Pharma News

Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) have found that four COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, J&J/Janssen, and Novavax) prompt the body to make effective, long-lasting T cells against SARS-CoV-2. These T cells can recognize SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern, including Delta and Omicron.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approves acquisition by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Overseas Limited and GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare UK Trading Limited (Acquirers) of shareholding in GlaxoSmithKline Asia Private Limited (Target) under Section 31(1) of the Competition Act, 2002.

The government of India made the Quick Response (QR) code mandatory on every bulk drug manufactured or imported in India to curb counterfeit or spurious quality of medicines. This rule will be applicable from 1st January 2023.

The QR code will help track and trace bulk drugs (Active pharmaceutical ingredients or APIs) during the entire supply chain. And it will ensure that the quality of APIs should not be altered.

​The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare includes Liquid Antiseptics for household use in schedule K after making an amendment in the Drugs Rules, 1945. Government had released draft notification with consultation with DTAB in September 2021. These rules may be called the Drugs 2nd Amendment Rules, 2022.

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi, and The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, have identified Phytochemicals in the petals of a Himalayan plant that could potentially be used to treat COVID-19 infections.

The findings of the research team have been recently published in the journal Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics.

Indian Pharmacists will soon allow the sale of certain medicines without the prescription, as per new over the counter (OTC) policy for drugs. The Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB)  has approved the new OTC policy and a draft notification will soon be issued by the health ministry.

Marker Therapeutics, Inc a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company specializing in the development of next-generation T cell-based immunotherapies for the treatment of hematological malignancies and solid tumor indications, today announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Orphan Products Development has granted Orphan Drug designation to MT-601, a multi-tumor-associated antigen (MultiTAA)-specific T cell product optimized for the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer.

Idorsia Ltd and Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Japan today announce that the Japanese Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) has approved PIVLAZ™ (clazosentan sodium) 150 mg, a selective endothelin A (ETA) receptor antagonist, for the prevention of cerebral vasospasm, vasospasm-related cerebral infarction and cerebral ischemic symptoms after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). The PMDA approval of PIVLAZ is based on a dedicated Japanese Phase 3 program.

Apprentice.io has raised USD 100 million in Series C funding led by new investor Alkeon Capital Management, with repeat participation from Silverton Partners, Insight Partners, Pacific Western Bank, and new investment by Colorcon Ventures. The company will use the capital to help pharma manufacturers harden their supply chains to keep making patient-critical drugs and adapt vaccines to meet the evolving strains of COVID-19.