Pharma News

Ranbaxy saw some good news from the US drug regulator just days before the announcement of its acquisition by Sun Pharmaceutical in a $4-billion deal inclusive of debt.

New studies escalate medical concerns about glioma (a malignant brain tumor) from cell phone use. The BioInitiative Working Group (BWG) noted that evidence for health risk from wireless technology is growing stronger and require immediate action. The Group released a mid-year update covering new science studies from 2012 to 2014.

‘Elbrit Life Sciences’, a new pharmaceutical company based in Mumbai, India, today opened gates for business in India. The company would be serving the South Indian states initially and aims to cover the entire country with time. According to the sources, the company would be targeting cardiac and diabetes product segments in the present year. Elbrit Life Sciences is a part of a global business group based in UK with investments in science, research and education. The group has significantly invested in next generation healthcare such as genetic therapy, molecular biology, DNA mapping and biomarkers. The group also owns world renowned scientific and academic publishing brands.

World Health Organization (WHO) has issued its first guidance for the treatment of hepatitis C which affects an estimated 130 million to 150 million people and results in 3,50,000 to 5,00,000 deaths a year.
The "WHO Guidelines for the screening, care and treatment of persons with Hepatitis C infection" concurs the available effective and safer oral hepatitis medicines, along with the promise of even more new medicines in the next few years. 

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Combination of Palbociclib with Letrozole significantly prolonging progression of tumor compared with single letrozole in post-menopausal women with estrogen receptor positive. This details resulted from PALOMA-1 study which is a Phase 2 trial designed to assess progression-free survival in post-menopausal women with ER+, HER2- advanced breast cancer receiving palbociclib in combination with letrozole versus letrozole alone.

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd announced on April 4, 2014 that they have entered into definitive agreements pursuant to which Sun Pharma will acquire 100% of Ranbaxy in an all-stock transaction.

Recently, U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Oralair, first sublingual allergen extract approved in the United States, to treat allergic rhinitis with or without conjunctivitis that is induced by certain grass pollens in age group of 10 to 65 years. Oralair contains a mixture of freeze-dried extracts from the pollens of five grasses, including Kentucky Blue Grass, Orchard, Perennial Rye, Sweet Vernal and Timothy.

The scientists,  from Oxford Health NHS, confirmed that some patients with severe depression who have not responded to other treatments, can be treated with ketamine which has a rapid antidepressant effect. Ketamine is a licensed medical drug and is very widely used as an anaesthetic and in pain relief. It is also used as a recreational drug or drug of abuse, and is to be reclassified as a Class B banned substance.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Otezla (apremilast), manufactured for Celgene Corporation, Summit, N.J.,  to treat adults with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA), which is a form of arthritis that affects some people with psoriasis. Most people develop psoriasis first and are later diagnosed with PsA. Joint pain, stiffness and swelling are the main signs and symptoms of PsA.