June 2015

Lemtrada (alemtuzumab), is new drug developed for treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) reduces the relapse rates. Recently, Samuel F. Hunter, MD, PhD, President of the Advanced Neurosciences Institute in Franklin, Tennessee, presented a paper at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers in Indianapolis, Indiana on outcomes in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis treated with Lemtrada (alemtuzumab).

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will soon start research on stillbirth to identify and understand the local causes and risk factors from the medical and sociological perspective. ICMR's initiative on stillbirth is significant as nearly 3 million third-trimester stillbirths occurring worldwide each year and 98 per cent of these occur in low-income and middle-income countries.  More than 1 million stillbirths occur in the intrapartum period, which can largely be prevented. The cause of stillbirth remains unidentified in India.

ViiV Healthcare, Aurobindo Pharma, and the Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) announced that Aurobindo Pharma, has submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for dolutegravir 50mg, for tentative approval, for  HIV treatment. Upon receiving tentative approval from the FDA, Aurobindo Pharma will be able to supply dolutegravir 50mg via the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) programme, following completion of required local regulatory approval process, in the licensed countries outside of the United States, as per the agreement signed between Aurobindo Pharma and ViiV Healthcare in 2014. This is the first ANDA for a generic version of dolutegravir, less than two years after FDA approval of Tivicay (dolutegravir) for sale in the United States.

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The Government proposes to soon open 1000 more stores under the ‘Jan Aushadhi Scheme’ to make available quality generic medicines at affordable prices through these special outlets.

Using a partial synthetic process, by extracting trabectedin or ET-743, a compound found in marine invertebrate., scientists are producing a natural cancer drug. They are isolating the genetic blueprint of the ET-743's producer by using advanced sequencing techniques. The insights will make it possible for scientists to culture the bacteria in the laboratory without its host.

Japanese pharmaceutical industry comprising of both multinationals and generic companies, have shown keen interest in working with the Indian counterparts in contract manufacturing service space.

The pharmaceutical major Cipla Limited has signed an pact with Serum Institute of India Ltd (SII) to exclusively market flu vaccine Nasovac-S in India. Under this agreement, SII will develop and manufacture the vaccine, and Cipla will market it in India. The vaccine will be manufactured in Serum’s world class production facilities approved by the WHO.