Pharma News

Vitiligo is a common, psychologically devastating condition that causes skin to lose its pigmentation or color. Current treatments, such as steroid creams and light therapy, are not reliably effective in reversing the disease. A new study says, a drug used for treating rheumatoid arthritis has restored skin color in a female patient suffering from vitiligo -- a common, skin condition where portion of skin loses its pigmentation or color. The report was published in JAMA Dermatology.

Wockhardt has received final approval from the US FDA for marketing 5mg/5ml of oxycodone HCI liquid. The company is launching the product soon and will be amongst the few generic versions of this product in the market.

Aurobindo Pharma got final approvals from the US FDA of azithromycin for injection USP, 500mg /vial and entacapone tablets. Azithromycin for injection USP, 500mg/vial is bioequivalent and therapeutically equivalent to the reference listed drug product (RLD) Zithromax (azithromycin for injection) 500mg/vial of Pfizer, Inc. Azithromycin for injection, USP is a macrolide antibacterial drug indicated for the treatment of patients with infections caused by susceptible strains of the designated microorganisms in the conditions such as community-acquired pneumonia and pelvic inflammatory disease.

Australian researchers have developed a breakthrough vaccine-style therapeutic approach to treat rheumatoid arthritis, a debilitating disease affecting over 450,000 people in the country. Lead researcher Ranjeny Thomas from the University of Queensland's Diamantina Institute said results from the phase one clinical trial demonstrate the new treatment is safe and effective in supressing the immune response.

The research conducted by Dundee University, Scotland explained that the newly developed drug could work well against parasites resistant to current treatments of the mosquito-borne disease. Researchers  discovered a new compound, DDD107498 to treat malaria in a single dose, protects people from the disease and prevent the transmission of infection. The research is printed  in the journal 'Nature'.

Shri B P Sharma, Secretary Health, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and Chairman, Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, Government of India launched an Android Mobile Applications for Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) reporting facility to the stakeholders of Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI). The mobile application for ADR reporting was specifically designed to facilitate the needs of the IPC, to ensure hassle free ADR reporting for the stakeholders. The mobile application is expected to provide a platform for the private healthcare professionals to report ADRs to safeguard and enhance public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy and quality of drugs.

An experimental drug from the US-based Eli Lilly and Company discovered to protect Alzheimer's-inflicted mice from memory deterioration, despite a high-glycemic-index (GI) diet meant to boost blood sugar levels. The experimental drug mimics the hunger-signaling hormone ghrelin.