Page 10 - Drugs

Joe Biden pardons thousands convicted of marijuana possession in US

Taking executive action to change United States policy on marijuana, US President Joe Biden has announced a sweeping pardon for thousands of people convicted of drug possession under federal laws

Glenmark launches drug to treat patients with insulin-resistant diabetes

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals on Thursday said it has launched Thiazolidinedione Lobeglitazone in the country for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults. The Mumbai-based drug firm has launched the medication under the brand name LOBG and is priced at around Rs 10 per tablet. Indians have a high prevalence of insulin resistance and that makes LOBG an appealing treatment option in managing uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes among insulin-resistant diabetic patients, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals said in a statement. The company had received approval from the Indian drug regulator, Drug Controller General of India, for manufacturing and marketing Lobeglitazone, based on a randomised, double-blind Phase 3 clinical trial conducted on adult Type 2 diabetic patients, aged 18 years and older. "As per the International Diabetes Federation, diabetes affects 74 million adults in India, of which, around 40 per cent of them seem to be insulin-resistant... "We are proud to introduce LOBG; an innovative an

DRI arrests person with 16 kg heroin worth Rs 80 crore at Mumbai airport

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) arrested a person with drugs at Mumbai International Airport and recovered 16 kg of high-quality heroin drugs, said DRI on Wednesday

Coronavirus formation modelled for first time, may lead to effective drugs

For the first time, scientists have successfully modelled the formation of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, a key step towards developing effective drugs for the deadly disease. The research, published in the journal Viruses, offers an overall understanding of the assembly and formation of SARS-CoV-2 from its constituent components. "Understanding viral assembly has always been a key step leading to therapeutic strategies," said Roya Zandi, a professor at the University of California in the US. "Numerous experiments and simulations of viruses such as HIV and hepatitis B virus have had a remarkable impact on elucidating their assembly and providing means to combat them. Even the simplest questions regarding the formation of SARS-CoV-2 remain unanswered," Zandi said. Zandi explained that a critical step in the life cycle of any virus is the packaging of its genome into new virions or virus particles. This is an especially challenging task for coronaviruses, like SARS-CoV-2

Centre looking to phase out codeine-based cough syrups, select FDCs

The industry is divided on the issue of phasing out codeine-based cough syrups, which are used by many as intoxicants

9 arrested after Kerala police bust rave party, seize drugs from Wayanad

Kerala Police has arrested nine persons in connection with the seizure of banned drugs from a resort at Pulpally in Wayanad district. Acting on a tip-off, police late on Sunday busted a rave party and took into custody all those who were participating. Sources said narcotic drugs including hashish oil were seized from the accused, all belonging to Vadakara in Kozhikode district. They have been charged under various sections of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. The Wayanad police had earlier also busted rave parties held in remote location resorts in the hilly district. In an incident in January, a notorious criminal was also arrested during a raid in a resort in Padinjarethara near Kalpetta.

Gurugram police arrest Afghan national, aide with drugs worth crores

ACP Manoj Kumar told IANS that the accused have been identified as Nisaar Ahmed, an Afghan national, and Afitikul Sheikh, a resident of West Bengal

Researchers in US develop drug that marks cancer cells for elimination

The new therapy, described Sept. 12 in Cell Cancer, pulls a mutated version of the protein KRAS to the surface of cancer cells, where the drug-KRAS complex acts as an "eat me" flag

What is the National List of Essential Medicines?

Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya released the National List of Essential Medicines 2022, with 384 medicines. Why does the govt come out with this list? Which medicines made it to the list?

Zenara Pharma launches nirmatrelvir, ritonavir tablets for Covid patients

Zenara Pharma on Friday announced the launch of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir tablets in a combination pack to be used as a treatment option for patients with mild-to-moderate symptoms of COVID-19. The company received approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) to manufacture and market this product last month, Zenara Pharma said in a statement. The drug will be sold under the brand name 'Paxzen' and is priced at Rs 5,200 per pack containing 20 tablets of nirmatrelvir 150 mg and 10 tablets of ritonavir 100 mg, which is equivalent to one full course of treatment for a patient, it added. It will be manufactured at Zenara's USFDA and EU-approved facility in Hyderabad, the company said. "Our product Paxzen has been proven equivalent to Paxlovid through a bioequivalence study, based on which we have received the approval from the regulatory authorities," Zenara Pharma co-founder and Managing Director, Jagadeesh Babu Rangisetty said. The USFDA had approved Paxlov

Psychedelics can be almost as impactful as near-death experiences: Study

Psychedelic drugs can be almost as life altering as near-death experiences

The New Drugs Bill: A missed opportunity for reforms in Ayush

The Bill takes regressive steps on the issue of drug safety

Wockhardt initiates phase-III clinical study of new antibiotic candidate

Pharmaceutical firm Wockhardt Ltd on Tuesday said it has initiated a global Phase III clinical study of its new antibiotic candidate WCK 5222, which will be completed in 18 months

Bharat Biotech says Phase 3 trial over, intranasal vaccine 'safe'

The Hyderabad-based company claimed that BBV154 is proven to be safe, well-tolerated and immunogenic in the subjects under controlled clinical trials

Cocaine, heroin worth several crores seized; air passenger held in Chennai

Nearly 10 kg of banned drugs-- cocaine and heroine, valued at several crores of rupees were seized at the city Airport on Thursday and a passenger who arrived from Ethiopia was arrested.

We're geared to launch a new molecule every 1-2 years: Biocon Biologics MD

In an interview, Arun Chandravarkar explains why a company must continue investing in R&D despite the impact on short-term Ebitda

Have adopted zero tolerance policy towards drugs, showing results: Shah

The Centre has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards narcotics and it was showing results, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday

Police seize 100k Yaba drug tablets in Guwahati worth Rs 20 cr, 2 held

Guwahati city police on Sunday busted an inter-state drugs network and recovered one lakh Yaba tablets worth Rs 20 crore.The police also arrested two drug peddlers including one employee of the Manipur police.Based on intelligence input, a team of Guwahati city police led by Joint Commissioner of Police Partha Sarathi Mahanta launched an operation at Basistha area in Guwahati city and intercepted a car coming from Manipur.During search, the police team recovered 1 lakh Yaba tablets from the car.Partha Sarathi Mahanta, Joint Commissioner of Police, Guwahati said that the car was coming from Manipur."We have recovered 1 lakh Yaba tablets from the car and arrested two persons including an employee of Manipur police. The drugs consignment was coming from Moreh area in Manipur and planned to send it to Bengaluru. We had conducted the operation based on our intelligence input," Partha Sarathi Mahanta said.The arrested persons have been identified as Letmin Singh Haokip and Thaukhuging ...

Quashing gangster culture, controlling drug menace top priority: Punjab DGP

Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Thursday said eliminating gangster culture and controlling the drug menace are the top priorities of the state police.

For the first time, Centre allows a private player to process opium

Bajaj Healthcare is the first private player to be awarded a tender to make alkaloids and APIs from opium gum