Expert panel to review Meril’s price exemption bid for stent

• NPPA verified the company’s submissions and decided that the matter be sent to an expert body for re-examination
• The company says its stents are made of biodegradable material, and are an alternative to the traditional metal stents

India will launch electronic intelligence satellite Emisat on April 1

• 'It is a special mission for us. We will be using a PSLV rocket with four strap-on motors,' said ISRO Chairman
• ISRO will also be launching two more defence satellites sometime in July or August with its new rocket SSLV

In TB reality check, Lancet report says Indian, global goals unrealistic

• A tuberculosis-free world is possible only by 2045 and not 2030, the target year set by UN SDGs to end the epidemic, says a Lancet report
• Countries with high disease burden need to ensure that quality diagnostic tests and treatments are available, says the report

Gynaecological Laparoscopy widely available; women subjected to open surgeries

• The open surgeries not only leave ugly post surgical scars but also cause discomfort throughout the process
• The scenario in terms of laparoscopic surgeries is worst in smaller cities in India

Sugary drinks may increase risk of death by heart disease: study

• The risk of early death linked with drinking sugar-sweetened beverages was more pronounced among women, says the study
• The study also finds that drinking one artificially sweetened beverage per day instead of a sugary one lowered the risk of premature death

Centre sends medical team to Malappuram to assess West Nile Virus situation

• Govt alerts ICMR for keeping a close watch at central and state level
• The team will support the Kerala health authorities in managing the disease

Govt to launch portal of publicly-funded research facilities

• The web portal ‘I-STEM’ has been developed by scientists from the Indian Institute of Science-Bengaluru
• I-STEM will allow researchers to identify the specific facility they need, located closest to them and available at the earliest

HIV patients can be given new, shorter TB treatment: study

• Weekly administration of rifapentine and isoniazid (3HP) for 3 months in adults with HIV taking DTG was well-tolerated, with no need for dose-adjustment
• The regimen is already approved for the treatment of TB infection by the US Food and Drug Administration

India lacks in cancer treatment infra amid rise in disease burden

• Oncologists say the number of dedicated cancer care facilities will not be able to tackle the burden in the future
• The govt has realized that cancer burden is increasing and hospitals treating it are meagre in number, says ICMR-NICPR

SpaceX launches Crew Dragon rocket in first test of craft to carry humans

• Today's successful launch marks a new chapter in US excellence, said NASA
• Saturday’s flight is a dress rehearsal for the first manned spaceflight from US

India losing out on clinical trials raises health worries

• Percentage of clinical trials in India down from 1.5% as of February 2017 to 1.2% now
• India has among the most stringent clinical research regulatory environments in the world

Lupin gets USFDA nod for generic drug to treat inflammation

• Lupin has received approval from the USFDA to market a generic version of Pharmacia and Upjohn Company’s Medrol tablets
• The drug is indicated to treat endocrine and rheumatic disorders among others

Shilpa Medicare gets USFDA nod for cancer drug Gemcitabine

• The approved product is a generic equivalent of reference listed drug Gemzar
• Gemcitabine for injection USP is used in the treatment of ovarian cancer, breast cancer and pancreatic cancer

Zydus receives USFDA nod for Phytonadione and Colchicine

• The company has received final approval from USFDA to market generic Phytonadione tablets USP in the strength of 5 mg
• The group also received the final approval for generic Colchicine tablets USP, 0.6 mg

Dr Reddy's re-launches generic version of Suboxone in US market

• The re-launch comes on the heels of a favourable decision delivered by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit 
• Suboxone had sales of around $1.86 billion in the US for the 12 months ended April 2018, according to market reports

Mission complete: NASA announces demise of Opportunity rover

• The nostalgia extended across the generations of scientists who have handled the plucky little adventurer

• Opportunity sent back 217,594 images from Mars, all of which were made available on the internet

100 years on, India is still seen as vulnerable to influenza pandemic

• Apart from Mission Indradhanush, India does not have a seasonal flu immunization/vaccination policy
• WHO last month released a list of 10 major threats to global health in 2019, which includes another global influenza pandemic

Swine flu cases increase, government reviews the situation

• Union health ministry has deputed a public health team to Rajasthan to assess the situation
• Additional teams have been sent to Gujarat and Punjab to assist in outbreak response