Pharma BlockBusters

LAB SMASH: A game for researchers to vent out their anger and frustration

2013-08-18T19:47:00.003+05:30

Frustrated that your experiment has failed? Angry that you had to waste your weekend on a failed case? Now, no need to break your real flask or beaker. Just log on to Facebook and play Lab Smash!! Relieve yourself!!

As a researcher myself, i feel angry if one or the other reaction fails. While separating stereoisomers through the strenuous column chromatography, if i get a mixture, i feel like breaking the column into thousands pieces!! Well, I bet if you are a researcher or a student, you are facing a similar problem.

Just Imagine, out of enthusiasm for your work you have refused a date for the weekend, and just when you have started working you see that the reaction which you set up, has failed!! The reaction which you have been performing since ages, suddenly goes wrong and you fail to reproduce it even on countless repetitions!!

Failure is a part of the research process, and we need to get over it soon to start afresh. Here is a game by naturejobs.com, which helps in overcoming the bad phase by smashing and breaking the glass wares in a lab. Although, it may seem funny if you play that game being in a good mood, it will help if you are really frustrated!!

My review: If you are really in a bad mood, play it. If you are happy, you may find the game silly!!

Play the Game: http://goo.gl/MiqtRg

Lets make a difference on World Malaria Day by signing the JUMA petition

2013-04-26T01:00:00.002+05:30

Who is Juma?

Juma is a 5 year old boy who daily goes to school and aspires to become a great person one day.

One day, he wakes up amidst high fever. His mother immediately takes him to a doctor and he is diagnosed with malaria. Juma's mother buys the tablets at a local shop. Tablets that cost her the little money she earned in the market that day. Tablet that should save the life of Juma.

His mother makes sure that he gets the medicine on time. But still, Juma becomes sicker and sicker. He sinks into a coma and dies in the early hours of the following morning leaving his mother devastated.

A young mother lost her 5-year old to malaria. The malaria drugs she bought looked like the real medicine, but contained nothing more than chalk. They were 100 % fake.

Like Juma, every year 100,000 children die after taking fake malaria drugs.

Malaria drugs should cure children, not kill them.

On the occasion of World Malaria Day, It becomes our responsibility to help people who are dying due to the supply of fake anti-malarial drugs in Africa.

The anti-malarial drugs are believed to be imported from Asian countries like China and India and around 1/3 of all malaria drugs sold in Africa are fake. Fake malaria drugs kill hundreds of innocent children everyday.

African governments are engaged in the fight against these killer drugs but need international support to end its production and export from Asia. During the past year, an estimated 250.000 people have lost their lives due to fake drugs. The problem is severe and is still getting worse.Malaria is an infectious disease that kills 650.000 people, mainly young children in Africa, every year. Good malaria drugs make a difference between life and death.

Governments in many African countries are making an effort to restrict the sales of fake drugs. They cannot win this war alone. The production and export of fake malaria drugs has to stop!

Sign the Juma petition to:
Persuade the Governments of India and China to take action against the illegal production of fake malaria drugs; Convince the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) that fake malaria drugs need to be a priority issue and support governments of malaria endemic countries in their war against fake malaria drugs.

Follow the link to sign the Juma petition:
http://www.fakedrugskill.org

Lets Make a Difference!!!!!

#RIP Bardoxolone: Another Potential Megablockbuster Drug Fails!!

2013-01-21T01:00:00.003+05:30

Another Potential Blockbuster Drug namely Bardoxolone ( refer this article published earlier: http://www.pharmablockbusters.info/2011/12/bardoxolone-potential-mega-blockbuster.html ) felt the axe as it failed to clear the Ph III Clinical trials due to concerns about death and "excess serious adverse events" in patients taking the first-in-class antioxidant inflammation mediator (AIM).

Bardoxolone was being developed in late-stage clinical trials by Reata Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of moderate to severe chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Type-2 Diabetes patients. The failure was a huge setback for Abbott Pharma which had paid Reata Inc. $450 million, plus milestone payments, in 2010, to license Bardoxolone for sales outside the U.S and Asia. It was to be one of the major products for the newly formed AbbVie Pharma* (split from Abbott Pharmaceuticals recently) along with arthritis blockbuster Humira (Adalimumab).

Bardoxolone was originally seen as a promising cancer dug. but in one of its cancer studies, researchers saw a big improvement in renal function among all renal cancer patients. Arrested progression of CKD or recovered kidney function was a provocative finding, and Reata pushed ahead with two Ph IIa trials for CKD in 2008, which produced positive results.

Some doctors involved in the trials believed that the trial's design had been a mistake from the outset, and that bardoxolone's potential side-effects could accelerate kidney disease.

The future seems uncertain for other AIMs (antioxidant inflammation mediators) as Bardoxolone joins the long list of Ph III failures after a promising start.

*On more information on AbbVie spinoff, visit: http://www.pmlive.com/pharma_news/abbott_completes_split_as_abbvie_debuts_on_nyse_457376

The 3rd INDO-GERMAN Conference on Modelling Chemical and Biological (Re) Activity @ NIPER, Mohali

2012-12-10T01:37:00.002+05:30

The 3rd Indo-German Conference on Modelling Chemical and biological (Re) Activity will be held at NIPER, S.A.S.Nagar from 26th Feb to 1st March, 2013. The 3rd edition of this conference is being held jointly by NIPER, S.A.S.Nagar and IISER, Mohali, the previous two being at Hyderabad in 2007 and Wildbad Kreuth, Germany in 2009.

The Symposium was initiated with the aim of integrating the field of pharmaceutical chemistry with various theoretical computational methods which can help solve the various problems faced in a synthetic chemistry lab. The past two meetings have been successful in identifying the future applications of theoretical methods to molecularly defined problems resulting in appropriate combinations of currently existing methods. These include quantum mechanical methods of varying sophistication as well as simpler parametrized models involving effective potentials.The current edition explores further on the same prospects and will focus even more on the aspect of graduate-level education on selected topics. Together with the poster session involving all participating graduate students this format ensures maximum educational value for all participating graduate students from the German and the Indian side.

GOALS OF THE SYMPOSIUM

To have an Indo-German meeting on interconnecting concepts in computational modeling of chemical reactivity and biological activity. Both fields have in common the challenge of working with large systems at molecular resolution as well as the goal to match existing experimental data with high accuracy. Theoretical methods are expected to provide quantitative models for the rationalization of existing data and for the prediction of the properties of new systems in pharmaceutical and catalysis research. A list of possible subtopics includes:

1. Biological Activity Catalysis
2. Drug-Receptor Interactions
3. Macromolecular Modeling
4. Molecular Dynamics
5. Non-covalent Interactions
6. Property Design
7. Reaction Mechanisms
8. Reactivity Descriptors

Aside from the question of methodological and conceptual exchange, particular emphasis will be given to the training and involvement of younger scientists and the systematic development of an exchange-based cooperative network. To this end the symposium will feature five training sessions on topics of general interest. These training sessions will be given in a workshop format requiring the active involvement of the participation of the audience. A second important element for student involvement is the poster session, which is planned for the first day of the symposium in an open-end format.

Target Audience:

Computational Chemists
Biological Chemists
Organic chemists
Medicinal Chemists
Theoretical Chemists
Bio/pharmacoinformatics Professionals
College Graduates in Chemistry, biology, etc.

IMPORTANT DATES

Last Date of registration : 31st December, 2012

Last Date of Abstract Submission: 31st December, 2012

For Registration, CLICK HERE

Online Registration can also be done.

Breakthrough Research: Cure for Morphine Addiction found!!

2012-08-15T06:29:00.000+05:30

In a major breakthrough by a group of Australian scientists, a cure has been found for morphine and heroin addiction which will prove a boon for more than 12 million drug addicts worldwide.(1)

Scientists at the University of Adelaide have identified an immune receptor TLR-4 which is responsible for the drug addiction, and found a way to block this receptor without affecting pain relief.

This discovery can have wide implications as it offers the possibility of using Morphine as a pain reliever without worrying about its addictive properties. The use of morphine and other opioids is currently restricted as it can lead to some harmful effects if addicted to it.

Morphine and other opioids are known to bind to the opioid receptors in the brain, which results in pain relief and also activation of the "Reward Pathway". This "Reward Pathway" is a result of the release of large quantities of Dopamine in the brain which is the root cause for addiction to opioids.

TLR-4 is a toll-like receptor whose role is to identify foreign bodies,
and thus launch an immune attack against harmful pathogens.

The observation that the opioids also bind to the toll-like receptors TLR-4, eventually led the Hutchinson team to the hypothesis, that TLR-4 may act as an amplifier for award when opioids are bound to it. They performed a series of experiments pertaining to the addictive behaviour in rats, by administering a known drug (called plus naloxone- which is known to block TLR-4), and hence blocking the immune receptors.

Rats given plus-naloxone before receiving morphine did not exhibit behaviour linked to addiction. Their brains also showed a significantly lower release of dopamine than in rats that only received morphine. Using a heat sensitivity test, the team also showed that the rodents given plus-naloxone still experienced pain relief from the morphine, despite lacking signs of addiction.

The idea that the rewarding effect of opioid drugs is potentially mediated by this receptor "flies in the face of current opinion," says Chris Bailey, a pharmacologist from the University of Bath in the UK. "People for hundreds of years have been trying to come up with an opioid analgesic which isn't rewarding," he says.
These findings are particularly interesting, he says, because it's the first time a mechanism has been identified that separates the pain relief and reward responses to opioid drugs. "It has always been seen that the analgesia and the rewarding aspects go hand in hand," he says.

The National Institutes on Drug Abuse in U.S is further developing the drug to test in clinical trials. As a result, Clinical trials would soon be underway in the coming 2 years, Dr. Hutchinson said.

If the clinical trials were successful, opioid drugs used to relieve pain could potentially be co-formulated with the additional drugs( TLR-4 Blockers) to limit the chance of addiction.

It would also benefit the addicted patients who are admitted in hospital, and require pain relief. Addicted patients require higher doses of the drug, as they are higly tolerant to the drug, so this combination may help in lowering the doses given to the patients.

As bright as it looks, this "potential cure" for morphine addiction can definitely bring a paradigm shift if it passes the clinical trials successively. Hope it happens!!

References: (1) The World Drug Report, 2011 available online at http://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/WDR2011/World_Drug_Report_2011_ebook.pdf
(2) for more info on Toll-like receptors, log onto: http://www.sinauer.com/pdf/nsp-immunity-3-10.pdf
(3) for more info on Reward pathways, visit: http://lilt.ilstu.edu/vfdouga/P331/ARTICLES/role%20of%20dopamine%20in%20reward%20and%20pleasure.pdf and http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/drugs/

Public Domain Databases for Medicinal Chemistry

2012-08-13T23:37:00.000+05:30

Here's a useful overview of the public-domain medicinal chemistry databases out there.

BindingDB (quantitative binding data to protein targets).

ChEMBL (wide range of med-chem data, overlaps a bit with PubChem).

PubChem (data from NIH Roadmap screen and many others).

PDB (repository for the 3-D structural data of large biological molecules, such as proteins and nucleic acids

Binding MOAD (literature-annotated PDB data).

ChemSpider (26 million compounds from hundreds of data sources).

DrugBank (data on 6700 known drugs).

GRAC and IUPHAR-DB (data on GPCRs, ion channels, and nuclear receptors, and ligands for all of these).

PDBbind (more annotated PDB data).

PDSP Ki (data from UNC's psychoactive drug screening program)

SuperTarget (target-compound interaction database).

Therapeutic Targets Database(database of known and possible drug targets).

ZINC (21 million commercially available compounds, organized by class, downloadable in various formats).

Naming the Antibiotics: Some Intriguing Facts

2012-04-23T18:17:00.000+05:30

An entertaining and brief but fully documented review of the methods by which discoverers of antibiotics have chosen names for them is given by D. Perlman of the School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin.

Antibiotics named after Organisms:

Some of the best known, and a total of about 500, have names derived from the organisms producing them, either that of the genus (penicillin, streptomycin, cephalosporins) or of the species (griseofulvin from Penicillium griseofulvum). A few, such as staphylomycin and gramicidin, denote not the source but the organisms susceptible to them.

Antibiotics named after Places:

These antibiotics are named after the geographical sources of the soil where the producing organism was cultivated.

Pimaricin, a useful antifungal antibiotic was named after Pietermaritzburg, near which the soil yielding Streptomyces natalensis was collected.

Nystatin, is the only antibiotic named after the institution in which it was isolated, the laboratories of the New York State Board of Health.

Antibiotics named after people:

1Bacitracin-- Margaret Tracy being the child with a compound fracture from whose wound the producing Bacillus was isolated, where its growth was apparently contributing to overcoming septic infection.

2Helenine, an antibiotic of no clinical value but having an interesting action on some virus infections in mice, was so named by the late R. E. Shope after his wife Helen, because he found the mould producing the antibiotic growing on the cover of a photograph of her which he was carrying while serving in the war in the Pacific.

3saramycetin (a sulphur-containing peptide with systemic antifungal activity) was named after a mother-in-law.

Antibiotics with Peculiar Names

Reference: BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL, 759, 28 SEPTEMBER 1974.

Vaccine for Brain Tumor: A New Height in Personalized Medicine

2012-02-19T01:57:00.000+05:30

Developing a Vaccine produced from a patient's one's own tissues has definitely taken Pharmacogenomics-popularly known as "Personalized medicine" to a new height in the present scenario.

The concept of Pharmacogenomics deals with the genetic variation among the masses, and using the genetic data to select the right drugs to treat disease in a given patient. Although at a primary level, this can help the doctors in avoiding pointless treatments and reducing adverse drug reactions in the concerned patients.

Using a patient's own tissues for developing a Vaccine, is in itself a novel strategy employed by Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, N.J, wherein they are offering patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) (brain tumor) the opportunity to take part in the clinical trials.

The phase II trial, headed by principal investigator and researcher Anthony D'Ambrosio, M.D., director of Valley's neuro-oncology disease management team, is designed to evaluate safety, survival and immune response in patients treated with a heat shock protein peptide-complex vaccine (HSPPC-96) derived from each patient's specific tumor cells.

"Heat shock proteins are believed to play an essential role in helping the immune system to recognize and eradicate diseased cells," said D'Ambrosio.

The Glioblastoma Vaccine study is sponsored by the University of California, San Francisco, and is currently available in limited locations across the country. The study is currently searching for participants who are newly diagnosed, over age 18 and whose tumors have not been excised.

These trials indicate a new era in healthcare with the advent of personalized medicines, for the common good of humanity.

Free SciFinder access For Unemployed

2012-01-19T17:11:00.000+05:30

Are you currently unemployed and wish you still had access to SciFinder to help you find new employment or to stay current in your research area? If you had access to SciFinder and lost your job this year, CAS now offers complimentary SciFinder access under a special program for free.

Apply Here

SciFinder is a research discovery tool that allows college students and faculty to access a wide diversity of research from many scientific disciplines, including biomedical sciences, chemistry, engineering, materials science, agricultural science, and more!

SciFinder gives an instant access to the world's largest curated collection of information on disclosed chemistry and related research produced by CAS.

It includes: References from more than 10,000 currently published journals and patents from more than 62 patent authorities. Important scientific discoveries from the present to the mid-1800s. The latest scientific breakthroughs almost as soon as they are published with references added daily and some patent information as recent as 2 days ago. The world's largest collection of organic and inorganic substance information.

International Symposium on Drug Metabolism & Pharmacokinetics @NIPER, Mohali

2012-01-18T19:26:00.000+05:30

NIPER S.A.S. and Bristol-Myers Squibb is organizing 4th International Symposium on Drug Metabolism & Pharmacokinetics (DMPK) , at NIPER S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali), Punjab, India. This conference will be useful for scientific community working in the field of Drug Metabolism & Pharmacokinetics.

Objectives of the Symposium

Provide a better understanding of the role that drug metabolism, drug transporters, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics play in the drug discovery development process.

Evaluate new and current techniques and models associated with drug metabolism and drug transporters, as well as development of pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic models.

Gain insights into the issues encountered during the drug discovery process and the interface between discovery and clinical development.

Identify processes for reducing the attrition of drug candidates through a better understanding of metabolism and in vitro and in vivo correlations

This is primarily a lecture-based symposium intended for students and scientists from industry, academia, health-based government organizations, and healthcare professionals with a background in chemistry, biology, or the pharmaceutical sciences, with some experience in the principles and techniques of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics. The symposium is also intended for experienced researchers in these areas who wish to broaden or supplement their area of expertise, as well as contribute to the discussion topics.

Important Dates:

Receipt of Abstract: 20^th Jan. 2012

Intimation of acceptance : 20^th Jan. 2012

Receipt of Reg. Fee :20^th Jan. 2012

Dates of symposium : 16,17,18 and19^th Feb. 2012

Contact Details:

Dr. Abhay Sangamwar (Coordinator)
DMPK Symposium
Department of Pharmacoinformatics
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research
(NIPER), Sector 67, S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali) - 160 062
Punjab, India
Phone:+91-172-2214682-87 Extn. 2211 (office)
Fax:+91-172-2214692
e-mail: dmpk2012@niper.ac.in

Register Here

Avalanche'12, The National level Pharma Carnival on 3-4 Feb,2012

2012-01-16T17:39:00.000+05:30

Event Name: AVALANCHE’12
Event type: A National Level Pharma Carnival
Organizer: Ramanbhai Patel College of Pharmacy
Location: Education Campus Changa, Anand,Gujarat.

Important Dates for Avalanche'12

Event dates: February 3-4, 2012
Last date for registration: Jan 25, 2012
Eligibility: Open to all Pharmacy students of India(D.Pharm, B.Pharm, M.Pharm)

AVALANCHE'12
The much awaited national level Pharma Carnival, ‘Avalanche’ is back in 2012 and is all set to create a nation-wide sensation as it has been with the last two editions of Avalanche. Avalanche'12 has been made all the more exciting with lot of innovative ideas and additions that may provide a platform for all the pharma students of the country to exhibit their skills.

"Avalanche....the fury of thoughts", ever since its inception in 2007 has been one of a kind national Level Pharma carnival, which has gained much recognition among the masses due to its uniqueness and fun-filled activities. Avalanche'07 was a brainchild of the First batch of RPCP started with the objective to provide a platform exclusively for Pharma Students, in synchronous to the technical Festivals commonly observed in Engineering Colleges.

The second TechFest - Avalanche ‘10 got an overwhelming response from the Pharma fraternity from all over the country. Some of the prominent sponsors for Avalanche ’10 were pharmaceutical MNCs like Zydus Cadila, Torrent Pharma, Troikaa, Dishman and Claris Lifesciences. Mr. Arjun Handa, CEO, Claris Lifesciences served as the chief guest at an Inauguration function. It received participation from students of Gujarat, Andhra pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and other states across the country.

With various interesting events in line like Pharma Marketing, Pharma Modelling, pharma Recipe, case study, quiz, etc... Avalanche'12 is all set to create a fury of thoughts amongst the masses.

Various Events include:

Quiz
Debate
Pharma Marketing
Pharma Modelling
Poster Presentation
Pharma Recipe
Case Study
Scitoons
Network Gaming
Youth Asssembly

For more information on the events, Click here

The Pharmablockbusters Team recommends this event strongly, as it has been scrunitizing the event since its inception, and all the Pharmacy students will definitely gain a lot from this experience.

Registration Details:

Last Date for registration – 25th January 2012
Registration fees – Rs. 250/- per student
Mode of Payment: By Cash or At Par Cheque/DD in favour of “Ramanbhai Patel College of Pharmacy” payable at Anand.
For registration forms, Click here.

VENUE

Ramanbhai Patel College of Pharmacy, CHARUSAT Campus,Changa

Ta-Petlad,Dist-Anand 388421

Gujarat, India

CONTACT

Maharshi Raval- (+91) 9428805096

Sanket Shah- (+91) 9825313637

Email Address: avalanche12@charusat.ac.in

For More Information:

http://www.charusat.ac.in/avalanche12/index.html

Bardoxolone: A potential Mega Blockbuster!!

2011-12-13T16:08:00.001+05:30

Bardoxolone methyl (other names “RTA 402” and “CDDO-methyl ester”) is a synthetic oleananetriterpenoid that is an orally-available first-in-class antioxidant inflammation modulator (AIM). It is the most potent known inducer of the Keap1-Nrf2pathway to enter clinical development and works to suppress both oxidative stress and inflammation.

The drug: Bardoxolone

The Disease: Chronic Kidney Disease

The Develepors: Reata and Abott Pharma

Peak Projections: Several billion plus*

Bardoxolone methyl is currently being developed in late-stage clinical trials by Reata Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for the treatment of moderate to severe chronic kidney disease (CKD) in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

Pathogenesis:
Oxidative stress and inflammation are thought to be key drivers of the fibrotic process in CKD inducing structural changes within the glomerulus.
Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen species (ROS) activate NF-kB, which activates various pro-inflammatory mediators, resulting in oxidative stress.
This then results in chronic inflammation and fibrosis, thus causing chronic kidney diseases.

In vivo data indicates that the Keap-Nrf2 pathway is suppressed in models of kidney fibrosis whilst there is a simultaneous increase in oxidative stress and inflammation.Thus, activating this pathway, may lead to improved conditions in chronic kidney diseases.

Scientists at Reata Pharma, explored
this pathway, and developed some compounds, which are potent inducers of the transcription factor Nrf2.

Nuclear factor-erythroid-related factor 2 (Nrf2) plays a critical part in basal activity and coordinated induction of genes encoding numerous antioxidant and phase II detoxifying enzymes (including catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathionse s-transferase etc.).

Mechanism of Action:
Bardoxolone, their most active compound, acts as an Anti-inflammation Mediators (AIMs) and activates Nrf2, causing causing increased production of over 250 antioxidant enzymes and resulting in the inhibition of pro-inflammatory transcription factors, such as NF-κB and STAT3.
Thus AIMS provide a vital mechanism based relief from oxidative stress and damage to the neprons, thus proving to be a key player in CKD clinical control.

Bardoxolone in Clinical Trials:
Clinical observations in Phase 2 studies with bardoxolone methyl have included the following:

Significant and sustained improvements in eGFR.
Increased creatinine clearance, with no decrease in 24-hour creatinine excretion.
Parallel improvements in other measures of kidney function, including blood urea nitrogen and uric acid, which correlate with the improvement in eGFR.
Persisting increase in eGFR from baseline following withdrawal of therapy (when the drug has largely been cleared out of the body).

Reata started enrolling patients for the Phase III on bardoxolone last summer. As per Reata CEO Warren Huff, the process is running ahead of schedule, leaving them on track to wrap in the summer of 2013 with a possible approval in 2014.

A Blockbuster deal:

Recently,Reata Pharmaceuticals snagged a $450 million quick-cash deal with Abbott on the ex-U.S. rights to bardoxolone, which is the focus of a big pivotal study. Now Abbott, is committing itself to a long-term future with Reata in what amounts to an unusually large cash commitment to a preclinical venture.

In the deal, Abbott and Reata have agreed to share the costs and profits on the biotech's antioxidant inflammation modulators(AIM). The two companies also agreed to collaborate on discovery work related to other drugs that can be derived from the AIM program. The first human study of a preclinical drug covered by the partnership is slated to begin in 2012.

This treatment has the potential to dramatically change the treatment landscape, Current therapies only modestly slow the progression of the disease, while bardoxolone has the potential to markedly improve patient outcomes. It has been proposed to lengthen the lives of patients without the need of undergoing the ardent task of constant dialysis.

With more varied implications of AIMs in many diseases like Parkinson's,alzheimers, Cancer, etc. due to its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory action, Bardoxolone sets the right parameters to be a potential Mega Blockbuster in the near future!!

*as per Fierce Pharma report.
Know more about clinical trials of Bardoxolone from: http://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMc1110239
To know more about Chronic kidney Disease, Click here

GPAT 2012: Important Dates

2011-11-29T02:46:00.001+05:30

World’s first carbohydrate malaria vaccine wins Gates Foundation grant!!

2011-11-26T02:10:00.001+05:30

A Walter and Eliza Hall Institute project to develop the world’s first carbohydrate-based malaria vaccine has received a US$1 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, through the Grand Challenges Explorations program.

Associate Professor Louis Schofield has been awarded a US$1 million

grant to advance the development of the world's first carbohydrate malaria vaccine

The vaccine, developed by Associate Professor Louis Schofield from the institute’s Infection and Immunity division, targets an essential Plasmodium parasite carbohydrate called GPI (glycosylphosphatidylinositol). GPI is also a toxin produced by the Plasmodium parasite that has previously been identified as a major determinant in the severity and fatality of disease.

Associate Professor Schofield said the US$1 million Grand Challenges Explorations Phase II funding will allow the team to advance development and preclinical trials that will test the ability of the vaccine to interrupt transmission of the parasite, and decrease the severity of the disease.

“The anti-GPI vaccine is novel in that it is the first potential antimalarial vaccine that targets a parasite carbohydrate, rather than a protein,” he said. “Malaria parasites invest considerable effort in evading the immune system, continuously modifying its proteins to avoid detection, which is why a malaria vaccine has continued to be elusive. A vaccine that targets a highly conserved carbohydrate target could be especially effective in treating malaria.”

Associate Professor Schofield said that a vaccine with anti-toxic properties could also be a highly effective public health tool. “Vaccines against pathogen-derived toxins have been successful against tetanus, diptheria and pertussis [whooping cough], but have not been developed for treating malaria,” Associate Professor Schofield said. “The use of a vaccine with anti-toxin properties could help to diminish the disease burden in countries where malaria is endemic, particularly if used in combination with other prevention and treatment strategies.”

The US$1 million Phase II funding follows on from a one-year Phase I funding project also supported by the Gates Foundation’s Grand Challenges Explorations program.

The phase I project generated some very encouraging results indicating that the anti-GPI vaccine could be very useful in both preventing and treating malaria.

World Health Organization figures indicate more than half the world is at risk of malaria infection, with 225 million cases of malaria and almost 800,000 deaths annually. The disease is the biggest killer in sub-Saharan Africa, where approximately 20 per cent of all childhood deaths are due to malaria, the equivalent of one child every 45 seconds.

“We have done extensive work in areas where malaria is endemic, such as Papua New Guinea, where malaria is a substantial disease and economic burden,” Associate Professor Schofield said. “We are excited to move into further development and trials of a vaccine that may help to diminish this burden.”

The project is one of only nine Grand Challenges Explorations projects that received up to $1 million in funding to advance ideas that have shown promise in tackling global health challenges. Grand Challenges Explorations enables researchers worldwide to test unorthodox ideas that address persistent health and development challenges.

Top Ten Unusual Logos: Pharma & Bio-Tech

2011-11-25T01:37:00.001+05:30

Company: Adocia
Based: Lyon, France
Website: http://www.adocia.com

Scoop: This French regenerative medicine company is named for the Adocia, a sea sponge that has the ability to regenerate itself.

Adocia is developing protein formulations based on its proprietary technology, BioChaperone. Candidates in its pipeline include treatments for chronic wounds, a fast-acting insulin, and a spinal fusion product.

Company: Aslan Pharmaceutical
Based: Singapore
Website: http://aslanpharma.com/index.html

Scoop: Aslan is known to fans of C.S. Lewis as the main character of the Chronicles of Narnia series. But Singapore’s Aslan Pharmaceuticals was harkening back to its home city’s roots when it chose its logo. Company CEO Carl Firth told Scrip Asia 100 the logo was appropriate because a symbol of Singapore is the mythical merlion, which has a lion's head and fish body.

Aslan was recently in the news for entering a strategic partnership with Bristol-Myers Squibb ($BMY). The agreement allows for the quick development of BMS-777607, an investigational small molecule inhibitor of the MET receptor tyrosine kinase for treatment of solid tumors.

Company: Aursos
Based: Kalamazoo, MI
Website: http://www.aursos.com/

Scoop: Aursos appropriately uses the bear as its symbol. The company, which was founded in 2007, has licensed technology developed at Michigan Technological University on the family of naturally-occurring parathyroid hormone proteins found in the black bear. Aursos is looking to develop black bear PTH (BB-PTH) 1-84 for the prevention and treatment of primary and secondary osteoporosis.

Aursos has had successful proof-of-concept in animal tests and wants to raise $3.1 million, notes Crain's Detroit Business.

Company: Chesson Labs
Based: Durham, NC
Website: http://www.chessonlabs.com

Scoop: Founded in 2006, Durham, NC-based Chesson Laboratory Associates' mission is "[t]o improve global healthcare by becoming a market leader in the development and delivery of innovative polymer-based medical products." Jerry Chesson, former head of Southeastern Shelter Fireproofing and dabbler in scientific experiments, helped found the company, as the Triangle Business Journal notes.

Chesson's liquid bandage has been cleared by the FDA, and it is conducting clinical trials to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a product intended for the use in the management of toenail fungus.

Company: Elder Pharmacueticals
Based: India
Website: http://www.elderindia.com/

Scoop: Elder was founded in 1989 by Jagdish Saxena after the marketing executive, along with 400 other salespeople at his company, lost his job. He decided to found his own company, which took off when Elder began to market a calcium supplement derived from natural sources. Today the company manufactures and markets prescription pharmaceutical brands, surgical and medical devices and claims to be the third fastest-growing pharma company in India.

According to an interview, Saxena picked his company's name at random. "We had registered many names for the new company but all were rejected," the exec told the Business Standard. "The name Elder came from my trip to Australia. One day while crossing the road I saw a truck with the name Elder Food Production. So I returned and registered the same name." He gave no explanation for the company's stick-figure logo.

Company: Irazu Biodiscovery
Based: Baltimore, MD
Website: http://www.irazubiodiscovery.com/

Scoop: Irazu is the name of an active volcano in Costa Rica. It's also the name of a Maryland company looking to decelerate the onset of age-associated diseases. Founded in 2000, IRAZÚ Biodiscovery is looking to develop nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals that mimic the age-decelerating effects of caloric restriction.

The company thought the volcano was a perfect symbol on many levels. "The Irazú Volcano is one of several fiery tectonic sentinels guarding the Central Plateau of my native Costa Rica--a mountain that was to shape my childhood with appreciation of both the striking beauty and the sheer power of Nature," CEO Marco Chacón told FiercePharma in an emailed statement. Furthermore, "[a] volcano is also a fitting metaphor for scientific inquiry and discovery. Scholarship and the pursuit of science can be described as climbing a steep mountain...a mountain that--once in a great while--reveals the secrets of our very own nature," he added.

Company: LEO Pharma
Based: Denmark
Website: http://www.leo-pharma.us

Scoop: Chemists August Kongsted and Anton Antons founded LEO Pharma in 1908, when they set up a company in the basement of their pharmacy. The shop where they worked, which dated back to the 1620s, was called Leo. According to the company's history, Kongsted and Antons registered the logo as a trademark, which was based on a painting by artist Anna Rink inspired by a bas-relief at the Louvre, in 1901. Today, LEO Pharma is a worldwide company that markets and develops dermatology and thrombosis treatments.

Company: Orchidia Pharma
Based: Egypt
Website: http://www.orchidiapromo.com/

Scoop: Orchidia Promotions was founded in 1993 as a marketing company to help multinational pharma companies reach the Egyptian market. One of its major clients was Ciba Vision, a contact lens company owned by Novartis. The company changed its name and focus in 2003 as it began promoting its own range of prescription and OTC eye products and later established a manufacturing facility outside of Cairo.

Company: Premas Biotech
Based: Haryana, India
Website: http://www.premasbiotech.com/index.aspx

Scoop: According to Indian contract research and manufacturing services organization Premas, its logo has deep meaning. The round bottom flask, with one side open, signifies the openess of the company. It also has an eye in the form of a leaf, which signifies environmental consciousness. The company is also a warm one with which to work, as embodied by the smile on the flask. Finally, the bubbles, which demonstrate that company is an exciting place to work for. "We are deliberate in our approach, while maintaining a warm and exciting profile," the company notes.

Company: Trinity Pharma

Based: South Africa
Website: http://www.tripharm.co.za/

Scoop: Frolicking abounds in the logo for South African Trinity Pharma, which notes on its website that the company was founded in 2002 by three regulatory consultants. Its original mission was to help international developers navigate regulation in South Africa, and its business has expanded to include market assessment, marketing and distribution, and selection and coordination of the marketing partnerships.

NIPER and Dr. Reddy's bag Thomson Reuters Innovation Award 2011!!

2011-11-22T02:12:00.001+05:30

Four organisations including NIPER and Dr. Reddy's have been named as India’s most innovative and the winners of the Thomson Reuters Innovation Award 2011 which is being hosted in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for the second year running.

Four awards were presented across four different industrial sectors: Pharma Corporate, Pharma Academic & Government, Hi-Tech Corporate and Hi-Tech Academic & Government.

The following award recipients were recognized for their distinguished achievements through patented technology as recorded in data from Thomson Innovation®, the Thomson Reuters IP intelligence and collaboration platform.

-- Hi-Tech Corporate: Tata Steel Limited
-- Hi-Tech - Academic & Government: Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO)
-- Pharma Corporate: Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Limited
-- Pharma - Academic & Government: National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPER)

Said Prof. K. K. Bhutani, Director of NIPER, award recipient in the Pharma-Academic & Government category, “Innovation in science and technology is the key to delivering the benefits of progress to every citizen. As a partner in India’s healthcare delivery system, NIPER has introduced the concept of central testing laboratories in the Institute by bringing together chemists, biologists and pharmacists on a common platform. The aim is to harvest the fruits of research in academia and share expertise with the pharmaceutical industry so as to strengthen drug discovery and development. The scientific tools offered by Thomson Reuters have played a major role in meeting this challenge. A quantum leap in the number of patents and publications from a young Institute like NIPER is an indication of the dedication of our staff and students. I am really happy to know that Thomson Reuters has recognized this achievement. This appreciation reinforces our commitment and provides us with an international platform to showcase our accomplishments.”

The four Award recipients were selected based on research and analysis using Thomson Reuters Derwent World Patents Index®, Derwent Patent Citations Index™ and Thomson Innovation®.. The 2011 Award recipients are decided by analysing their innovation through patented technology as recorded in Thomson Reuters patent information services.

Criteria for the 2011 Award include the number of Basic Inventions each organisation published from 2009-2010; its ratio of granted patents to Basic Inventions; the global reach of the portfolio (protecting an invention in major world markets is an indication that an organization places a significant value on those pieces of their intellectual property); and the overall influence of the portfolio as determined by international citations of its research.

First established in 2008, the Thomson Reuters Innovation Award continues to recognise the most innovative academic institutions and commercial enterprises headquartered in India for their spirit of innovation in Research & Development (R&D).

For more information on Thomson Reuters methodology regarding the use of patent analytics in measuring innovation in India, visit http://science.thomsonreuters.com/ssr/india-innovation-awards-2011/
Source: Thomson Reuters

14th November: The BLUE (World Diabetes) DAY

2011-11-17T02:07:00.001+05:30

________________________________________________________________________________

The World seemed to have gone Blue on the eve of World Diabetes Day on 14^th November, 2011 as major buildings in the World were bathed in sparkling blue lights symbolising the need to spread awareness regarding Diabetes among the masses!!

An Initiative by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in association with Abbott Diabetes Blue Fortnight lead to a Walkathon, Street Plays and many other awareness events in Mumbai on Sunday.
Around 50 top monuments and buildings around the country were also be lit up blue under the Abbott Diabetes Blue Fortnight-2011 initiative.

These include Shaniwarwada Fort in Pune; the Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple, Old Fort, Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Humayun Tomb, AIIMS, Fortis Hospitals, Metro Bhavan (New Delhi/NCR), Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, Agra; the Imambara in Lucknow; Manek Chowk and City Palace Grounds, Udaipur and Konark Temple in Orissa.

In 2010, over 900 monuments and buildings in 84 countries lit in blue on 14 November to raise awareness of diabetes and World Diabetes Day .

WHO estimates that more than 346 million people worldwide have diabetes. This number is likely to more than double by 2030 without intervention. Almost 80% of diabetes deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. It added that in the current year, one person is dying from diabetes every seven seconds.

Started by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and WHO, World Diabetes Day is celebrated on 14 November each year to mark the birthday of Frederick Banting who, along with Charles Best, was instrumental in the discovery of insulin in 1922, a life-saving treatment for diabetes patients.

The occasion is aimed to raise awareness of diabetes, its prevention and complications and the care that people with the condition need. Governments, non-governmental organizations and private businesses are encouraged to increase awareness of the disease, particularly among the general population and the media. World Diabetes Day was first commemorated on November 14, 2007, and is observed annually.

The World Diabetes Day 2011 campaign marks the third year of the International Diabetes Federation's five-year focus on "Diabetes education and prevention," the theme chosen for the period 2009-2013.

The slogan chosen for this year's campaign is: Act on Diabetes. Now.

Five key messages have been developed to inform the outputs and deliverables of the 2011 campaign:

Diabetes kills: 1 person every 8 seconds, 4 million people a year.

Diabetes does not discriminate: all ages, rich and poor, all countries.

Diabetes can no longer be ignored: 4 million lives lost a year, 1 million amputations a year, millions lost in income and productivity.

Life-saving care, a right not a privilege: education, medicines, technologies.

Choose Health: demand healthy food and environments, keep active, eat well. You can make a difference.

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF), this year had arranged WDD Blue Monument Challenge in which it had received 378 confirmed lightings, which were uploaded in the Flickr album. (click on the link to view them)

It even encouraged special performances in a local square, commercial centre or other public place like dancing, doing a physical activity (eg. jumping, exercising), forming a blue circle, or just shout out awareness messages to alert the public on the urgent need to: ACT ON DIABETES NOW.

People forming a Blue Circle on World Diabetes Day

The Significance of the Symbol: The BLUE CIRCLE

The World Diabetes Day logo is the blue circle - the global symbol for diabetes which was developed as part of the Unite for Diabetes awareness campaign.

The official UN symbol for diabetes is a simple ring in the same shade of blue as is used on the United Nations Flag and many other United Nations symbols, also known as "Pantone 279". The inner diameter of the ring is 70 percent of the outer diameter.

The ring is used in combination with the slogan "unite for diabetes", where the letters "U" and "N" of the word "unite" are also in UN blue color and the other letters are in black. The ring symbol was chosen because it is easy to display and could even be painted on a wall or home-made banner. In addition, it occurs widely in nature and has been used in many cultures to symbolize unity, life, the globe and health.

Conrad behind Bars, MJ's soul to rest in Peace!!

2011-11-10T05:40:00.000+05:30

It may seem unrelated to this blog, but i felt the need to post it, mainly as it concerns the overdose of drugs, and secondly, it involves my favorite artist.

Michael Jackson, called "MJ" by his fans has been one of the finest popstars to live uptill now and his tragic death was a great shock to the world.

The doctor hired to care for Michael Jackson has been convicted with the involuntary killing of the pop star by administering powerful anesthetics and sedatives. The graphic below profiles the drugs that were found in Jackson’s body as well as a brief timeline showcasing the major events pertinent to the trial.

Lets offer a tribute to MJ....!!

Will Ranbaxy sell its lipitor rights??

2011-08-25T20:03:00.001+05:30

The most popular question among the analysts and trade specialists today is" Will Ranbaxy sell its Lipitor rights?"

After winning the rights for 180 day exclusivity of Lipitor in U.S(2008), Ranbaxy was considered to be sitting on a cake of profits. Although citing regulatory reasons, FDA withdrew its approval of several manufacturing plants of Ranbaxy, leading to wide speculations about the status of Lipitor. The generic copy of Lipitor was slated to be released on Nov.30, 2011, over which clouds of doubt reside!!

Lipitor is the highest-selling drug of all time, generating $10.7 billion last year. An FDA investigation into quality standards at two Ranbaxy manufacturing plants and a federal investigation into its testing practices have delayed approval of the drug copy. Federal prosecutors are negotiating a dispute settlement that may cost Ranbaxy more than $1 billion, Fortune Magazine reported in May.

If Ranbaxy doesn't get approval by Nov. 30, it may postpone the release of its copycat Lipitor.This would also delay the timeline for other generic manufacturers wanting to sell their own copies, as Ranbaxy’s 180-day exclusivity period does not start until it begins commercial marketing.Mylan, actually tried to force FDA to nullify Ranbaxy's exclusive rights, given the company's difficulty obtaining approval, but a judge tossed out that lawsuit.

Alternativley, If the delay is lengthy, than Ranbaxy has got a chance to waive the exclusivity in return for payment from another drugmaker, either a lump sum or a piece of the sales,as reported by Bloomberg.
Ranbaxy, 64-percent owned by Tokyo-based Daiichi Sankyo Co., received a one-time payment from Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH last year for relinquishing its 180-day exclusivity on the Flomax prostate treatment under similar circumstances.

The officials at Daichi Sankyo refused to comment on the pending approval of lipitor by FDA. It remains to be seen which path Ranbaxy takes to come out of this situation. Till then, the markets would be abuzz with the question...."Will Ranbaxy sell its Lipitor rights?"

Sugar to fight against Hospital infections!!

2011-08-19T16:41:00.002+05:30

A Carbohydrate found on the surface of one of the most virulent strains of Clostridium Difficile has been synthesized by scientists in Germany.
This piece of research can prove to be an important breakthrough in the Vaccine development programme against the infection.

C.Difficile bacterium

C.Difficile is a species of Gram-positive bacteria of the genus Clostridium that remains in a dormant form (i.e. spores) inside the colon until a person pops an antibiotic pill. The antibiotics in its course of action also destroys the normal gut flora(the good bacteria) leading to an overgrowth of C. difficile, which flourishes under these conditions. This results in the C.difficile getting converted into its active form and producing toxins which damages the gut wall, resulting in bloody diarrhoea and pseudomembraneous colitis.

C.difficile infections are one of the most common Nosocomial infections worldwide and are the leading cause of death in elderly and those with weakened immune system.Peter Seeberger, who led the team that carried out the research at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam was qouted as saying"C. difficile is on the rise in industrialised countries.There is a need for a vaccine but it's a big challenge."

Treatment with antibiotics is not so effective because of increasing resistance and tough nature of bacterial spores..The majority of severe infections are caused by just one hypervirulant strain - type 027.

To fight this particular strain, Seeberger and his team synthesised the repeating unit of a carbohydrate -pentasaccharide PS-1 - that is only found on the surface of type 027. The linear synthesis involved using one precursor molecule to make four different building blocks, making an efficient process. Their aim is to use PS-1 to create a vaccine to enable the immune system to recognise it, make antibodies against it and mount a response against the infection.

'It is elegant chemistry and shows that if you master the challenges of synthetic carbohydrate chemistry, you can produce something that's medically useful,' says Gerd Wagner, a medicinal chemistry expert at King's College London, UK, who agrees that the research 'opens the door to exploring a vaccine candidate'.

Seeberger's team was also the first to synthesize PS-2, a carbohydrate found on all strains of C. difficile. He states the possibility of 'combining PS-1 and PS-2 in a single vaccine candidate for better coverage'. His team has begun tests using PS-1 attached to a protein carrier to determine whether animals can create antibodies against it. It will be years before a vaccine is available, he says, but he emphasizes that PS-1 and PS-2 are both promising candidates!!

Schedule HX: A Proposed Solution to ever increasing problem of Antibiotic Resistance!!

2011-08-03T16:06:00.001+05:30

No, we are not talking about any drug or a device that may help combat Antibiotic resistance, the extent of which has gone out of bounds due to the random popping of these pills by the people.

What we are talking about is a new Schedule(HX), an amendment to the Drugs & Cosmetics Act,1945 proposed by the Union Health ministry in a bid to prevent large scale misuse of antibiotics in the country.

Through this ,India plans to ban the availability and over-the counter sale of the latest generation of antibiotics from general pharmacies.The move is expected to end the obsession with popping a pill.

The ministry has identified a group of 70 antibiotics to be included in this restricted category of drugs. Currently, antibiotics are placed under the Schedule H of the D&C Act. The new Schedule will require doctors and chemists to retain prescriptions so that the abuse of antibiotics could be checked from now onwards. Once the policy takes effect, doctors, while prescribing antibiotics, will have to issue two prescriptions to every patient and one copy should be kept for a period of two years by the chemists. The officials from the DCGI office or state regulatory authorities can, thus, audit these prescriptions at any time. Violations under the new Schedule may be punished with a fine of Rs. 20000 or up to two years of imprisonment. Antibiotics would be categorised as non-restricted, restricted and very restricted. Each category would have a distinct colour code for the benefit of consumers

The schedule has two parts:
Part A of Schedule HX has 16 drugs and antibiotics that shall be sold directly by drug manufacturers to the tertiary care hospitals.These drugs will have a label with a red box,and will be marked as for use in tertiary care hospitals only.Drugs include-Moxifloxacin,Meropenem,Ertapenem,Doripenem,Linezolid and Cefpirome,etc.

Part B of Schedule HX has 74 drugs and formulations that will carry the warning that it is dangerous to take this preparation except in accordance with medical advice and not to be sold by retail without the prescription of the doctor. Drugs include: Gentamicin,Amikacin,Penicillin,Oxacilin,Norfloxacin,Cefaclor and Cefdinir,etc.

A Union health ministry official said: We are ready with the notification to bring around 90 drugs under a new strict schedule so that they arent randomly used.They are the third and the final generation of antibiotics.Random popping of these pills would make people resistant against the last available generation of antibiotics.

Seems the Indian Govt. has finally woken up from a slumber!!

Setback for Teva Pharma as its MS drug laquinimod flunks in Ph3 Trials!!

2011-08-03T15:22:00.002+05:30

Teva's late-stage oral MS drug laquinimod flunked the second of three Phase III studies, the latest in a series of disappointments.

Researchers for Teva recruited more than 1,300 MS patients in 153 sites around the globe for the BRAVO study. They were randomized in two groups, with one getting laquinimod and the other receiving a placebo. According to the researchers, the study backed up the findings of the first Phase III, which demonstrated a reduction in the risk of disability progression and brain tissue loss. But while the randomization process was done properly, the "placebo and treatment study groups showed dissimilarity in two baseline magnetic resonance imaging characteristics," Teva said in a statement. "According to a standard and pre-specified sensitivity analysis included within the original statistical analysis plan, when this imbalance was corrected laquinimod demonstrated a significant reduction in the annualized relapse rate."
Whether or not Teva can persuade regulators to overlook the Phase III pratfall, though, remains to be seen. Analysts were distinctly disappointed last April when laquinimod failed to lower the relapse rate as much as they had hoped for in Phase III. With Novartis's Gilenya on the market and Biogen Idec reporting late-stage success with its oral MS drug BG-12, an approval isn't enough to guarantee blockbuster sales. And some analysts this morning were quick to give Biogen Idec an improved position in the race for regulatory approval.

NIPER JEE 2011: Results Declared

2011-07-08T00:40:00.000+05:30

Finally, the much awaited NIPER JEE 2011 results are out!!

You can check the result on:
http://www.niper.ac.in/result2011.htm

The whole PharmaBlockbusters Team congratulates all the students who cleared the exam!! Those who were not qualified, dont worry...There are going to be many opportunities ahead!!

All the best for the future!!
Below is the list of the counselling dates.

20^th July 2011: All category Rank 1 - 500
Rank 1-100	8:00 a.m.
Rank 101-200	11:30 a.m.
Rank 201-300	1:30 p.m.
Rank 301-500	3:30 p.m.
21^st July 2011: All category Rank 500 - 2215
Rank 500-750	8:00 a.m.
Rank 751-1500	11:30 a.m.
Rank 1501-2215	1:30 p.m.
22^nd July 2011
SC candidates Rank 2228 to 2938	8:00a.m.
ST candidates upto Rank 2342 to 2890	11:00a.m.
PH candidates Rank 2580 to 3465	12:30 p.m.
KM Rank upto 2215/Sponsored candidates	2:00 p.m.

Documents to be submitted in ORIGINAL (alongwith a set of photocopies of these documents)

Matriculation Certificate as a proof of age and correct name.
Marks sheet of all the semesters of the qualifying degree.
Valid GPAT/GATE/NET Card
Admit Card of NIPER-JEE 2011.
Certificate of reservation, if applicable
Certificate of reservation and certificate of income (showing non-creamy layer status of the OBC candidates as provided in OM No. 36033/3/2004-Estt. (Res) dated 9^th March, 2004 of the Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension or any subsequent order issued by the Government of India in this regard).
Certificate of disability, if applicable.
Medical Certificate [Format provided in Information Brochure at Annexure -1]
Sponsorship certificate from the employer in case of Government/ Industry sponsored candidates as per form attached in Information Brochure at Annexure -2 (Date of counselling � 22-07-2011)
Documentary proof in support of the NRI status
Undertaking from the candidate as per the provisions of anti-ragging verdict by Hon�ble Supreme Court in form given at Annexure 3 in Information Brochure
Undertaking to be given by the parents against ragging at Annexure 4 in Information Brochure

E-Patient Dave: An Ultimate Warrior

2011-07-07T13:16:00.007+05:30

Summary:

When Dave deBronkart learned he had a rare and terminal cancer, he turned to a group of fellow patients online and found the medical treatment that saved his life. Now he calls on all patients to talk with one another, know their own health data, and make health care better one e-Patient at a time.

E-patient Dave: On how he defeated cancer through a patient community!!

Here, Dave deBronkart( better known as E-Patient Dave) shares his views of how he was diagnosed with late stage renal cancer, and how he fought the battle against the killer of all diseases.

Odds were stacked against him, with tumors in both lungs, several bones and muscle tissue. The doctors gave him a time of 24 weeks!! Dave, who was always a google fan...just reviewed many articles, and after going through 3 pages of dejection...he found hope on a patients forum, which suggested him to take Interleukin treatment, only

available in certain specialist hospitals.

He got the name and address of the doctors providing this treatment, which a regular doctor could not have provided..coz they are almost unaware about it!! and we thought we could totally rely on Doctors...!

Well, He received great treatment, and was able to fight through and win the battle over his cancer. His last treatment was July 23, 2007, and by September it was clear he’d beaten the disease.

Dont you think that's awesome??? All through a patient network...seems we wont be requiring a doctor's expertise in future!!
Does it bring hope for all those still fighting??? Its a Definite YES....

deBronkart is now actively engaged in opening health care information directly to patients on an unprecedented level, thus creating a new dynamic in how information is delivered, accessed and used by the patient.

This Video will definitely Inspire all those who have lost hope, just because a doctor has given them a thumbs down.....!! Dont Worry people, the World is changing,what with our E-patient Dave winning a battle (against all odds) and raising hopes of many patients throughout the world!!
The slogan goes perfectly...as set by Dave:

"LET PATIENTS HELP"

FDA Inspection In several Indian Manufacturing Plants: A Boost in Exports Expected!!

2011-07-05T19:07:00.000+05:30

The US drug regulator has inspected manufacturing plants of at least half a dozen Indian drugmakers in the last few weeks, raising hopes among some of these companies that they will shortly be able to export medicines to the world's largest drug market.

Several industry executives said teams of inspectors of the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) did not find any major deficiency during inspection of facilities of Ranbaxy Laboratories, Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals, Emcure Pharma, Nectar Lifesciences and Ind Swift Laboratories over the course of the last four weeks.

Senior industry executives said this was the first time that FDA had inspected so many manufacturing units in India during such a short span of time.
An estimated $30-40 billion worth of drugs, including top-selling drugs like Lipitor (Pfizer), Nexium (Astra Zeneca) and Plavix ( Bristol Myers Squibb), will lose patent protect protection in the next 1-2 years. This means generic firms can launch their versions at one-tenth of the price of the original brand, if they have FDA approval. For the US consumer, sale of more generic drugs will result in greater competition and therefore, lower prices.

Ranbaxy Laboratories, the country's largest drugmaker, stands to benefit the most from a favourable report from the FDA. The US constitutes a fourth of Ranbaxy's total sales and a nod from the FDA will permit the Gurgaon-based firm to sell new drugs in the US from its Indian plants, nearly three years after FDA banned and halted marketing approval of new drugs from its two main plants for data fabrication. Two FDA officials spent about two weeks examining the drugmaker’s new manufacturing facility at Mohali, Punjab and it is learnt that they have not pointed out any major flaw during the examination.

Several other plants which were inspected are listed below:

COMPANY	PRODUCT	LOCATION
Ranbaxy	Finished dosage	Mohali
Nectar Lifesciences	API	Chandigarh
Ind Swift	API	Chandigarh
Orchid Chemicals	API	Chennai
Emcure Pharma	API	Pune
Mumbai based Firm	API	Ahmedabad

According to the Pharmaceutical Exports Council of India, US accounts for about a quarter of the country’s 50,000-crore drug market. Despite increased pressure on margins, the US market remains highly profitable and a key growth driver for many Indian companies.

(Source: Economic Times)