Keeping safe distance between individuals is hence one of the best tools considered to prevent spreading of SARS-CoV-19. However, certain professional duties present challenges to follow social distancing and falling in this category are majorly the healthcare workers, who are responsible for testing, diagnosis and treatment. A slight mishandling of the situation can lead to a health center becoming a hotspot of the disease.
The Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued guidelines for rational use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) such as gloves, coveralls/gowns, headcover, goggles, N-95 masks, shoe covers, face shields, triple-layer medical masks and body bags, to safeguard healthcare workers providing assistance in various settings of hospitals. Additionally, PPEs are also deployed by health workers in community settings as field staff, staff at quarantine facilities and home quarantine.
In a span of two months, India has emerged as the second-largest manufacturer of PPEs in the world. While India had no local manufacturing capacity of PPEs in February, and had experienced shortage for the same, a focused push for the ramp-up production was ensured for self-sufficiency. Though India managed to import around 52,000 PPE kits in February, the joint effort of Ministry of Textiles and India’s top textile manufacturers such as Arvind Mills, 3M, Aditya Birla, Alok Industries, JCT Phagwara, Gokaldas Exports, Indian Technical Textile Association (ITTA) with others, has led to the manufacturing of an average of current three lakh PPE kits per day.
This story is from the June 2020 edition of Bio Spectrum.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 2020 edition of Bio Spectrum.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
How Tech Innovations Impact Cardiac Care
Cardiac care has seen a transformation over the years with technology playing an important role. Armed with Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), cardiac care providers, with the right technology, have received the right impetus to revolutionise treatment mechanisms. Let us delve into the new technologies which the industry is offering to mankind and decipher the way forward.
Mynvax Offers ‘Warm Vaccine' For COVID-19
Biotech startup Mynvax, incubated at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru, has developed heat-tolerant COVID-19 vaccine formulations.
“R&D outsourcing has become a ‘must have' than ‘good-to have' strategy”
Aragen Life Sciences (formerly GVK BIO), a leading contract research and development organisation headquartered in Hyderabad, is marking its transition to a new brand identity in its 20th year. Established in 2001, the company is poised for growth in the outsourced discovery, development, and manufacturing services sector across both large and small molecule platforms with new investments and collaborations. In conversation with BioSpectrum, Manni Kantipudi, Chief Executive Officer, Aragen Life Sciences, Hyderabad reveals more about the company’s recent rebranding and growth plans. Edited excerpts;
Premas Biotech to commercialise VLP vaccine tech against Delta variant
Gurugram-based Premas Biotech has signed a licensing deal with Oravax Medical for the development and commercialisation of its virus-like-particle COVID-19 vaccine technology.
SARS-CoV-2: A Biochemical Treatise on its Past, Present & Future
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is unprecedented but equally unprecedented is the contribution of scientists who have helped us in understanding the mechanisms by which it infects human beings and also, developing a variety of vaccines to protect the masses, in a year’s time, which can be called truly groundbreaking. This article gives an overview of the progress made by scientists around the world working round the clock in developing an understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 evolution and COVID-19 disease pathogenesis, and also makes an attempt to suggest the possible ways of coping with this pandemic if we have to co-exist with it forever!
Merck launches Pergoveris Pen for fertility treatment in India
Merck Specialties, the healthcare business of Merck in India, has launched Pergoveris Pen for advanced infertility treatment in India.
GUNG-HO PHARMA R&D INVESTMENTS SURPASS $3B
While the pharmaceutical industry helped combat COVID-19, from R&D actions on potential treatment strategies to balancing the medicines supply chain in the time of crisis, it struggled to maintain the natural market flow. As a result, many pharma companies had to abort some of their ongoing R&D investment plans. However for FY20-21, the average R&D expenses constituted 7.2 per cent of the total revenues of the pharma companies, with Lupin, Alembic Pharma and Dr. Reddy’s spending more than others. The cumulative R&D expenditure of the leading 10 pharma companies has been around Rs 10,627 crore ($1.43 billion) in the previous fiscal. This figure eventually reaches an approximate amount of Rs 22,500 crore ($3.03 billion) after considering the cumulative expenditure by other small and medium players of the India pharma industry.
Glenmark ties up with SaNOtize to commercialise COVID-19 nasal spray
Mumbai-based Glenmark Pharmaceuticals and Canadian biotech firm SaNOtize Research & Development Corporation
CEPI prioritises Rift Valley fever vax
Sep 01, Norway-based Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has signed an implementing partner agreement with Integrum Scientific (US) as part of its ongoing efforts to combat Rift Valley fever (RVF)—one of its priority diseases with epidemic potential.
3D printing moulds healthcare innovations
Pharmaceuticals, bio-medicine, aviation, and automobiles industries have rapidly adopted 3D printing over the years, worldwide, to develop new solutions and prototypes. It is also helping many industries, healthcare, in particular, increase productivity. Despite all its advantages, 3D printing technology is currently posing a number of challenges in the market such as initial costs, limitation to the metals and plastics used for 3D printing, lack of policy standardisation, etc.
