Pharma News

Researchers of the ICAI Group –Computational Intelligence and Image Analysis– of the University of Malaga (UMA) have designed an unprecedented method that is capable of improving brain images obtained through magnetic resonance imaging using artificial intelligence.

Director CCMB, Dr Rakesh K Mishra (Third from left) with researchers

Researcher from India and USA, who work to understand the genetic basis of diseases among various ethnic populations from different parts of the world, participated in a workshop organized by CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad. The workshop focussed on understanding genome information in a better way. Improved information on genome can help fine-tune genome-assisted healthcare, and could even lead to precise, personalized, more effective and economical approaches to healthcare.

In a significant development, WHO Global Tuberculosis Programme has included an Indian molecular assay as initial test for detecting the disease and for identifying resistant strains of the TB bacteria.

In a new study that could lead to deeper insights into the mechanism behind a wide range of nervous system disorders and diseases, researchers at the Department of Biotechnology’s Pune-based National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS) have captured three-dimensional views of a protein called GluD1 receptor.

Clarivate Analytics plc a global leader in providing trusted insights and analytics to accelerate the pace of innovation, today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Decision Resources Group (“DRG”), a premier provider of high-value data, analytics and insights products and services to the healthcare industry, from Piramal Enterprises Limited, part of global business conglomerate Piramal Group. The $950 million purchase price–approximately 12x trailing DRG Adjusted EBITDA, taking into account acquisition cost synergies but not revenue synergies–includes $900 million in cash and approximately $50 million in Clarivate ordinary shares to be issued following the one-year anniversary of closing. The acquisition is expected to be accretive to Clarivate earnings in 2020.

At its December 2019 meeting, EMA's Management Board agreed to the mandatory use of a consistent international format, the ISO ICSR format, for reporting individual cases of suspected side effects in patients across the world. This follows a recommendation from EMA’s safety committee (PRAC) in October 2019. The use of the new international standard will become mandatory as of 30 June 2022 for all reporting to EudraVigilance, the European database of suspected side effects with medicines authorised in the European Economic Area (EEA).

During their first physician visit, patients experiencing newly diagnosed chronic musculoskeletal pain are prescribed opioids more often than physical therapy, counseling, and other nonpharmacologic approaches, according to a new study published in the Journal of Pain. The use of opioids over other approaches stands in contrast with clinical recommendations for the use of nonopioid pain approaches and nonpharmacologic approaches. The study included authors from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), part of the National Institutes of Health; the University of Montreal; and McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Dr. HarshVardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfarehas been closely monitoring the situation after the reports of 41 confirmed cases of novel Corona virus (nCoV) including one death from Wuhan, China on 5thJanuary, 2020.  According to WHO, the situation is still evolving and preliminary investigations suggest link to the sea food market. Coronaviruses are large family of viruses, which cause illnesses to people and also circulate in animals including camels, cats and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can also evolve and infect people.

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd announced that one of its wholly owned subsidiaries has entered into exclusive licensing and supply agreements with Rockwell Medical Inc. (Rockwell), to commercialize Rockwell's Triferic, a proprietary iron replacement and haemoglobin maintenance drug, for treating anaemia in hemodialysis patients in India. Triferic is approved in USA.