Pharma & Health News Top Stories Today – HealthActive Covid cases in India cross 5,000-mark 06/06/2025A series of technical review meetings were held on June 2 and 3 under chairpersonship of Dr Sunita Sharma, Director General of Health Services (DGHS) with representatives of Disaster Management Cell, Emergency Management Response (EMR) Cell, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and Central […]WHO DG holds talks with PM's Secy on partnership at Global Traditional Medicine Centre 06/06/2025In a post on X, the Indian Permanent Mission at Geneva stated, "Fruitful discussions between Principal Secretary to PM Dr. P.K Mishra and Mr. Hara Hiroaki, Vice-Minister for Policy Coordination of Japan, on margins of GPDRR 2025. Explored enhanced India-Japan collaboration on disaster resilience and exchanging expertise in risk reduction strategies."Over 50% of Covid cases in 25-50 age group 06/06/2025The dashboard indicated that the seven deaths recorded across India had comorbidities such as seizure, pneumonia, respiratory failure, heart and kidney disease, hypertension, septic shock, respiratory failure, and cancer, among others.UP governor directs raids on ultrasound centres to curb female foeticide 05/06/2025The governor also emphasised the need for organising health camps across the district, especially for infants and children, and promoting homeopathic medicines due to its easy administration on children, minimal side effects, and cost-effectiveness compared to allopathic medicines.‘No need to fear Covid spread, precaution is key’ 05/06/2025Due to the difficulty in distinguishing these symptoms from other infectious diseases and the higher potential for spread, precautions are primarily necessary.Maharashtra logs 105 COVID-19 cases, three deaths 05/06/2025At 33, areas under the Pune municipal corporation reported the maximum number of cases on Wednesday, followed by Mumbai (32), Thane civic limits (14), Navi Mumbai (9), Satara (5), Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad four each, and one each in Thane, Nashik, and civic limits of Chatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nagpur, the department stated.Covid cases: Health ministry asks states to ensure availability of oxygen, isolation beds, ventilators 05/06/2025According to the sources, state and district surveillance units under IDSP are closely monitoring Influenza Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI).India Logs 864 New COVID Cases; Active Tally Crosses 4,000, Centre Steps Up Vigil 04/06/2025India has recorded 864 new COVID-19 cases, taking the active tally to 4,302. Most cases are mild, the Union Health Ministry has stepped up surveillance, testing, and hospital preparedness amid rising concerns.Why Covid diagnosis is difficult these days: Here's what doctors say as cases near 5,000 04/06/2025Experts believe that the JN.1 variant of Omicron is currently circulating. Dr Dhar explained that while this strain spreads quickly, it seems to be less dangerous.Himachal Pradesh reports first COVID case in Nahan amid latest surge 04/06/2025"Her sample will be sent for genome sequencing to know the variant of the coronavirus," the CMO said. He said the block medical officer has been directed to test everyone who came in contact with the woman. Pharma & Health NewsTrump administration proposes cutting FDA budget by 5.5% 25/05/2025The proposed budget requested $93.8 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services - a cut of $33.3 billion, or 26.2% - from this year's budget of $127 billion, but did not mention the FDA. Makary's comments on Thursday were the first official outlining of the agency's 2026 budget request.Vertex 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 […] WHO newsWHO calls for urgent protection of Nasser Medical Complex and Al-Amal Hospital in the Gaza Strip 05/06/2025WHO warns that the Gaza Strip’s health system is collapsing, with Nasser Medical Complex, the most important referral hospital left in Gaza, and Al-Amal Hospital at risk of becoming non-functional. There are already no hospitals functioning in the north of Gaza. Nasser and Amal are the last two functioning public hospitals in Khan Younis, where […]One year in detention: heads of United Nations agencies and INGOs renew demand for release of staff detained in northern Yemen 04/06/2025This week marks one year since dozens of personnel from the United Nations, nongovernmental and civil society organizations, and diplomatic missions were arbitrarily detained by the Houthi de facto authorities in northern Yemen. Others have been detained since as far back as 2021. Today, we reiterate our urgent demand for their immediate and unconditional release.As […]WHO Director-General: Member States reaffirm commitment to WHO and global health at historic World Health Assembly 30/05/2025WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised the commitment shown by the Organization’s Member States which, during nearly two weeks of meetings, adopted historic measures to make the world safer and healthier.The landmark adoptions of the first global agreement to make the world safer from future pandemics and increase in financial support to the World […]WHO outlines recommendations to protect infants against RSV – respiratory syncytial virus 30/05/2025Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) published its first-ever position paper on immunization products to protect infants against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) – the leading cause of acute lower respiratory infections in children globally. Every year, RSV causes about 100 000 deaths and over 3.6 million hospitalizations in children under the age of 5 years worldwide. About […]WHO calls for urgent action to ban flavoured tobacco and nicotine products 29/05/2025On World No Tobacco Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) today launches a new publication and calls on governments to urgently ban all flavours in tobacco and nicotine products, including cigarettes, pouches, hookahs and e-cigarettes, to protect youth from addiction and disease.Flavours like menthol, bubble gum and cotton candy are masking the harshness of tobacco […]WHO, Africa CDC and RKI expand implementation of a unique partnership to strengthen collaborative surveillance in Africa 29/05/2025The World Health Organization (WHO), Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and the governments of Canada and the United Kingdom announced today the expansion of the successful Health Security Partnership to Strengthen Disease Surveillance in Africa (HSPA) to seven countries on the continent. Africa experiences more disease outbreaks than […]Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly concludes: historic outcomes, consequential highlights 28/05/2025The Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly (WHA78), the annual meeting of World Health Organization’s (WHO) Member States, came to a close Tuesday, as health leaders lauded vast accomplishments and global solidarity.The Assembly, WHO’s highest decision-making body, convened from 19 May to 27 May, under the theme “One World for Health”. Member States considered approximately 75 items and […]Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly – Daily update: 27 May 2025 27/05/2025Countries agree to update action plan to reduce deaths from antimicrobial resistance The Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly approved a decision to update the Global action plan (GAP) on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), for discussion at next year’s World Health Assembly (WHA79) in 2026.An estimated 4.71 million deaths were associated with bacterial AMR as of 2021, according to […]Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly – Daily update: 26 May 2025 26/05/2025Countries overwhelmingly agree on a new voluntary target for air pollution and health Member States at the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly strongly approved an updated road map for an enhanced global response to the adverse health effects of air pollution, reaffirming their commitment to protect populations from the world’s largest environmental health risk. The decision updates […]African Union and World Health Organization renew strategic partnership to drive impact and strengthen health systems in Africa 24/05/2025The World Health Organization (WHO) and the African Union (AU) Commission renewed their longstanding strategic partnership today with the signing of an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the sidelines of the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva. This renewed agreement reaffirms the joint commitment to advancing health security, universal health coverage, and sustainable development […]
