Page 3 - Drugs

Weighty issues: India's rush to make weight-loss drugs demands user caution

The global market for weight-loss drugs is estimated at $100 billion by the end of the decade

US FDA announces new program to boost domestic drug manufacturing

The program, called FDA PreCheck, aims to streamline review of domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing and eliminate unnecessary regulatory requirements, the FDA said

India launches formal rules to fix, streamline drug and device clearances

India has issued first official guidelines for expert panels to bring consistency, speed, and transparency to drug and device approvals amid a broader regulatory overhaul

Govt to closely monitor price hikes of drugs outside essential list

The NPPA will ensure drug companies do not exceed the 10% annual price increase limit on non-essential medicines

Delhi govt orders CCTV cameras in chemist shops to curb misuse of medicines

To prevent misuse of Schedule H, H1, and X drugs, the Delhi government directs all chemist shops to install CCTV cameras by July 31; the move follows 11th National Narcotics Coordination Portal meetin

CDMOs gear up for peptide boom amid rising demand for weight-loss drugs

With global demand for GLP-1-based drugs rising, Indian CDMOs are ramping up peptide capabilities ahead of key patent expiries such as that of semaglutide in 2026

Substandard quality in 3,104 drugs, 245 found spurious in FY25: JP Nadda

Since December 2022, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has inspected 905 drug manufacturing and testing units, resulting in 694 regulatory actions, Nadda said

Three held with drugs on Kanwar Yatra route in Muzaffarnagar: UP Police

Police have arrested three people for allegedly supplying drugs along the Kanwar Yatra route here and seized contraband from them, officials said on Monday. They also seized Rs 19,450 in cash from the trio during the arrest under the Civil Lines area here on Sunday evening, officials said. Circle Officer Raju Kumar Sab said a case has been registered against Vaibhav, Gulshan Kumar, and Krishan Kumar under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. On Sunday, thousands of kanwariyas (Lord Shiva devotees), heading back from Haridwar in Uttarakhand with Gangajal, were greeted by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath with a helicopter showering flowers on them in Muzaffarnagar. Authorities have implemented tight security measures along the Kanwar Yatra routes. The Yatra concludes on July 23, when the pilgrims will return home after offering the holy water from the Ganges at Shiva temples on their way. As he welcomed the pilgrims, Adityanath cla

CDSCO flags 4 drugs as spurious, 185 not of standard quality for June 2025

CDSCO has flagged four drugs as spurious and 185 others as not of standard quality for June 2025. The list includes antibiotics and heart disease medications. Investigations are underway

CBI secures deportation of ₹2.5 cr 'meow meow' case accused from UAE

Kubbawala Mustafa is accused of running an MDMA unit in Maharashtra. Mustafa was subject to a Red Notice issued in 2024

HC-ordered expert panel for weight loss drug may be set up by mid-July

A Delhi HC directive to examine unregulated use of weight loss drugs may lead to a CDSCO expert panel by mid-July, possibly led by DCGI with pharma and govt representation

Biocon Biologics gets EU nod for two drugs to treat bone diseases

Biocon Biologics receives marketing authorisation from the European Commission for two Denosumab biosimilars, Vevzuo and Evfraxy, expanding its portfolio in bone disease treatment

Youth addiction spikes across India, experts urge mental health push

As drug use rises among India's youth, experts call for early screening, mental health support, and community rehab over punitive action to turn the tide

Nigerian woman held in Bengaluru with ₹10 cr worth MDMA crystals

A foreign national was arrested in connection with a case of drug peddling here and over 5.3 kg of banned MDMA crystals worth Rs 10 crore was seized from her, police said on Friday. The woman, said to be a Nigerian was held following a tip-off on June 10 by the Central Crime Branch's anti-narcotics wing that she was trying to sell drugs in Tarahunase village near Rajanukunte, they said. During interrogation, she told police that she came to New Delhi on October 4, 2021, on a student visa to study at a college in Telangana state. But when verified, it was revealed that she was not enrolled in that particular college, a senior police officer said. "The woman claimed that she was unable to earn enough to lead a lavish life and so got involved in drug peddling along with her friend. She used to hide these MDMA crystals in new dress piece materials, transported them from Delhi to Bengaluru by bus and supplied it to local drug peddlers in Bengaluru," he said. A case has been registered

Study finds key drug shortages for diabetes, BP at rural health centres

A joint survey conducted by the ICMR and the WHO, along with other institutes, has revealed critical medicine shortages for managing diabetes and hypertension at rural health facilities, from sub-centres to sub-district hospitals, across 19 districts in seven states. The study has also found a shortage of specialists at the community health centre (CHC) level and these findings are similar to the rural health statistics report of 2020-21, indicating a shortfall of physicians (82.2 per cent) and surgeons (83.2.9 per cent) at the CHC-level. The study findings, published in the "Indian Journal of Medical Research (IJMR)" suggest that among public health facilities, PHCs, district hospitals and government medical colleges in India are better prepared to manage services for diabetes and hypertension. Across all the facilities, the domain score for equipment was the highest and for medicines, it was the lowest. However, the availability of all medicines was better at tertiary-care ...

Hypertension, anti allergy meds among 196 drugs flagged by CDSCO as NSQ

Monthly CDSCO alert identifies 196 batches of drugs as not of standard quality and flags one Deca-Durabolin injection as spurious and under investigation

US President Donald Trump's drug price slash could sting Indian pharma

Up to 80% US price cuts may squeeze margins, push up innovator drug costs

Australian cricketer Stuart MacGill spared jail time over supplying cocaine

Former Australian Test bowler Stuart MacGill was spared jail time and given a community service order when he appeared in court on Friday for sentencing over supplying cocaine. MacGill was convicted of supplying drugs for a deal between his regular supplier and his brother-in-law in April 2021. He appeared at Downing Centre District Court where a statement from former Test captain Steve Waugh supported his former colleague. MacGill was sentenced to an intensive corrections order of one year and 10 months. MacGill must complete 495 hours of community service work and undergo drug testing as part of the order, in lieu of a prison term. The former legspinner, who began using cocaine after he retired from cricket, was found guilty in March of supplying an indictable quantity of the drug. A jury determined the 54-year-old MacGill knew about the deal between his regular dealer and his brother-in-law but was oblivious to the fact a one-kilogram (2.2-pound) brick was changing hands. He was

CDSCO revises export NOC rules for new drugs; sets one-year validity

New CDSCO rules set one-year validity for export NOCs, fix seven-day timeline, and simplify process for unapproved and approved drugs meant solely for export

NPPA fixes retail prices of 84 drugs, including empagliflozin combos

The NPPA has fixed retail prices for 84 drug formulations, including 36 combinations of off-patent diabetes drug empagliflozin, after a steep drop in prices