Patient Safety Capsules
Cabinet Nod For Inking MoU Between India, UK For Cooperation In Medical Product Regulation
NEW DELHI, 4 NOV 2020: The Union Cabinet has given its approval for signing an MoU between the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) and the United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency for cooperation in medical products regulation, according to an official statement said.
FSSAI Clarifies On Food For Special Medical Purpose In Foods Similar To Drugs
New Delhi, 2 Nov 2020: FSSAI has issued a guidance note ‘specifically’ on food for special medical purpose (FSMP), as it was in receipt of large number of applications for approval under the FSS Non-specified Food and Food Ingredients Regulations (NSF), while the product actually falls under the FSS (Health Supplement, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose, Functional Food and Novel Food) Regulations.
Drug Laws & Policy Injections
DoP Issues Revised Guidelines For Procurement Of Make In India Medical DevicesMumbai, 12 Nov 2020: The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has issued revised guidelines for implementing the provisions of public procurement (preference to Make in India) Order (PPO)- 2017 DPITT guidelines for procurement of Make in India medical devices.
Union Ayush DC Asks FSSAI Chennai Not To Issue Licences For Products That Fall Under ASU Drugs Chennai, 12 Nov 2020: In the wake of a complaint filed by a traditional medicine research organization in Chennai against misappropriation of FSSAI licence by food product manufacturers for selling popular Siddha drugs as food supplements, the national Ayush Drugs Controller has asked the Commissioner of FSSAI in Chennai to take action against misuse of licences by companies of food supplements and neutraceuticals.
India In Talks With All Covid Vaccine Manufacturers, Domestic And Foreign: Health MinistryNew Delhi, 11 Nov 2020: A day after Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE announced more than 90 per cent efficacy of their potential vaccine for the coronavirus, the health ministry on Tuesday said the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 is in conversation with all vaccine manufacturers, including domestic and foreign ones.
SEC Panel Rejects Proposal To Make Chewable Favipiravir TabletsNew Delhi, 10 Nov 2020: An expert committee SEC of the CDSCO has rejected a proposal by Mumbai-based drugmaker Macleods Pharmaceuticals Ltd to manufacture chewable tablets 800 mg and 1800 mg of the drug Favipiravir for Covid-19 patients..
Antimalarial Drugs Supply Disrupted Due To Covid-19 PandemicMumbai, 8 Nov 2020: A new study has found that patients with rheumatic diseases in Africa and Southeast Asia, the Americas, and Europe, are facing difficulty to secure hydroxychloroquine -- highly vouched drug for coronavirus treatment -- for their treatment due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Govt Panel To Help Boost Drug Manufacture, Pharma FundingNEW DELHI, 5 NOV 2020: Aiming to boost local manufacture of essential medicines and attract investments in the pharma sector, the government is set to draw up a plan to build a drug regulatory system which is in line with the best globally and facilitates ease of doing business.
Pharma Injections
AIIMS-Patna Recommends Module To Check CovidPATNA, 10 NOV 2020: In a new scientific approach to check further spread of Covid-19 pandemic, the All India Institute of Medical Science-Patna ( AIIMS-P) has recommended a new module involving community participation at district level.
Demand For Remdesivir Rising Sharply: CiplaBENGALURU, 9 NOV 2020: Demand for COVID-19 antiviral drug Remdesivir is rising sharply in India, a top executive at drugmaker Cipla said on Monday, even as experts remain divided over its effectiveness.
TataMD Launches New Test For COVID-19; Ready With 10 Lakh Tests/Month Capacity New Delhi, 9 Nov 2020: Tata Medical and Diagnostics Ltd (TataMD) on Monday launched new diagnostic testing for COVID-19 — claiming it to be more efficient and simpler than the existing ones — with the ability to scale up test on a large scale across the country.
FSSAI’s ‘Food’ Fortification Move Unscientific: NGOs Kochi, 9 Nov 2020: Agriculture welfare organizations have asked Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to reconsider the proposal to make mandatory fortification of edible oil with Vitamin A and Vitamin D and rice with Vitamin B12, iron and folic acid.
Bidencare Boost For Indian Pharma Cos ? Mumbai, 9 Nov 2020: The Indian pharma sector is expected to benefit from the Biden presidency on the back of an increased push for generic prescriptions and access to affordable health insurance. US President-elect Joe Biden plans to protect and strengthen the Affordable Care Act, which ensures a reduction in healthcare costs and access to health insurance for Americans.
Lupin Reports Cyber Attack New Delhi, 7 Nov 2020: A fortnight after Dr Reddy’s Laboratories said it had “isolated” its data centre services after a cyber attack, Mumbai-based Lupin became the second major Indian pharmaceutical company to be hit by a similar attack.
Drug Dopes
BIRAC Invites Applications From Indian Biotech Companies For Funding R&DMumbai, 7 Nov 2020: The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), under its Small Business Innovation Research Initiative (SBIRI) scheme, has invited proposals from Indian biotech companies for funding of research and development in the field of biotechnology. 
Intas Pharma Launches Immunity Booster To Fight CoronavirusAhmedabad, 11 Nov 2020: A pharma major based in Ahmedabad on Tuesday launched a patented research formulation of Thymoquinone that is reported to boost immunity and give greater success in fighting infections.
Ajmer: Fake Drug Factory Busted, 6 Persons Detained Ajmer, 5 Nov 2020: A major action is taken against the factory for making fake capsules of the Ayurvedic company. Capsules to enhance immunity were being prepared in this factory. More than 6 people have been detained in the case.
ED Attaches Assets Of Over 3 Crore In Cheating Case Involving Purchase Of Medicines, Equipment Patna, 7 Nov 2020: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday attached assets of over three crores under PMLA in a case of criminal misconduct and cheating involving former Medical Superintendent, Patna Medical College Om Prakash Choudhary and others.
Scientists Develop ‘Ultrapotent’ Vaccine Candidate New Delhi, 4 Nov 2020: At a time when several companies are in a race to develop a strong coronavirus vaccine, scientists have come up with a new “ultrapotent” Covid-19 vaccine candidate that has produced “extremely high levels” of protective antibodies in animal models.
NPPA Plays Crucial Role In Making Cancer Drugs AffordableNew Delhi, 5 Nov 2020: National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has said that its price rationalisation initiated February 2019 has had the far reaching impact of its decision leading to huge price reduction in anti cancer drugs. Invoking extraordinary powers in public interest NPPA had launched a Pilot on Trade Margin Rationalisation for 42 anti cancer drugs as a step towards making the healthcare more affordable for the suffering patients.
National Injections
Ban Use Of Disinfectants, UV Rays On Humans For Covid: SC To Centre New Delhi, 5 Nov 2020: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Centre to issue directions for banning use of disinfectants and ultra violet rays on humans for Covid-19 management. A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan asked the government to do the needful in this regard within a month.
NPPA Fixes Retail Prices Of 29 And Ceiling Prices Of 6 FormulationsMumbai, 12 Nov 2020: NPPA has fixed retail prices of 29 formulations and ceiling prices of 6 formulations under Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 relating to 80th Authority meeting dated October 26, 2020.
Sugam Portal Approves 1,34,298 Out Of Total 1,51,724 Applications During Lockdown Period Mumbai, 5 Nov 2020: The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)’s Sugam portal has approved 1,34,298 out of the total 1,51,724 applications during the lockdown period related to import and registration of drugs, medical device and diagnostics, test license, biologicals, veterinary, BA/BE for export, global clinical trial, new drug, investigational new drugs and fixed dose combinations (FDCs), among others.
Ivermectin Can Prevent Covid Spread, Claims AIIMS Study Bhubaneswar, 5 Nov 2020: Anti-parasite drug ivermectin can prevent Covid-19 infection to a great extent, AIIMS Bhubaneswar has claimed in a recent study. The researchers hoped the low-cost drug will offer a window of opportunity to governments and authorities trying to contain the virus spread as the world awaits a vaccine.
SLAs Ask Mask Manufacturers To Expeditiously Register With CDSCO For Compliance Mumbai, 4 Nov 2020: While the central government had allowed mask manufacturers to manufacture and then apply for registration within 18 months considering the ongoing pandemic, the state licensing authorities (SLAs) have asked the manufacturers to expeditiously register with Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) for compliance..
Gujarat FDCA Discusses Action Plan, Consumption Trends Of COVID-19 Drugs Mumbai, 4 Nov 2020: The Gujarat Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA) recently discussed action plan and consumption trends of COVID-19 medicines with state government appointed high powered committee to tackle COVID-19 pandemic.
Global Injections
Do Masks With Antiviral Coating Offer More Protection?New York, 10 Nov 2020: It's an intriguing idea, but there haven't been enough rigorous independent studies to establish whether antiviral masks are better at protecting wearers or preventing the spread of the virus.
How Thousands In China Got Infected By Brucellosis In One Single OutbreakBEIJING, 6 NOV 2020: Brucellosis, a bacterial disease with flu-like symptoms, has infected more than 6,000 people in a single outbreak in northwestern China.
GenScript Receives FDA Emergency Use Authorization For SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibody Detection Kit
PISCATAWAY, N.J., 9 NOV 2020: GenScript USA Inc., the world's leading research reagent provider, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the cPass™ SARS-CoV-2 Neutralization Antibody Detection Kit.
Warnings Of Youth Suicidal Behaviors From The FDA Were Followed By Increased Deaths By Suicide
Boston, 3 Nov 2020: Deaths by suicide have increased among the young following advisories by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These findings, from an interrupted time series study, were published in Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice.
Scientists Develop Faster Way Of Detecting Antibiotic Resistance In Bacteria
London, 3 Nov 2020 (PTI) : Researchers have developed a new, quicker way of detecting drug resistance in bacteria, taking about 45 minutes, an advance that may help clinicians prescribe antibiotics correctly and reduce their misuse.
AstraZeneca Covid-19 Vaccine Production Begins In Australia
Canberra, 9 Nov 2020: The CSL Limited company started production of the University of Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine on Monday, Australian media report. Thirty million doses of the vaccine will enter manufacturing in Victoria on Monday, according to Sydney's 2GB radio.
PSAIIF PILL
NCoV Mutation Won’t Affect Desi Vaccines, Say ICMR Scientists
Pune, 10 Nov 2020: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) scientists have said vaccines developed in India should not be affected by any kind of mutation of Covid-19 virus as of now.
Generic Drugs To Be Sold At Low Prices
Hyderabad, 31 Oct 2020: The state health department will sell branded generic medicines labelled as ‘Telangana Government Supply’ in specific state-owned pharmacies at government hospitals at low prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Customise Your Immunity Boosters ?
HYDERABAD, 11 NOV 2020 : As per the Ayurvedic Tridosha Theory, health issues are caused due to a vitiated state of doshas in your body, leading to disruptions in internal body mechanisms. The Indian immunity industry has witnessed a surge, as people are keen to prepare and strengthen themselves in the wake of the ongoing pandemic. Read More>>>
SUBSCRIBER'S SYMPTOM
T-Cell Study Adds To Debate Over Duration Of COVID-19 Immunity
LONDON, 3 NOV 2020 (Reuters) : A small but key UK study has found that “cellular immunity” to the pandemic SARS-CoV-2 virus is present after six months in people who had mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 - suggesting they might have some level of protection for at least that time.
Blog Addicts
Dr Amitabh Khanna, MD Excellent articles that make very good reading. Well done.
Mr Deepak Mehra, IT ProfessionalThe Prescription is very well presented with extremely useful information for readers.
Ms Palomi Sen, Professional
Good newsletter which brings an in depth understanding of news events in the Pharma world both nationally and globally. Keep up the good work.
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