Page 30 - Pharma Sector

Health ministry body IPC issues alert against reactions of mefenamic acid

The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) has issued a drug safety alert advising healthcare professionals and patients to monitor adverse reactions of painkiller Meftal, commonly used for menstrual cramps and rheumatoid arthritis. The mefenamic acid painkiller is prescribed in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, dysmenorrhoea, mild to moderate pain, inflammation, fever and dental pain. The commission, in its alert, stated that a preliminary analysis of adverse drug reactions from the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) database revealed drug reactions with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome. "Healthcare professionals, patients/consumers are advised to closely monitor the possibility of the above adverse drug reaction (ADR) associated with the use of the suspected drug," according to the alert, issued on November 30. If such reaction is encountered, the alert advised, people should report the matter to the national coordination centre of

Mefenamic acid can have adverse reactions; govt issues drug safety alert

The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) states that painkiller Meftal can cause adverse reactions, including drug reactions with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome

Telangana CM orders stringent action against drug supply, abuse in state

The CM held a review meeting on the narcotic drug menace at the Dr BR Ambedkar Telangana Secretariat on Monday

Sun Pharma revises upwards price to fully acquire Taro to $43 per share

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries on Tuesday said it has revised upwards the price at which it proposed to fully acquire Israel-based Taro Pharmaceutical Industries to USD 43 per share in cash. In May this year, the company announced a non-binding indication of interest to acquire all of the outstanding ordinary shares of Taro for a purchase price of USD 38 per ordinary share in cash through a reverse triangular merger. Subsequently, the company was engaged in multiple rounds of price negotiations with a special committee of the Board of Directors of Taro regarding the proposal. Such negotiations resulted in the company communicating to the special committee updated terms pursuant to which the company has proposed to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Taro's ordinary shares for a purchase price of USD 43 per share in cash, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries said in a regulatory filing. Further, the company said that on December 10, the special committee confirmed that it agreed in ...

Reports claiming non-procurement of contraceptives misleading: Govt

The Union Health Ministry Tuesday termed "misleading" reports claiming that India's family planning programme is likely to get severely affected due to the country's central procurement agency's failure in procuring contraceptives. "Such reports are ill-informed and provides misleading information," the ministry said in a statement. The Central Medical Services Society (CMSS), an autonomous body and a Central Procurement Agency under Union Ministry of Health, procures condoms for National Family Planning Programme and National AIDS Control Programme. "The CMSS procured 5.88 crores pieces of condoms for Family Planning Programme in May, 2023 and the present stock position of condoms is sufficient to meet the requirement of the Family Planning Programme," the ministry said. Currently, National Aids Control Organization (NACO) is receiving supplies of 75 per cent free condoms from M/s HLL Lifecare Ltd. and is preparing to place remaining 25 per cent quantities for 2023-24 with CMSS on

War-wracked Myanmar now world's top opium producer, says UN agency

Myanmar, already wracked by a brutal civil war, has regained the unenviable title of the world's biggest opium producer, according to a UN agency report released on Tuesday. The Southeast Asian country's opium output has topped that of Afghanistan, where the ruling Taliban imposed a ban on its production, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime said in its Southeast Asia Opium Survey 2023." The Taliban's ban has led to a 95 per cent drop in the cultivation of opium poppies, UNODC said last month. Opium, the base from which morphine and heroin are produced, is harvested from poppy flowers. From 2022 to 2023, Myanmar saw the estimated amount of land used to grow the illicit crop increase 18 per cent to 47,100 hectares (116,400 acres), the new UNODC report said. Although the area under cultivation has not returned to historic peaks of nearly 58,000 ha (143,300 acres) cultivated in 2013, after three consecutive years of increases, poppy cultivation in Myanmar is expanding and ...

China's children battling pneumonia shows dangers of drug resistance

An outbreak of walking pneumonia, normally a mild infection, struck millions of children in the second half of 2023, creating Covid flashbacks and raising fears about another novel pathogen

India's bio-economy grew from $10 bn to $80 bn in 8 years: Mandaviya

India's bio-economy has grown eight times in the last eight years from USD 10 billion to USD 80 billion, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Monday, underlining that in the coming times, biotechnology will become the biggest foundation for medical treatment. The Indian biotech industry aims at growing to USD 150 billion by 2025 and USD 300 billion by 2030, he noted while virtually addressing an event "Biotechnology: The Path of Innovation and Wellness for Viksit Bharat" held at the at Vigyan Bhavan in Ahmedabad. Mandaviya said India is currently among the top 12 destinations for biotechnology in the world with approximately three per cent share in the global biotechnology industry. The event, which was attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, was held in the run up to the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit. The summit is scheduled to be held in Gandhinagar in January with the theme -- 'Gateway to the Future'. "This industry (biotechnology) will become a mediu

DRL partners with Coya Therapeutics to develop nerve disorder therapy

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurological disorder characterised by progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain

Johnson & Johnson sees 2024 sales growth slowing as top drug faces rivals

The pharma and medical devices giant will soon lose its exclusivity with psoriasis treatment Stelara, which accounted for a fifth of its drug sales in the third quarter

Kenyan President invites Indian companies to set up manufacturing units

Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto, who is on a three-day visit to India, called upon companies here to establish manufacturing facilities in his country to gain access to the entire African market of around 1.4 billion people. "We have bigger opportunities in Kenya than we do in India. We also have fewer competitors in Kenya in metals business than in India and we have a higher return in Kenya than India," Ruto said. Highlighting "clear investment opportunities" in Kenya, the President said he shared with Prime Minister Modi that the African nation imports 70 per cent of its pharmaceutical commodities from India. Calling upon Indian companies to establish manufacturing facilities in Kenya, the President said doing so will provide them access to not only the Kenyan market of 50 million people but the entire African market of 1.4 billion people as Kenya is a signatory to the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement that weaves together 55 countries into a single market of 1.4 billio

Lord's Mark Industries set to go public in 2024, aims to raise Rs 500 cr

IDBI Capital and Mirae Asset have been appointed as the merchant bankers for the listing

Samples of 59 drugs declared as 'not of standard quality', says CDSCO

Samples of 59 drugs, including those of reputed companies, were declared as "not of standard quality" in October, according to a Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) alert. The CDSCO in its alert, which was issued recently, said that 1,105 samples were tested. Of the total, 61, which include two samples of unlabelled vials with white seal purported to contain Tigecycline 50 mg and two samples of phenolic disinfecting multi-purpose surface cleaner-cum-deodoriser (Lytner), were found to be "not of standard quality", it said. The count comes to 59 as samples of two drugs were repeated. The drug samples were tested at various statutory laboratories authorised by the CDSCO. The other samples termed "not of standard quality" include those of Cefixime Oral Suspension IP, Amoxycillin, Potassium Clavulanate and Lactic Acid Bacillus Tablets (GAMPCLAV-625 LB Tablets), Rabeprazole Sodium (Enteric Coated) and Domperidone (Sustained Release) Capsules (20 mg/30 mg), Diclofenac So

India, US to boost cooperation in pharma, critical minerals & emerging tech

India and the US have agreed to strengthen cooperation in sectors like pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, critical minerals and emerging technologies, an official statement said on Friday. The two countries also discussed collaborative opportunities in green and clean technologies; and strengthening partnership in critical technologies, the commerce ministry said. These key areas emerged from the discussions during the meeting of Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo at a review meeting of the India-US CEO Forum virtually last night. "As both sides are focused on closer engagement based on trust, following key areas emerged from the discussions -- supply chain cooperation across pharma, semiconductors, critical minerals and energy; collaborative opportunities in green tech and scaling up manufacturing for clean tech; and strengthening partnership in critical and emerging technologies," it said. Raimondo urged the CEO Forum to seize the

65% of MSME firms found manufacturing substandard drugs since Dec: Report

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and state drug inspectors have been conducting inspections as part of a massive nationwide crackdown on spurious and substandard medicines

India's pharma business can reach $130 bn by 2030: Industry experts

India's pharmaceutical business may exceed USD 130 billion by 2030, supported by expanding market opportunities and heightened demand in the overseas markets, industry experts said on Tuesday. The business stood at over USD 50 billion for the 2022-23 fiscal, they noted. Chairman of PharmExcil (Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India) Veeramani S V said the Indian pharmaceutical industry is on a compelling growth trajectory, evidenced by an 8 per cent year-to-date increase in exports and a remarkable 29 per cent surge in October alone. "This growth is propelled by expanding market opportunities, heightened demand in the USA, and critical shortages of medicines in the US and Europe. Despite challenges in CIS countries, the global reception of Indian pharmaceuticals remains positive," he said. Veeramani noted that the domestic market has exhibited impressive growth, exceeding 10 per cent. "Driven by this momentum, I am confident in reaching the 130 billion mark by 2030," he

Indian pharma industry can grow to $450 bn by 2047: EY-OPPI report

The report underlines the need for collaboration and alignment between the industry, academia and government to advance research and innovation capabilities

Rusan Pharma Invests 300 Crores in New API Facility in MP's Pithampur

New plant to produce 400 MT of APIs, creating more than 300 jobs and enhancing global supply

Ryzneuta for chemotherapy-induced neutropenia receives USFDA approval

Acrotech Biopharma is preparing to commercialise Ryzneuta in the United States in the near future

Strides Pharma arm obtains USFDA nod for Levetiracetam oral solution

According to market research firm IQVIA, the Levetiracetam oral solution has a market size of $55 million