Pharma News

As dietary supplements may be advertised to promote health but according to a study conducted by University of Colorado, excessive use of over-the-counter vitamins and other dietary supplements may raise the risk of malignancies, The exact molecular mechanisms are unknown; however, the causal role of excessive dietary supplements and higher risk of developing cancer is well-established.

A fast-acting transdermal gel using a proprietary formulation of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ketoprofen helps in reduced pain severity in patients with severe migraine with or without auracompared with placebo and had few adverse effects. The phase 2a trial results were presented at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 67th Annual Meeting. The study shows the pathogenesis of severe headaches that are due to neurogenic inflammation.  If proved in large-scale trials, it may be new era  in neurological practice and introduction of new topical treatment of migraine. Oral analgesics such as cyclooxygenase inhibitors reduce inflammation but cause undesirable gastrointestinal effects.

Elekta is a Swedish company that provides radiation therapy, radiosurgery, related equipment and clinical management for the treatment of cancer and brain disorders,  has introduced its new Leksell Gamma Knife Icon.  The benefits of precision cranial radiosurgery are now available for more patients with a wider variety of brain tumor types and sizes.  This latest generation stereotactic radiosurgery system for the brain, integrates advanced motion management, dose delivery and imaging technologies, significantly increasing the versatility of Gamma Knife radiosurgery. Elekta unveiled Leksell Gamma Knife Icon at the 3rd ESTRO Forum in Barcelona.

A new facility was launched to generate worldclass knowledge which can impact policy and practice aimed at reducing the burden of chronic diseases in India. Minister of State for Science and Technology Y S Chowdary launched the Centre for Control of Chronic Conditions (CCCC), an international partnership among four leading institutions -- AIIMS , Emory University, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the Public Health Foundation of India.

A nanosensor can detect cancer from blood sample of a patient before initial symptoms appear, eliminating the need for an invasive biopsy. The sensor is "10 million times more effective" than traditional tests on patient blood samples, researchers said.

Australian scientists have discovered a novel way to prevent the spread of the dengue virus, a mosquitoborne deadly disease that currently has no approved vaccine. Researchers at the University of Melbourne along with international collaborators found a new way to block the dengue virus in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes using the insect bacterium, Wolbachia, and have for the first time provided projections of its public health benefit.

National Apex Committee for Stem Cell Research and Therapy (NAC-SCRT), authorize only 5 institutes across the country to get registration for the Institutional Committee for Stem Cell Research (IC-SCR) to review and monitor stem cell research at the institutes.

United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a revision to the duration of the bolus delivery for the Aggrastat (tirofiban HCl) high-dose bolus (HDB) regimen launched by Medicure Inc, a specialty pharmaceutical company. Aggrastat is Antiplatelet drug. It is indicated to reduce the rate of thrombotic cardiovascular events (combined endpoint of death, myocardial infarction, or refractory ischemia/repeat cardiac procedure) in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS).

Firecrest eConsent is a next-generation electronic informed consent solution introduced by  ICON plc, a global provider of drug development solutions and services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries, that incorporates key recommendations from the FDA’s recent draft guidance on informed consent.  It is designed to enhance the engagement of patient populations in the development process. One of the critical parts to improving this engagement is improving the informed consent process.

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The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended approval for Opdivo (nivolumab). Opdivo is indicated for treatment  of adult patients with advanced (unresectable or metastatic) melanoma.