Pharma News

Indian scientists have managed to get a glimpse of the protein fragments known as amyloid beta in a major breakthrough, which hallmark Alzheimer's disease. Researchers found the possible lock looks like a bunch of amyloid beta molecules in the shape of a hairpin, but with a twist. The findings were published in the journal ACS Nano.

Pfizer Inc, one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, announced that the US Federal Trade Commission terminated the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, with respect to company's pending acquisition of Hospira.

The researchers from the University of Illinois College of Agricultural consumer and environmental sciences found that men and people at the age of 65 and older who have access to natural surroundings report sleeping better.  The study is published in the journal Preventive Medicine.

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Researchers found that between 2000 and 2009, the better matched the vaccine was for the influenza strain going around, the fewer residents in US nursing home died or were hospitalized. Contrary to claims that the youth benefit more from flu vaccines, a 10-year study has found that annual influenza vaccinations can also reduce the hospitalization rate and delay mortality among the elderly. The study was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

A health exchange portal called Zigy.com was launched by former iGate CEO Phaneesh Murthy-founded PM Health and Life Care (PMHLC) on August 24. Zigy.com connects patients requiring health products and services with doctors, hospitals, chemists, diagnostic labs and also provides wellness products and services, insurance, home-care services and alternative medicines. However, Zigy does not allow patients to order medicines without a genuine prescription. Zigy.com is availabe as a website and a mobile app as well.

In the wake of announcement made by Union Health Minister, Shri J. P. Nadda to develop a policy mechanism and address the institutional gaps to promote organ donation, Shri B P Sharma, Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) took a meeting to consider further steps for accelerating the Organ Transplant Programme of the Ministry. Apart from senior officers of the Ministry, technical experts including senior doctors from the Government and the private sector took part in the meeting.

A new study has revealed that more older adults especially from the higher strata of the society are drinking alcohol at unsafe levels. The study findings suggest that one in five older people who drink alcohol are consuming it at unsafe levels, over 21 units of alcohol for men and 14 units for women each week. The researchers found that older men were more likely to be unsafe drinkers than women. The research was published in BMJ Open.