Medicines

The government has expanded the ambit of the QR code-based track-and-trace mechanism to cover all antimicrobials, vaccines, anti-cancer medicines, and narcotic and psychotropic drugs, a move aimed at strengthening safeguards against counterfeit and substandard medicines. The Union Health Ministry has notified amendments to the Drugs Rules, 1945, bringing these categories of medicines under Schedule H2, which mandates the use of bar codes or Quick Response (QR) codes for product identification and verification. Under the amended provisions, manufacturers will be required to print or affix a barcode or QR code on the primary packaging label of the drug formulation, or on the secondary packaging where space constraints exist, the ministry said. The code will enable authentication and verification of medicines through software applications across the supply chain. According to the ministry, the QR code will contain key product information such as a unique product identification code, .

According to the order, the fixed retail prices are exclusive of Goods and Services Tax (GST), which may be added only if it has actually been paid or is payable to the government.

Pharmacy bodies say online medicine platforms are operating under weak regulation and hurting small chemists through deep discounting and aggressive pricing

Duties for products made by certain larger companies will take effect in 120 days, while items from smaller manufacturers won't be hit for another 180 days, according to a White House statement

Drug pricing regulator permits marginal MRP increase for NLEM medicines in line with wholesale price index, offering relief to manufacturers facing higher costs

The pharmaceuticals department has invited stakeholder comments on proposed changes to the list of 350-plus medical devices exempt from GTE rules, with submissions open until February

The settlement resolves Lupin's ‌pending litigation with Astellas and ​enables the company to continue marketing Mirabegron in the United States

Alembic Pharmaceuticals Ltd on Friday said it has received approval from the US health regulator for its generic version of Carbidopa, Levodopa and Entacapone tablets used in treatment of Parkinson's disease. The approval by the US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) is for the Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) of Carbidopa, Levodopa and Entacapone tablets of strengths 12.5 mg/50 mg/200 mg; 18.75 mg/75 mg/200 mg; 25 mg/100 mg/200 mg; 31.25 mg/125 mg/200 mg; 37.5 mg/150 mg/200 mg; and 50 mg/200 mg/200 mg, Alembic Pharmaceuticals Ltd said in a regulatory filing. The approved ANDA is therapeutically equivalent to the reference listed drug product (RLD), Stalevo tablets of similar strengths of Orion Corporation, it added. Carbidopa, levodopa and entacapone tablets are indicated for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, the company said.

Zydus Lifesciences on Friday said the US health regulator has granted Orphan Drug Designation to Desidustat, a novel oral product medication for the treatment of Sickle Cell Disease. The US Food and Drugs Administration's (USFDA) grants orphan status to support development of medicines for the treatment of rare diseases that affect fewer than 2 lakh people in the US. "This Orphan Drug Designation from the USFDA underlines the urgent medical need to develop a therapy for sickle cell disease. We believe that Desidustat can address this unmet need," Zydus Lifesciences MD Sharvil Patel said in a statement. Therapeutic options for management of Sickle Cell Disease are currently limited. A Phase II, double blind, randomised, placebo controlled, parallel, multi-centre, proof-of-concept study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Desidustat oral tablet for treatment of SCD has been completed, and data will be published in a medical journal, the drug firm said. Orphan drug designation by

The Ayush Ministry on Wednesday signed an MoU between its export promotion council and Zepto Limited to facilitate online access to Ayush medicines and wellness products across the country. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) aims to strengthen digital discovery while ensuring quality compliance and consumer trust in traditional healthcare products. Zepto is an Indian quick-commerce platform offering delivery of groceries and essentials in a short amount of time. Addressing the occasion through a video message, Union Ayush Minister Prataprao Jadhav said innovation-driven Indian startups are playing a critical role in improving last-mile access to trusted wellness products. He emphasised that partnerships with credible digital platforms such as Zepto demonstrate how technology can be responsibly leveraged at scale to connect India's rich AYUSH heritage with modern, transparent and convenient distribution channels nationwide. The minister further noted that the collaboration align

Sun Pharma said it will launch generic semaglutide in India after the patent expiry in March 2026, becoming the second domestic drugmaker to secure regulatory approval for the blockbuster drug

The Union Health Ministry has prohibited manufacture and sale of oral nimesulide formulations above 100 mg for human use, citing liver toxicity risks and acting on ICMR and DTAB recommendations

According to the Ministry of AYUSH, the pharmacopoeias are official compendia of quality standards of the drugs being imported, manufactured for sale, stocked or exhibited for sale in India

Ilumya, a novel biologic treatment that selectively inhibits IL-23, has already established itself as a blockbuster drug internationally, with presence across 35 countries

Vaccine decisions today go beyond personal risk-benefit - they carry cultural and political weight, often leading to judgement when outcomes don't go as expected

Sun Pharma's Q2FY26 profit rose to Rs 3,118 crore as India, emerging markets, and rest of world drove growth; US revenues fell 4.1% despite strong gains in innovative medicines

NHRC issues notices to MP, Rajasthan and UP, asks states to probe children's deaths from alleged use of contaminated cough syrups

Loose silica gel packets are being replaced by built-in smart sorbents that block moisture, oxygen, and odour, boosting safety, stability and patient convenience

From skin rashes to seizures, here's how to spot adverse drug reactions early and protect yourself with timely medical action

Mixing Ayurvedic remedies with prescription drugs may seem harmless, but it can cause serious side effects or reduce treatment efficacy unless done under medical guidance