COVID-19

Despite the COVID-19 crisis, the Indian Pharmaceutical market registered a surprising growth of 8.9% in Mar’20 with some evidence of panic buying in Chronic Medicines as reported by AIOCD AWACS.

Indian scientists are working day and night to find solutions against the threat of Covid-19. Scientists from Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute (CSMCRI), located in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, have developed a unique face-mask, which can destroy the virus.

Loss of smell and taste has been anecdotally linked to COVID-19 infections. In a study published April 12, 2020 in the journal International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology , researchers at UC San Diego Health report the first empirical findings that strongly associate sensory loss with COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

The bioassay laboratory of Department of Biotechnology’s Faridabad-based Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) will now function as an extension of diagnostic facility of ESIC Medical College and Hospital, Faridabad for COVID-19 testing. It will be the first and only COVID-19 testing facility in the Faridabad region.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued the second emergency use authorization (EUA) to decontaminate compatible N95 or N95-equivalent respirators for reuse by health care workers in hospital settings. This EUA will support decontamination of approximately 750,000 N95 respirators per day in the U.S.

As part of its health threat plan activated to fight COVID-19, the Agency has finalised and published the  composition and objectives of its COVID-19 EMA pandemic Task Force (COVID-ETF), which assists Member States and the European Commission in dealing with development, authorisation and safety monitoring of therapeutics and vaccines intended for treatment or prevention of COVID-19.

The European Commission, EMA and the European medicines regulatory network have developed a question-and-answer (Q&A) document to provide guidance to stakeholders on adaptations to the regulatory framework to address challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, with a particular focus on crucial medicines for use in COVID-19 patients.