Page 2 - Biotechnology

US-based Hedge fund Shah Capital urges Novavax board shake-up: Report

The hedge fund called for Suresh Katta and Venkat Peri, who are chief executives of other biotech firms, to be nominated for the independent board roles

Bharat Biotech, Bilthoven Biologicals collaborate for oral polio vaccines

Bilthoven Biologicals will produce the vaccines for distribution in India and worldwide

IIL invests Rs 700 cr in new vaccine plant to combat livestock disease

Equipped with a BSL3 (biosafety level) facility for drug substance production and a Fill-Finish capability for final vaccine products, the unit will focus on combating two major livestock diseases

Students clearing 10+2 without biology still eligible to appear for NEET

New National Medical Commission guidelines allow candidates passing 10+2 with physics, chemistry, biology/biotechnology, and english are now eligible for NEET-UG

San Diego-based biotech company Illumina bets on India for growth

While Illumina is reducing its workforce in the US, it plans to hire in India, where it currently employs only 30 people

Pfizer's proposed $43 bn takeover of Seagen faces EU investigation

If the takeover goes through, Seagen's portfolio would double Pfizer's pipeline of early-stage experimental cancer therapies, Pfizer has said

Insulin maker GeneSys to invest $50-60 mn to set up plant in Hyderabad

Biotechnology company GeneSys Biologics Pvt Ltd is planning to invest USD 50-60 million to set up a new large-scale recombinant bulk manufacturing facility in Genome Valley here for the production of insulin analogues. The insulin analogues (medical insulin that are altered forms of the human hormone insulin) will be produced in the recombinant bulk manufacturing facility in which purified bulk insulin will be derived through fermentation. An official press release said the Hyderabad-based company has already invested approximately USD 50 million in its Genome Valley plant. Telangana IT and Industries Minister K T Rama Rao expressed delight over the expansion plans of GeneSys saying it will not only contribute to the growth of Hyderabad's biotech sector but also facilitate the company's ongoing collaboration with US-based Civica Rx. GeneSys has partnered with Civica Rx, a US non-profit generic drug company, to manufacture and distribute affordable insulin. The minister congratulat

COP15 adopts biodiversity reversal plan to save 30% of land, water by 2030

Montreal deal also aims to provide critical financing to developing world; draft calls for raising $200 billion by 2030 for biodiversity, with a plan that could provide another $500 billion

Biocon starts new clinical study to evaluate efficacy of Itolizumab

Biotechnology major Biocon on Wednesday said it has initiated a clinical study in collaboration with Equillium Inc to evaluate efficacy of Itolizumab in patients with Ulcerative Colitis. This is a phase two randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo and active-controlled (adalimumab), two treatment period study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Itolizumab for the induction of remission in biologics naive patients with moderate to severely active Ulcerative Colitis (UC), Biocon said in a statement. Having obtained approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), the study will cover several tertiary hospitals specialised in handling UC cases, it added. The first patient who intended to participate in the study was screened on December 1, 2022, the company said. "The commencement of the Phase two clinical study, that will determine its efficacy for the treatment of Ulcerative Colitis, is an important step forward in our efforts to bring its benefit to patients

FSSAI proposes regulations for genetically modified food: Details here

FSSAI has come out with draft regulations for genetically modified food, proposing mandatory prior approval from the regulator to manufacture, sell and import food or ingredients produced from genetically-modified organisms. The proposed Food Safety and Standards (Genetically Modified Foods) Regulations, 2022 will apply to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) intended for food use, as per the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The regulations, once implemented, will also be applicable to food ingredients produced from GMOs that contain modified DNA as well as for food ingredients produced from GMOs that do not contain modified DNA but includes ingredients/additives/processing aids derived from GMOs. GMO means any living organism that possesses a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology. "No person shall manufacture, pack, store, sell, market or otherwise distribute or import any food or food ingredient produced from

Biotech firm Bharat Serums & Vaccines working to reduce import dependence

Firm is develop recombinant products in hormones, eyes acquisitions in South East Asia

Years after Bt cotton, GEAC clears environmental release of GM mustard

First crop to get such recommendation since Bt cotton in years, say experts

New Covid variants spreading across the globe: what are the risk?

Amid the surge in the new and recombinant variants, scientists across the world are now watching out for variants which could turn into variants of concern soon

And now, a seaweed-based nutraceutical cure for fatty liver disease

Pre-clinical trials show no evidence of side effects in the product, which is the ninth such to be developed from marine organisms by Kochi-based CMFRI

Jamia Millia to release first merit list for UG admission on Sept 26

JMI UG admission 2022 to begin from September 26. Candidates can visit the official website for further updates

Planet Scuba India ropes in CREST to manufacture dive equipment in India

The company will introduce CREST Diving to DRDO's DEBEL and will aim to make India an alternative to China as a manufacturer of dive equipment

Mylab, firm that makes kits to detect Covid, starts pathology test facility

"We are now getting to 'wet' pathology tests like blood tests etc and we have set up a centre which will have minimal human intervention and maximum automation

Biocon net profit rises 71% to Rs 144 cr in June quarter; revenue rises 23%

Biotechnology major Biocon on Wednesday reported a 71 per cent increase in consolidated net profit at Rs 144 crore for the June quarter on the back of robust growth across business verticals. The company had posted a net profit of Rs 84 crore in the April-June quarter of the previous fiscal. Total revenue rose to Rs 2,217 crore in the first quarter as compared with Rs 1,808 crore in the year-ago period, Biocon said in a regulatory filing. Biocon Executive Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said revenues grew as a result of robust growth in both biosimilar and generics verticals. "Our financial performance this quarter includes the impact of annual increments in personnel costs as well as increased input and freight costs, pursuant to pandemic and geopolitical disruptions of global supply chains," she added. All the company businesses are poised for the next phase of sustainable growth which has been challenged during the two years of the Covid pandemic, Mazumdar-Shaw said.

Procedural issues continue to hinder commercialisation of GM crops in India

Two decades after Bt cotton made its debut in India, commercialisation of genetically modified crops remains mired in complex procedural rules

Diverse population, climatic zones behind rise in biotech sector: PM Modi

Highlighting the potential of bio start-ups in India, Narendra Modi on Thursday said India's diverse population and climatic zones are among the top factors behind the growth of the biotech industry.