On March 22, 2021, by a media release, AstraZeneca announced that its ‘US Phase III trial of AZD1222 demonstrated statistically significant vaccine efficacy of 79% in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 and 100% efficacy at preventing severe disease and hospitalization.’ Quite unexpectedly, on March … Continue reading
As the new Coronavirus overwhelms the world, since its global outbreak, up until November 29, 2020, over 1,458,305 people have died from this pandemic. Understandably, the Governments in all countries are frantically searching for some robust remedial measures to prevent these unfortunate deaths, besides protecting … Continue reading
“Jaan hai to jahan hai” (If you have life, you have the world). Prime Minister Modi - with a skillful tweak, used the couplet of the 18th century poet - Mir Taqi Mir, while announcing the criticality of 21-day national lockdown from March 24, 2020 due … Continue reading
In its first reading, the 18-page draft Pharma Policy, 2017 gives me a sense that the Government has followed the much-desired principle of ‘walk the talk’, especially in some key areas. One such space is what Prime Minister Modi distinctly … Continue reading
“TO SIN BY SILENCE WHEN THEY SHOULD PROTEST MAKES COWARDS OF MEN” – Abraham Lincoln The ghost of untested, irrational and even of bizarre kind of Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) drugs, which continue to be launched, promoted, prescribed … Continue reading
Recent order of the Indian drug regulator to withdraw all formulations of the well known, yet controversial, anti-diabetic drug – Pioglitazone from the domestic market has created a flutter in the country, ruffling many feathers at the same time. Withdrawal … Continue reading
It is now a widely accepted dictum that Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), especially pharma patents, help fostering innovation and is critical in meeting unmet needs of the patients. However, the moot question still remains, what type pharmaceutical invention, should deserve … Continue reading
No, I do not think so. The 112 pages well articulated judgment of the Supreme Court of India delivered on April 1, 2013, does not even remotely discourage innovation in India, including much talked about ‘incremental innovation’. This landmark judgment … Continue reading