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

CDSCO Approves Qdenga: India's First Dengue Vaccine to be Distributed by Dr Reddy's from 2027

India’s first approved dengue vaccine Qdenga will enter the private market in 2027 via Dr Reddy’s, after CDSCO approval in July 2026. The vaccine is effective against all four serotypes, requires no pre-vaccination screening, and shows 61.2% efficacy against dengue and 84.1% against hospitalization. This is a landmark step in India's fight against dengue.

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.

CDSCO Approves Qdenga Dengue Vaccine for Ages 4-60; Dr. Reddy's to Distribute in Private Market by 2027

India's first approved dengue vaccine, Qdenga (TAK-003), developed by Takeda, received CDSCO marketing authorisation in July 2026 for ages 4-60. Dr. Reddy's will promote and distribute it in the private market from the first half of 2027, while Takeda retains public market rights. This marks a critical step in addressing India's 11-fold rise in dengue cases over two decades.

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.

IISc SraVaani: India's First Open-Source Speech Recognition Model for 65 Languages

IISc's SPIRE Lab, in collaboration with ARTPARK and Google, has released SraVaani – the first multilingual Indian speech recognition model trained on 65 languages and dialects. It extends ASR to 45 underserved regional languages, potentially benefiting 25 crore people. This marks a major step in inclusive AI for India's linguistic diversity.

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.

Stem Cell Therapy for Autism Restricted to Clinical Trials; Health Ministry Advisory Follows SC Order

The Union Health Ministry has reiterated that stem cell therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can only be offered as part of approved clinical trials, not as routine or commercial treatment. This follows a landmark Supreme Court judgment in January 2026 that examined the issue. The advisory reinforces existing regulations under the Clinical Establishments Act, 2010, and the National Guidelines for Stem Cell Research, 2017.

ISRO Launches EOS-05: India's First Geo-Imaging Satellite in Geosynchronous Orbit; SC Invokes Article 142 to Quash CJP Protest Cases

A day of high exam relevance: ISRO successfully launched EOS-05, India’s first dedicated geo-imaging satellite in geosynchronous orbit, breaking a failure streak. The Supreme Court used its extraordinary power under Article 142 to close cases linked to CJP protests, raising important constitutional questions. Other key updates include OpenAI’s new autonomous AI model, Manipur’s NRC-first demand for Census deferral, mistrust in GDP data, and Tata Chemicals’ Kenya dispute.