine Projects Afoot In India

When it comes to India that produces 60 per cent of the world’s vaccines and accounts for 60-80 per cent of the United Nations’ annual vaccine procurement, development of a new vaccine is a major task. But what works in India’s favour in the race for a vaccine is that a number of Indian firms are key players in the global vaccine industry. So, along with employing different technology platforms for vaccine development, India has adopted a cross functional collaborative approach, globally and locally, wherein currently 30 vaccine projects are afoot against COVID-19.

Vera Smart Healthcare amplifies COVID-19 surveillance

Hyderabad based startup Vera Smart Healthcare has launched Traveller Tracking System (TTS) to screen railways, bus stations, Hyderabad airport and will soon cover all district borders of entry to Telangana, to track plus monitor coronavirus contacts.

1 min

The Lancet HCQ study report: A knee-jerker during pandemic?

Praised as a potential miracle cure, hundreds of trials got initiated across the globe for HCQ. Scientists started trying the drugs in low and high doses; alone or combined with other drugs in patients with mild or severe disease. But this hope recently got struck by a big blow when a study came along claiming that these antimalarial drugs not only look ineffective but are downright deadly.

5 mins

30 COVID-19 Vaccine Projects Afoot In India

When it comes to India that produces 60 per cent of the world’s vaccines and accounts for 60-80 per cent of the United Nations’ annual vaccine procurement, development of a new vaccine is a major task. But what works in India’s favour in the race for a vaccine is that a number of Indian firms are key players in the global vaccine industry. So, along with employing different technology platforms for vaccine development, India has adopted a cross-functional collaborative approach, globally and locally, wherein currently 30 vaccine projects are afoot against COVID-19.

10+ mins

Repurposing Hepatitis Drugs For Covid-19 Treatment

While researchers are still finding novel ways to cure hepatitis, the virus has shown them a new direction. HCV shares similarity with the currently prevalent SARS-CoV-2 by having a single-stranded RNA, while HBV has a double-stranded DNA as its genetic material. As a result, repurposing of existing therapies has emerged as a major area of drug development for COVID-19 and selected hepatitis drugs among others are being studied for repositioning to manage the pandemic.

6 mins

Time to end distancing of traditional and modern medicine

The COVID-19 pandemic is taking a toll on the entire country. As the number of cases is ever increasing, the flattened curve feels like a distant dream. The hospitals, emergency professionals and healthcare services have been burdened and have exhausted their services. Many patients have been left absolutely helpless as we hear stories of lack of proper infrastructure and management to cater to the needs of such a huge population. Is there a better way to manage this crisis? Is there a solution in our own backyard that we are ignoring?

5 mins

Reshaping health behaviours

In the past three months, healthcare practices have advanced by several years. The year 2020 will be remembered as the year that reshaped health behaviours through accelerated use of digital technologies.

5 mins

Rise of 3D printing to combat COVID-19

India is still in the early stages of 3D printing deployment and in the post-COVID-19 world, 3D printing and perhaps 3D bioprinting will play a major role in advancing and improving healthcare in India.

3 mins

Is India self-reliant to manufacture APIs locally?

The KSM is manufactured only by China. So Indian pharma needs to find a way of manufacturing KSM through alternative routes

3 mins

“India should focus on healthcare innovation and access post-COVID-19”

As economies around the world are suffering from the impact of COVID-19, businesses are experiencing losses, workers are without jobs, and many face the challenge of a complete upheaval of lifestyle.

2 mins

Applications of controlled freeze-thaw system in the production of modern biologicals

Vikrant is M.Tech in Bioprocess Technology with an accomplished 10+ years of experience in bioprocess Industry with a major focus on technology transfer, scale-up & validation of vaccines and biosimilars molecules. He has expertise in validation, downstream processing unit operation viz. chromatography, filtration-Depth, TFF & Nano-filtration. He has also been engaged in designing and successful qualification of BSL 2 manufacturing facility.

4 mins

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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.