Pharma News

Local supply of a medicine used to prevent malaria across Africa received a boost recently, as the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a quality certification to the first African manufacturer of a key antimalarial drug used to prevent infection in pregnant women and children. Called pre- qualification, this certification will enable Kenyan manufacturer Universal Corporation Ltd (UCL) to support regional efforts to combat malaria through local production of high-quality sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP).

Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE announced updated efficacy results from a Phase 2/3 trial evaluating a three 3 ug dose series of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine in children 6 months through 4 years of age, reinforcing previously reported interim vaccine efficacy data collected in March and April 2022.

New research from Cornell offers insights into a line of CRISPR systems, which could lead to promising antiviral and tissue engineering tools in animal and plants.

The research by Ailong Ke, the Robert J. Appel Professor of molecular biology and genetics in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Stan J.J. Brouns at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, focuses on a newly discovered CRISPR RNA-guided Caspase system, otherwise known as Craspase.

A new universal flu vaccine protects against diverse variants of both influenza A and B viruses in mice, according to a new study by researchers in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University.

The researchers designed a single, universal influenza vaccine candidate with key cross-protective, less variable parts of the influenza A and B viruses: multi-neuraminidase protein subtypes known to be major antiviral drug targets and the universally conserved M2 ectodomain protein.

Israel based scientists found out that the rates of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19 were significantly lower among those who received nirmatrelvir in patients 65 years of age or older.

At the beginning of the surge of the omicron variant in January 2022, the Israeli authorities decided to pursue two lines of defense to protect the vulnerable and high-risk populations from severe Covid-19: a second booster dose and antiviral therapy.

Dr Reddys Labs has received the Establishment Inspection Report (EIR) from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for the formulations manufacturing facility in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh.

USFDA had conducted an inspection on 7th July 2022 at formulations manufacturing facility (FTO 11) in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh.

Bayer launches its blockbuster drug finerenone to treat chronic kidney disease (CKD) associated with type-II diabetes in India.This drug will be available as brand name of Kerendia in India.

India is becoming the hub of diabetes and CKD is common in people with diabetes. Approximately 1 in 3 adults with diabetes has CKD. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can cause kidney disease. where, finerenone is used to treat CKD associated with type-II diabetes.

Novartis announced its intention to separate Sandoz, its generics and biosimilars division into a new publicly traded standalone company, by way of a 100% spin-off.

The spin-off aims to maximize shareholder value by creating the #1 European generics company1 and a global leader in biosimilars, allowing Novartis shareholders to participate fully in the potential future upside for both Sandoz and Novartis Innovative Medicines.

Lupin Limited announced that it has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with I'rom Group Co. Ltd (Irom), a leading pharmaceutical company in Japan. Under the terms of the Agreement, Irom will conduct clinical trials along with Lupin, register, distribute and market biosimilar Denosumab in Japan on an exclusive basis.