ICMR-NIRWoH & IIT Bombay Develop Placenta-on-Chip for Drug Transport & Pregnancy Research

India Gets First Disease-Modifying Alzheimer's Drug Leqembi After CDSCO Nod

Eisai's Leqembi (lecanemab), India's first disease-modifying therapy for early Alzheimer's, has been launched after CDSCO approval. This marks a shift from symptomatic to disease-modifying treatment, but challenges of early diagnosis, biomarker infrastructure, and affordability remain significant.

WHO's IARC Classifies Hydrochlorothiazide, Voriconazole, Tacrolimus as Group 1 Carcinogens

Three widely used medicines for hypertension, fungal infections, and transplant rejection have been classified as Group 1 carcinogens by WHO's IARC. Patients are warned not to discontinue treatment without consulting doctors, as the classification identifies hazard, not real-world risk at prescribed doses.

CSIR-IICT Develops IND-Ready Phytopharmaceutical from Gymnema sylvestre for Diabetic Foot Ulcers

CSIR-IICT has developed a phytopharmaceutical from the medicinal plant Gymnema sylvestre for diabetic foot ulcers, a major complication of diabetes. The technology has been transferred to Mumbai-based Viridis Biopharma for clinical development and regulatory approvals, including CDSCO and USFDA. This marks a significant step in India's evidence-based botanical drug discovery and academia-industry collaboration.

SCTIMST Unveils Chitra Core Stent: 30-40% Less Metal, Reduces Restenosis & Thrombosis

SCTIMST has launched 'Chitra Core', a fully indigenous coronary stent with a patented design that uses 30-40% less metal than conventional stents, aiming to reduce complications like restenosis and thrombosis. A second stent, 'Chitra TiN' with a titanium nitride coating, is ready for global pre-clinical trials.

Narayana Health Reports Success in Haplo-Cord Transplant for Thalassaemia & Dual-Target CAR-T for Brain Cancer

Doctors at Narayana Health, West Bengal, have successfully treated a 7-year-old thalassaemia patient using a Haplo-cord transplant and a 62-year-old brain cancer patient with dual-target CAR T-cell therapy. These breakthroughs highlight India's growing capability in advanced cell-based therapies and are landmark achievements in treating previously challenging conditions.

RK-251: India's ROS-Activated Smart Cancer Drug Could Transform Chemotherapy

RK-251 is a novel 'smart' cancer drug developed by Indian researchers that activates only inside cancer cells using high reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, potentially reducing chemotherapy side effects. This marks a significant advancement in targeted cancer therapy and is a key topic for UPSC Science & Technology.

Proposed Patient Data Collective (PDC) Model for Rare Diseases in India Inspired by Amul Cooperative

A new proposal suggests creating a Patient Data Collective (PDC) for rare diseases in India, modeled on the Amul dairy cooperative. This collective would pool patient data to accelerate drug discovery and clinical trials, addressing the challenge of small patient populations for rare diseases.

IISc Bengaluru Discovers Cow Enzyme CRhAB Effective Against Drug-Resistant Biofilm Bacteria Klebsiella & Acinetobacter

IISc Bengaluru has discovered a new cow enzyme (CRhAB) that breaks down biofilms of two major drug-resistant bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae & Acinetobacter baumannii) found in hospitals. This breakthrough, published in Nature, offers a potential new treatment for chronic wound infections and diabetic foot ulcers.