PSA launches community mental-health digital platform

The Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India Prof. K VijayRaghavan has virtually launched ‘MANAS’ App to promote wellbeing across age groups.

“India should have a vibrant clinical research community who can advise drug developers”

The Indian Society for Clinical Research (ISCR), an association of clinical research professionals, has announced the appointment of Dr Sanish Davis as its President for the term 202123.

Govt fast-tracks emergency approvals for foreign-made COVID-19 vaccines

The matter of augmenting the basket of vaccines available for fighting the pandemic as well as accelerating the pace and coverage of domestic vaccination programmes was discussed recently at the 23rd meeting of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC).

Premas Biotech, Oramed Announce Oral Covid-19 Vaccine Candidate

Gurugram based Premas Biotech has announced the development of an oral COVID-19 vaccine that has shown efficacy after a single dose, in conjunction with Jerusalem-based Oramed Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Is India's War On Covid-19 Losing Steam?

As the vaccination drive continues, India is faced with a shortage of vaccines considering the population of the country, which currently stands at a staggering 1,390,605,073, as per Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data. The Indian government, to address this stark reality, has opened its doors to foreign vaccines and are fast-tracking their approval.

“Made in India products need an ecosystem for commercialisation of innovations”

Established in 1998, Ernakulam-based Agappe Diagnostics is one of the rapidly growing companies in the in vitro diagnostic (IVD) industry in India, having a wide range of products in the pre-analytical and analytical segment. Focused on research, design, and production of clinical chemistry reagents and instrument, Agappe has over 1000 distributors and holds a significant place in the global original equipment manufacturer (OEM) business. The company currently has a workforce of more than 600 employees spread across sectors such as R&D, manufacturing, sales, support and operations. In conversation with BioSpectrum, Thomas John, Managing Director, Agappe Diagnostics, Ernakulam shares his strategies and plans for the company’s growth in the long run.

Vocalising pain is a must

Women have unique health issues. In fact, some of the health issues that affect both men and women can affect women very differently.

“India should focus on innovating drugs and molecules to emerge as a global leader”

The Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI) has elected S Sridhar as its next President for a period of two years, effective from February 15, 2021. He takes over from Sharad Tyagi, Former Managing Director, Boehringer Ingelheim India Pvt Ltd. Sridhar is currently serving as the Managing Director of Pfizer Limited and is heading Pfizer Inc’s commercial business in India. Sridhar has been a member of the Executive Committee of OPPI for the past six years and has also chaired its Finance and Taxation Work Group. He is a strong voice of healthcare transformation in the country and was the chair of FICCI’s Pharma Committee till recently. In conversation with BioSpectrum, S Sridhar talks about making a difference to patients, the industry and the country via this new role.

Thermo Fisher unveils human plasma-like cell culture medium

Thermo Fisher Scientific has launched the new Gibco Human Plasma-like Medium (HPLM), the first cell culture medium on the market that mimics the metabolic profile of human plasma that is designed to provide researchers with a realistic view of cell growth within the human body.

Building On Biologics Business Growth

In 1990’s when Hasmukh K Chudgar, founder of Intas Pharmaceuticals handed over the company to his sons Binish, Nimish and Urmish, the company’s turnover was less than $1 million.

King Of Vaccines Protecting Children From Birth Onwards

Son of a horse breeder, Cyrus Poonawalla founded Serum Institute of India (SII) in 1966 in Pune when he was just 22 years and got married to Villoo. Over the years, his passion of offering affordable vaccines to the world has motivated to build SII into one of the world’s largest vaccine makers.

“We are particularly looking forward to increasing our business in India”

Emerging from the Institute of Cell Culture Technology at Bielefeld University, Germany, in 2009, Xell AG (formerly TeutoCell AG), has grown to become an independent and privately financed biotech company dedicated to cutting-edge innovation and developing expertise. With more than 20 years of hands-on experience in cell culture technology, Xell has drawn from its academic and technological knowledge to become a key partner in the design and distribution of cell culture solutions. The company is currently serving the Indian market through its partnership with Navi Mumbai-based Rane Rao Reshamia Laboratories. BioSpectrum interacted with Prof. Thomas Noll, Chairman, Supervisory Board, Xell AG, Germany to find out more about the company’s plans for 2021 and beyond. Edited excerpts;

BioSpectrum honours INDUSTRY STALWARTS

It is time to celebrate the outstanding contribution and achievements of the Indian Bio Sciences industry leaders and organisations over the past one year.

WHO Highlights Paediatric Chronic Pain Management

New WHO Guidelines on the management of chronic pain in children provide recommended physical, psychological and pharmacological interventions for pain relief in children aged 0-19 years.

Mental Health Startup InnerHour Gets $5.2M Fund influx

In a historic first, Mumbai based startup InnerHour has raised $5.2 million from Lightbox and others, making this the largest fundraise in the Indian mental health ecosystem till date.

Budget 2021 Takes Many Steps Forward And A Few Back

Underscoring the significant importance of health and wellbeing for the growth and development of the country, the budget allocation for the same has been increased to Rs 2,23,846 crore in the Union Budget 2021-22. But many concerns, such as neglecting digital healthcare in the budget, have also been raised. The industry feels let down as the government did not address tax benefits on R&D investments in pharma, lowering GST for life-saving drugs, focusing on personal health insurance adoption, special attention to mental healthcare, articulation on Universal Healthcare Coverage (UHC) and much more.

“We support scientists in all regions researching and developing vaccines against COVID”

Eva van Pelt, Co-CEO & Chief Commercial Officer, Eppendorf AG, Hamburg, Germany

NECHRI, IIT-G ink MoU for cancer research

Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati (IIT-G), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with North East Cancer Hospital and Research Institute (NECHRI), Jorabat, Assam.

“Peptide purification market is underserved by traditional resin suppliers”

« Jonathan Royce, Chief Executive Officer, Bio-Works Technologies AB, Sweden

India rolls out vaccines to neighbouring coThe government has opened a new institute of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) i.e. CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR), in New Delhi.untries

The Government of India has received several requests for the supply of Indian manufactured vaccines from neighbouring and key partner countries.

LEADING FROM THE FRONT

The International Women’s Day theme for 2021, celebrated on March 8 every year, is #ChooseToChallenge, which highlights the importance of challenging biases and misconceptions in the interest of creating a more inclusive and gender-equal world.

CEPI Call provides up to $140M to vaccine developers

Norway based Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has opened a new funding opportunity to support the rapid generation of additional clinical research on COVID-19 vaccines.

Govt opens institute for science communication & policy research

The government has opened a new institute of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) i.e. CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR), in New Delhi.

9 Trends Of New Post-Covid Era

As the world wakes up to the new post-COVID reality, the vaccine industry is entering a new paradigm that is one in which vaccines are perceived as effective medical interventions, which will have wider acceptance in the society, and which need to be supported.

WHO announces updates on systematic screening for TB

World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a number of updates to its forthcoming guidance on the systematic screening of tuberculosis (TB) disease.

INDIAN BIOPHARMA HITS RS 25,000 CRORE RIDING 15% GROWTH WAVE

The Indian Biopharma Industry, with over 300 companies, is growing at the rate of 15 per cent, which is 3 per cent more than the previous year’s 12 per cent.

Piramal Pharma invests $32M to expand API facility in US

Mumbai based Piramal Pharma Limited’s Pharma Solutions business, a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), has announced plans to expand its facility in Michigan in the US with additional capacity and new capabilities for the development and manufacturing of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs).

Govt launches SARS-CoV-2 genomic consortium to monitor viral mutations

The government has launched the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia (INSACOG), comprising 10 labs namely DBT-NIBMG Kalyani, DBT-ILS Bhubaneswar, ICMRNIV Pune, DBT-NCCS Pune, CSIR-CCMB Hyderabad, DBT-CDFD Hyderabad, DBT-InSTEM/ NCBS Bengaluru, NIMHANS Bengaluru, CSIR-IGIB Delhi, and NCDC Delhi.

Korea conducts typhoid vaccine study in Nepal

Vi-DT typhoid conjugate vaccine, developed jointly by the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and SK Bioscience based in South Korea, has met the primary endpoints in a Pase III study in Nepal.

Govt works towards AYUSH export promotion council

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of AYUSH have decided to work together to set up an Export Promotion Council to boost AYUSH exports.