Page 136 - Health Medical Pharma
Roche to buy US gene therapy group Spark for USD 4.3 bn
Swiss pharmaceuticals giant Roche said Monday it reached a deal worth USD 4.3 billion (3.7 billion euros) to buy US group Spark Therapeutics, which specialises in the development of gene therapy drugs. Roche said the deal was approved by the boards of both companies, offering USD 114.50 a share, a premium to 122 per cent to Spark's closing price on Friday. Founded in 2013, Spark Therapeutics specialises in gene therapies, a new and growing segment of medicine, for genetic diseases such as blindness, haemophilia, and neurodegenerative diseases. Its biggest treatment under study is SPK-8011, a haemophilia therapy, on which phase 3 clinical trials, the most advanced stage of trials, are scheduled to begin this year. Luxturna, its treatment for a hereditary retinal disorder that can cause blindness, was the first gene therapy to be approved by the US health authorities in 2017, Roche said. The treatment was also approved last year by the European Union. "As the only biotechnology company
Lupin receives USFDA approval for Methylprednisolone Tablets
lupin's Methylprednisolone Tablets USP, 2 mg, 4 mg, 8 mg, 16 mg, and 32 mg, is the generic version of Pharmacia and Upjohn Company's Medrol Tablets, 2 mg, 4 mg, 8 mg, 16 mg and 32 mg. It is indicated to treat Endocrine Disorders, Rheumatic Disorders, Collagen Diseases, Dermatologic Diseases, Allergic States, Ophthalmic Diseases, Respiratory Diseases, Hematologic Disorders, Neoplastic Diseases, Edematous States, Gastroint estinal Diseases, Acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis, Tuberculous meningitis with subarachnoid block or impending block when used concurrently with appropriate antituberculous chemotherapy, Trichinosis with neurologic or myocardial involvement.
'Cares' may contribute mothers to inadequate protection in subsequent pregnancies
Mothers whose first child was taken into out-of-home care were found to have inadequate or no prenatal care during subsequent pregnancies, says a new study.
Oestrogen made by neurons helps form memories
Oestrogen in the brain is important to keep neurons communicating and making memories, scientists have found. Neurons in both males and females make oestrogen. Researchers have shown that when they do not, their brains have significantly less dense spines and synapses -- both key communication points for neurons -- in the biggest part of their brain, called the forebrain. "We think this shows oestrogen has a clear role in synaptic plasticity, how the neurons communicate and in memory," said Darrell Brann, from Augusta University in the US. The researchers found that mice whose neurons do not make oestrogen have impaired spatial reference memory as well as recognition memory and contextual fear memory -- so they have trouble remembering what's hazardous. According to the study published in the Journal of Neuroscience, restoring oestrogen levels to the brain area rescues these impaired functions. It was known that aromatase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to oestrogen, was made ..
AIIMS and University College London ink pact for research collaborations
All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi has entered into a partnership with the University College London (UCL) to enable collaborations in research and increase the number of academic and student exchange opportunities between both the institutions. A formal "Letter of Intent" was signed between UCL's President Professor Michael Arthur and AIIMS Director Professor Randeep Guleria recently. "Through closer collaboration and shared expertise, we will gain a deeper insight into our ground-breaking research and fulfil our joint ambition to address some of the biggest challenges facing society today. "Furthering academic and student exchange programmes, will also enrich both UCL's and AIIMS communities, enabling them to develop and grow intellectually, culturally and socially," a statement quoting Arthur said. UCL and AIIMS will explore a number of potential collaborative areas, including academic staff collaboration in research and education in mutually agreed areas
Eating small amounts of peanut after immunotherapy may extend allergy treatment benefits: Study
Dietary consumption of peanut after completing oral immunotherapy (OIT) or sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) for peanut allergy may actually provide continued protection against accidental exposures to the allergen, according to a new study led by Edwin Kim.The findings were presented in the annual American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) conference in San Francisco.The study followed 55 people who had completed OIT or SLIT peanut immunotherapy trials at UNC-Chapel Hill and were desensitised to between 300mg and 5,000mg of peanut.Notably, Desensitisation increases the amount of peanut it takes to cause an allergic reaction, decreasing the likelihood of a severe reaction caused by accidental peanut exposure.Speaking about it, Kim said, "They don't necessarily want to eat large amounts of their allergen, they just want a level of reassurance that if a restaurant cook makes a mistake or a food label is wrong, they won't have a severe allergic reaction."After completing ...
Doctors happy with Parrikar's progress, condition stable: Goa CMO
Doctors are happy with the progress of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and his health condition is stable, his office said on Monday.
Vitamin C may lower BP, sugar levels in diabetics
Taking vitamin C supplements can help diabetics by lowering elevated blood sugar levels throughout the day, a study has found. The research, published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, also found that vitamin C lowered blood pressure in people with type 2 diabetes, suggesting benefits for heart health too. According to Glenn Wadley from Deakin University in Australia, the results may help millions currently living with the health condition. ''We found that participants had a significant 36 per cent drop in the blood sugar spike after meals. This also meant that they spent almost three hours less per day living in a state of hyperglycaemia," Wadley said. "This is extremely positive news as hyperglycaemia is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in people living with type 2 diabetes," he said. "We also found that the proportion of people with hypertension halved after taking the vitamin C capsules, with both their systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels dropping ..
Antibacterial products boosting drug-resistance in bacteria
Triclosan, an ingredient commonly added to many 'antibacterial' consumer products such as mouthwash and baby products, may inadvertently make bacteria tolerant to normally lethal concentrations of antibiotics, scientist say. Grocery store are stocked with products that promise to kill bacteria. People snap up those items to protect themselves from the germs. However, researchers from Washington University in the US found that a chemical that is supposed to kill bacteria is making them stronger and more capable of surviving antibiotic treatment. The study, published in the journal Antimicrobial Agents & Chemotherapy, suggests that triclosan exposure may drive bacteria into a state in which they are able to tolerate normally lethal concentrations of antibiotics -- including those antibiotics used to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs). Triclosan is the active ingredient responsible for the "antibacterial" property marketed on many consumer products. It is added to toothpaste, ...
Drug residue in fresh water pose global environmental risk: Study
Concentrations of pharmaceuticals have increased in freshwater sources all over the world over the past 20 years, with levels of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin having potentially damaging ecological effects, scientists say. The research by environmental experts at Radboud University in the Netherlands is the first to examine the risks of two particular medicines in global freshwater sources. "Getting an accurate picture of the environmental risks of pharmaceuticals around the world depends on the availability of data, which is limited," said Rik Oldenkamp, lead author of the study published in the journal Environmental Research Letters. "It's true that there are models, such as the ePiE model, which can give detailed predictions of pharmaceutical concentrations in the environment, but these are often only applicable to places where we already have a lot of information, such as rivers in Europe," Oldenkamp said. The new model developed by the researchers, which builds on an existing ...
Shilpa Medicare gets USFDA nod for cancer drug
Shilpa Medicare Monday said it has received approval from the US health regulator for Gemcitabine for injection, used for treatment of various types of cancers. The approved product is a generic equivalent of reference listed drug Gemzar. The company has received US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) approval for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA), Gemcitabine for injection USP in the strengths of 200 mg/vial and 1 g/vial, Shilpa Medicare said in a BSE filing. Gemcitabine for injection USP is used in the treatment of ovarian cancer, breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer. Quoting IQVIA MAT data for December 2018, Shilpa Medicare said, the US market for Gemcitabine for injection USP, 200 mg/vial and 1 g/vlal is approximately USD 11.7 million. Shares of Shilpa Medicare were trading 2.19 per cent up at Rs 359 apiece on BSE.
Shilpa Medicare receives USFDA approval for Gemcitabine for Injection USP
According to IQVIA MAT 12/2018, the US market for Gemcitabine for Injection USP, 200 mg/vial and 1 g/vial is approximately US$ 11.7 million.
Former Bihar CM Manjhi falls ill during function
Former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi Sunday suddenly fell ill during a function here Sunday, doctors said. Manjhi, who was attending 'Mata Sabri Jayanti' function, fell ill on the stage following which he was taken to his guest house, where doctors treated him, attending Dr Rajesh Kumar said. Kumar said Manjhi suffered loose motions and his blood pressure shot up and is under treatment.
Parrikar to be discharged in a day: Goa Health Minister
Hospitalised Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is under observation and should be discharged "in a day, or a day and a half max", Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said here on Sunday, urging people "not to speculate" about his health.
Quality health for all a shared goal: Kovind
President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday said that quality health for everybody was a shared goal and he was happy that the government, civil society, private and charitable institutions and other stakeholders were working together towards this.
Manohar Parrikar's condition is stable: Goa Health minister
The condition of ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is absolutely stable and he is under observation by doctors at the Goa Medical College hospital in Panaji, according to the state's Health Minister Vishwajit Rane."Wrong information is being provided on social media. Yesterday we had a thorough check-up of the Chief Minister. Today he had minor discomfort and doctors have suggested keeping him under observation for another day or so," Rane told reporters here.Minister Rane and Congress MLA Francis Silveira visited Parrikar at the hospital.Silveira told media, "I came to meet Chief Minister and to inquire about his health. I was not allowed to meet him. I am told that two doctors from AIIMS have come down. I did not get to interact with any doctor."On Saturday the chief minister was admitted to Goa Medical College for an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.Parrikar who is suffering from a pancreatic ailment has been in and out of hospitals in Goa, Mumbai, Delhi, and New York ...
National action plan for viral hepatitis launched
Union Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey on Sunday launched the national action plan for viral hepatitis here. There are estimated 4 crore patients of Hepatitis B and 0.6-1.2 crore patients of Hepatitis C in India, as per the health ministry data. "The action plan takes forward the National Viral Hepatitis Control Program launched by the Union Health Minister in July 2018. The aim is to eliminate hepatitis by 2030," Choubey said. The budget outlay for health in India has increased over the years, and we are progressing towards taking it to 2.5 per cent of GDP, the minister said. "We aim to establish 1.5 lakh Health & Wellness Centres by 2022, out of which 10,000 are already operational; by March 2019 the number will reach 15,000. These centres have diagnostic facilities for twelve illnesses," the minister said. More than six crore people in the country fall below the poverty line due to health expenditure, and the Ayushman Bharat health coverage ...
Happy that govt, civil society, other institutions working together on Ayushman Bharat: Prez Kovind
Expressing happiness that the government, the civil society, and private and charitable institutions were working together to implement the Ayushman Bharat programme, President Ram Nath Kovind said Sunday the ambitious healthcare scheme will go a long way in providing medical cover, especially to the underprivileged. Speaking at the inauguration of a private super-speciality hospital here, Kovind emphasised the importance of quality and affordable healthcare in the country, particularly in Uttar Pradesh. He pointed to the successes in meeting the challenges of traditional infectious and communicable diseases, and also to the changing disease patterns in the country that are giving rise to greater cases to non-communicable or lifestyle ailments. The president said around 63 per cent of people in the country have to bear the cost of treatment of their family members. This expense makes the poor even more poorer, and they have to sell their property for treatment. In this context, he ...
National programme for elimination viral hepatitis launched
Union minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey launched a national programme aimed at eliminating viral hepatitis, recognized as an important public health problem across the world, on Sunday in Mumbai. The minister of state for health launched the National Action Plan - Viral Hepatitis in presence of Amitabh Bachchan, the goodwill ambassador for hepatitis, WHO South-East Asia Region. Bachchan described how he contracted the disease, an inflammatory condition of the liver, when blood was transfused into him after he was injured during the shooting of "Coolie" in 1982. One of the blood donors had Hepatitis B, the actor said, ruing that the detection process for the virus was not available then. He came to know about the condition in 2005. According to WHO estimates, viral hepatitis caused 1.34 million deaths globally in 2015, a number comparable to deaths due to tuberculosis, worldwide. In India, it is estimated that there are 4 crore people suffering from Hepatitis B and 0.6-1.2 crore people ...
Presdient Kovind hails Centre's Ayushman Bharat programme
Expressing happiness that the government, civil society, private and charitable institutions and other stakeholders were working together, President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday said the Ayushman Bharat programme will go a long way in providing medical cover, especially to underprivileged citizens. Speaking at the inauguration of a private super-speciality hospital here, the president emphasised the importance of quality and affordable healthcare services in the country, particularly in Uttar Pradesh. He pointed to the successes in meeting the challenges of traditional infectious and communicable diseases, and also to the changing disease patterns in the country that were giving rise to lifestyle-related ailments. The president, in his speech, said around 63 per cent people in the country had to bear the cost of treatment of their family members and this made the poor even poorer, and they even had to sell their property for treatment. In this context, he said the Ayushman Bharat ...