Pharma & Health News Top Stories Today – HealthDelhi NCR hospitals gear up for any medical emergencies amid Indo-Pak tensions 11/05/2025Hospitals, including AIIMS Delhi, Safdarjung Hospital, and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, have ramped up disaster response measures, ensuring adequate availability of beds, oxygen, and essential medicines.From Muhurat Births to Mental Health Crises: A Gynaecologist’s Wake-Up Call for Mother’s Day 10/05/2025Dr. Haritwal identifies advanced maternal age as the most prominent driver of high-risk pregnancies. More women are choosing to have children later in life, often due to career aspirations, late marriages, or fertility delays. She also points out the rise in non-medical C-sections, driven by convenience, social status, or even astrology, with the “too posh […]India Makes Strides in Reducing Maternal and Child Mortality, Nearing SDG 2030 Targets 10/05/2025India has achieved notable progress in reducing maternal and child mortality, as per the Sample Registration System (SRS) Report 2021. Key indicators like the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) have seen significant declines. Government initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat, along with strengthened healthcare infrastructure, have played a pivotal role in these […]Dept traces 58 contacts of Nipah patient; probe begins 10/05/2025Animal husbandry department will send samples of a cat that died in the woman's neighbourhood to a lab in Bhopal to check for Nipah antibodies.Nadda reviews emergency preparedness amid India-Pak standoff, directs constant vigilance 09/05/2025The Union Health Minister directed that, “a 24x7 control and command centre in the Ministry should monitor ongoing efforts and support states in the present times and all medical emergency response health systems be adequately equipped and functional at all times.”Half of 2020-born could face unprecedented exposure to climate extremes: Study 09/05/2025The younger a person, the higher their chances of experiencing unprecedented climate extremes, including heatwaves, river floods and droughts -- children in the tropics will bear the worst burden, the team said.Maharashtra withdraws circular restricting leave for doctors amid border tensions 09/05/2025The directive cited the "prevailing war-like conditions" and emphasised the need for preparedness should medical personnel be required for national duty, particularly those affiliated with the Territorial Army or reserve forces.Nipah virus case confirmed in Kerala's Malappuram district 09/05/2025As part of Nipah control measures, 25 special teams have been formed and are already working to trace people who may have come into contact with the patient.Hospitals told to prepare plan for ‘mass casualties’ 08/05/2025Chief medical and health officer Dr BS Setiya said "There are 253 govt and private hospitals in the district that operate in considerably large structures.Govt to frame policy to address mental health needs 08/05/2025Chief secretary Manoj Ahuja said the ensuing policy aimed to create an institutional framework to identify red flags early and reach out to vulnerable groups, especially the youth and elderly. Pharma & Health NewsVertex misses quarterly results on weaker-than-expected demand for cystic fibrosis drug 06/05/2025In the first quarter ended March 31, sales of the company's older CF treatment, Trikafta, rose 2% to $2.53 billion but missed analysts' average expectation of $2.58 billion, according to LSEG data.Pharma companies must file compliance strategy 13/02/2025Small and medium manufacturers with turnover of less than ₹250 crore may seek extension of the timeline by submitting a plan of upgradation within three months from now, the drug regulatory authority said in a notification issued on Tuesday.Eylea offers equivalent efficacy with fewer injections for wet AMD, DME management: Dr Ashish Gawde 18/10/2024The most pressing challenges include the financial and emotional burdens associated with frequent, long-term treatments for conditions such as Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) and Wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD).TIFR study uses psychedelic drug to trace neuron that can reduce anxiety 06/10/2024A team at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai have steered a first-of-its-kind study to come out of India, using a psychedelic to identify a neuron that can activate the ventral hippocampus in the brain—which processes emotional information and regulates stress—in a manner that could alleviate anxiety.ICMR to study efficacy of Metformin, Inositol in PCOS treatment 06/10/2024The ICMR has recently invited expression of interest (EOI): "To undertake a multi-centric randomised controlled trial for evaluating the efficacy of Metformin vs Inositol to improve fertility and birth outcomes among PCOS women".Alembic Pharma gets USFDA nod for generic medication 03/10/2024The approved ANDA is therapeutically equivalent to GlaxoSmithKline LLC's Lamictal XR extended-release tablets in strength of 200 mg, 250 mg, and 300 mg, it added.US CDC warns of overdose risk from fake prescription medicines online 03/10/2024The counterfeit pills sold through illegal internet-based pharmacies frequently contain fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is the leading cause of drug overdoses in the United States, the health agency said.PM Modi to inaugurate Penicillin-G plant in Andhra Pradesh, reviving India's antibiotic production 22/09/2024The Penicillin-G (Pen-G) facility, located in a SEZ at Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, has a production capacity of 15,000 tonne per annum and also 1.8 lakh tonne of glucose, while 6-Amino Penicillanic Acid plant has a capacity to produce 3,600 tonne annually, the drug maker had earlier said in a statement.Bone marrow cancer drug shows success in treatment of blood disorder, finds study 20/09/2024The New England Journal of Medicine published the trial results, which show that patients with HHT who were administered the medication, pomalidomide, had a significant decrease in the intensity of nosebleeds, required fewer blood transfusions and iron infusions than HHT frequently requires, and had a better quality of life.US Senator Sanders says generic drugmakers could sell Ozempic for less than $100/month 18/09/2024Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Jorgensen is set to testify before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), which Sanders chairs, in a hearing next week focusing on U.S. prices for its widely popular Ozempic and weight-loss drug Wegovy.ICMR partners with industry leaders for groundbreaking First-in-Human Phase-1 clinical trials 14/09/2024ICMR will engage in collaborative research on a small molecule for multiple myeloma with Aurigene Oncology Limited, partner with Indian Immunologicals Limited for the development of a Zika vaccine, coordinate a seasonal influenza virus vaccine trial with Mynvax Private Limited, and advance CAR-T cell therapy for a new indication of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in collaboration […]Fulcrum stock slumps after muscle disorder drug fails in late-stage study 13/09/2024FSHD is a genetic disorder that causes muscle weakness and wasting in the face, shoulder blades and upper arms. The estimated prevalence of the disease is about 4 cases per 100,000 individuals, according to the Muscle Dystrophy Association.Zenas BioPharma raises $225 mln in US IPO 13/09/2024The Waltham, Massachusetts-based company, which was incorporated in 2019, plans to use the IPO proceeds to advance the clinical development of obexelimab and prepare for its potential launch in the United States and Europe, pending approval.Moderna lays out plan to slice research and development spending 13/09/2024Moderna developed the Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine, and regulators approved this year its vaccine for RSV or respiratory syncytial virus. The company also has a combination flu/COVID vaccine and an RSV vaccine for high-risk younger adults that it expects to submit to regulators in 2024.Bavarian Nordic sees potential to ramp up mpox vaccine capacity 13/09/2024 Bavarian Nordic said on Thursday it could supply 13 million doses of its mpox vaccine by the end of 2025, up from a previous forecast of 10 million doses, and is exploring options to significantly expand its capacity.Neurocrine halts development of schizophrenia drug as trial fails 13/09/2024The company said the drug, luvadaxistat, did not replicate the results from a previous mid-stage trial that showed improved cognitive performance, due to a large variability in the cognitive measures across the patients and a potential imbalance in their baseline characteristics.Alkem joins $3 bn race for JB Chem as Torrent pauses talks 13/09/2024After the acquisition, KKR appointed Cipla veteran Nikhil Chopra in October 2020 as JB’s chief executive. He put the Mumbai-based drugmaker on an accelerated growth path, making four acquisitions and investing $200 million in the last four years along with a fresh go to-market strategy involving therapy diversification, raising the productivity of medical representatives, optimising […]Panacea Biotec gets $20 million loan from US government for hexavalent vaccine capacity expansion 13/09/2024Panacea Biotec has secured a $20 million long-term loan from the US International Development Finance Corporation to expand its hexavalent vaccine production. This funding will help the company meet global demand for childhood immunization, supplying vaccines to UN agencies. The hexavalent vaccine, EasySix, protects against six diseases and is expected to see significant demand growth […]Moderna forecasts lower sales next year, shares near four-year low 12/09/2024Its cost savings would include a cut of $1.1 billion from research and development from 2026, with most of the actions in 2027. "I hope you can see...why we're daunted by the commercial challenge of launching all those products really just in the next three years, and that causes us to want to actually start […]Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw calls for innovation-driven value creation in India's biotech sector 12/09/2024Mazumdar-Shaw called for a shift in focus toward value creation through innovation. "India ranks 14th in terms of value in the global pharma landscape. We need to invest in R&D and foster a culture of intellectual property to capture greater value," she said. WHO newsWHO and Medicines Patent Pool announce sublicensing agreement for rapid diagnostic test technology 09/05/2025The World Health Organization (WHO) and Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) have today announced a sublicensing agreement between MPP and a Nigerian health technology company – Codix Bio – to start development and manufacturing of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) using technology transferred from global in-vitro diagnostics company – SD Biosensor (SDB). This agreement will contribute to […]Safer walking and cycling crucial for road safety and better health 09/05/2025As the 8th UN Global Road Safety Week kicks off around the world under the theme “Make walking and cycling safe,” the World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a new toolkit to help governments promote active mobility – by making it safer.Each year, nearly 1.2 million people lose their lives on the roads, more than a […]Health inequities are shortening lives by decades 05/05/2025A global report published by the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights that the underlying causes of ill health often stem from factors beyond the health sector, such as lack of quality housing, education and job opportunities.WHO at 150th IPU Assembly: elevating health equity and global solidarity 02/05/2025"WHO is committed to working with the IPU to inform and support parliaments on global health priorities. We encourage all of you to join your national delegation at WHA78 to make your voice heard and to translate global health decisions into national-level actions," affirmed Dr Tedros in his remarks to the delegates.Gloves do not replace hand hygiene – reminder from WHO 01/05/2025On World Hand Hygiene Day, the WHO emphasizes the critical role of hand hygiene in preventing infections, stating that gloves are not a substitute for proper handwashing.GOARN marks 25 years of advancing global health emergency preparedness and response 28/04/2025The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), an initiative coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO), marks its 25th anniversary today. Since its inception in April 2000, the network has been at the forefront of the global fight against health emergencies. By leveraging the expertise of global partners – facilitating alerts, deploying rapid support […]WHO issues new recommendations to end the rise in “medicalized” female genital mutilation and support survivors 25/04/2025Urgent measures are needed to curtail the rising “medicalization” of female genital mutilation (FGM) and to engage health workers to prevent the practice, according to a new guideline published today by the World Health Organization (WHO).WHO calls for revitalized efforts to end malaria 24/04/2025On World Malaria Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for revitalized efforts at all levels, from global policy to community action, to accelerate progress towards malaria elimination. In the late 1990s, world leaders laid the foundation for remarkable progress in global malaria control, including preventing more than 2 billion cases of malaria and […]Increases in vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks threaten years of progress, warn WHO, UNICEF, Gavi 23/04/2025Immunization efforts are under growing threat as misinformation, population growth, humanitarian crises and funding cuts jeopardize progress and leave millions of children, adolescents and adults at risk, warn WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi during World Immunization Week, 24–30 April.Outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, meningitis and yellow fever are rising globally, and diseases like diphtheria, […]WHO releases new guideline to prevent adolescent pregnancies and improve girls’ health 23/04/2025In a bid to tackle the leading cause of death globally among 15–19-year-old girls, the World Health Organization (WHO) today released a new guideline aimed at preventing adolescent pregnancy and its significant related health complications. Among other strategies, the guideline urges rapid action to end child marriage, extend girls’ schooling, and improve access to sexual […]
