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AIIA Rolls Out “Garbhini Mitra” Programme to Widen Community-Level Maternal Support Through Ayurveda

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AIIA Rolls Out “Garbhini Mitra” Programme to Widen Community-Level Maternal Support Through Ayurveda

The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Ayush, has launched a new skill-development course called Garbhini Mitra for the 2026–27 academic session. The programme is designed to build a workforce capable of guiding women through pregnancy and the weeks that follow, blending traditional Ayurvedic principles with practical, community-facing training.

Structured around the classical frameworks of antenatal, postnatal and pre-conceptional care described in Ayurvedic texts, the course runs as a six-month, in-person programme held on weekday afternoons. Trainees will work through trimester-specific nutrition planning, safe lifestyle and yoga practices, emotional support techniques for labour, newborn massage, and foundational life-support skills, alongside modules on infection control, biomedical waste handling and workplace safety.

Based at AIIA’s Sarita Vihar campus, each batch will accept 20 trainees. Applicants need to have cleared Class 12 from a recognised board and be at least 18 years old; those still awaiting their results this year can apply provisionally. Graduates of the programme are expected to find placements as maternal wellness assistants and antenatal support workers across Ayush centres, maternity clinics, NGOs and community health initiatives.

AIIA has been clear that the initiative is meant to sit alongside, not substitute, standard clinical antenatal care — essential check-ups, lab tests and blood pressure or haemoglobin monitoring remain unchanged. Instead, trained Garbhini Mitras are positioned to spot early warning signs at the community level and direct women toward timely medical attention.

Written By: Sayan Das

Graphics by: Pramit Hazra

GSK’s Hibsago Becomes World’s First Approved Functional Cure for Chronic Hepatitis B

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GSK’s Hibsago Becomes World’s First Approved Functional Cure for Chronic Hepatitis B

GSK has secured its first global regulatory approval for Hibsago(bepirovirsen), marking the debut of a functional cure option for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) anywhere in the world. Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare cleared the antisense oligonucleotide for adults who have completed at least six months of prior nucleoside/nucleotide analogue therapy and meet specific viral marker criteria.

The approval carries significant weight for Japan, where nearly a million people live with CHB and the disease drives roughly 4,000 deaths each year. Review was fast-tracked under the country’s SENKU pathway, reserved for therapies addressing serious unmet medical needs.

Backing the decision, pooled results from the B-Well Phase III program showed a 19% functional cure rate among patients with baseline HBsAglevels at or below 3000 IU/ml — a sharp contrast to the roughly 1% typically seen with standard antiviral suppression alone. Among a narrower subgroup with lower baseline antigen levels, cure rates climbed to 26%. Functional cure is defined as sustained loss of detectable virus and surface antigen for six months after stopping treatment, meaning patients could potentially be freed from indefinite drug dependence.

GSK, which licensed the compound from Ionis, said filings are progressing in additional markets, including the United States, with outcomes anticipated in coming months. Company leadership described the milestone as a turning point for hepatitis B care and its broader liver-disease pipeline, which also spans MASH and alcohol-related liver conditions.

Written By: Sayan Das 

Graphics by: Pramit Hazra

Fortis Healthcare Launches Lung Failure Clinics in New Delhi to Enhance Advanced Respiratory and Transplant Care

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Fortis Healthcare Launches Lung Failure Clinics in New Delhi to Enhance Advanced Respiratory and Transplant Care

Fortis Healthcare has announced the launch of dedicated Lung Failure Clinics at its Shalimar Bagh and Vasant Kunj facilities in New Delhi. The initiative establishes a specialized, multidisciplinary care model to provide end-to-end evaluation, targeted therapies, and transplant pathways for patients living with progressive and end-stage respiratory diseases.

​The clinics are designed to manage complex conditions such as Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, and pulmonary hypertension. Led by experienced teams in pulmonology, respiratory critical care, and lung transplant surgery, the centersintegrate advanced diagnostics, interventional bronchoscopy, structured pulmonary rehabilitation, non-invasive ventilation, and nutritional counselling under one roof.

​For individuals with irreversible disease progression, the clinics offer early eligibility screening, pre-transplant counselling, and post-transplant follow-up protocols. The critical need for early clinical intervention was underscored by a recent clinical milestone at Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, where a 29-year-old physiotherapist with deteriorating end-stage ILD received a life-saving double-lung transplant following timely multidisciplinary referral.

​Medical specialists noted that environmental pollution, tobacco use, occupational risks, and chronic infections are contributing to a growing burden of respiratory illnesses across the National Capital Region. Many patients seek tertiary intervention only after advanced functional impairment has set in. By operating structured outpatient services including specialized sessions every Tuesday and Friday at Fortis Shalimar Bagh the new clinics aim to bridge this critical gap, facilitating earlier referral, slowing disease progression, and improving survival outcomes for patients with severe lung failure.

Written by: Pragna Biswas

Graphics by: Pramit Hazra

Symbiotec Pharmalab Announces ₹1,757 Crore IPO to Fuel Biopharma Growth

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Symbiotec Pharmalab Announces ₹1,757 Crore IPO to Fuel Biopharma Growth

Symbiotec Pharmalab, a leading research and development-driven pharmaceutical and biotechnology player, has announced details of its ₹1,757 crore Initial Public Offering (IPO). The public issue features a primary fundraise of ₹150 crore, which the company intends to deploy strategically toward debt reduction to strengthen its financial foundation.

​Operating at the intersection of organic chemistry and fermentation-based biotechnology, Symbiotec is a global leader in steroid and hormone Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). The company provides a vertically integrated platform utilizing plant-based phytosterols (soybean-derived sterols) as a primary starting material, ranking as the sole manufacturer in India and the sixth globally with this capability. Symbiotecoffers a portfolio of approximately 60 molecules to over 250 global clients across North America, the European Union, Japan, and domestic markets, supported by more than 50 US DMFs and 25 CEP filings.

​Over the past three to four years, Symbiotec has invested more than ₹800 crore via internal accruals and debt to build manufacturing and technological capabilities. As of March 2026, the company holds approximately ₹380 crore in net debt, which will be substantially reduced using the primary proceeds from the offering.

​Under its strategic roadmap, dubbed “Symbiotec 2.0,” the company is commercializing two high-value growth engines: complex injectable specialty pharmaceuticals and large-scale fermentation-based contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) services. Management anticipates these multi-year capital investments will drive commercial revenue in the upcoming quarters, effectively diversifying the company’s product base, mitigating customer concentration risk, and broadening its global biopharmaceutical footprint.

Written by: Pragna Biswas

Graphics by: Pramit Hazra

Pharmacy Council of India Introduces M.Pharm Specialisation in Medical Devices

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Pharmacy Council of India Introduces M.Pharm Specialisation in Medical Devices

The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) has officially notified an amendment to the Master of Pharmacy (M.Pharm) Course Regulations, introducing Medical Devices as a new postgraduate specialisation across Indian universities starting from the 2027–28 academic year. Delivered in English under the Credit-Based Semester System (CBSS), the four-semester, two-year programme is designed to equip pharmacy graduates with specialized technical, manufacturing, and regulatory expertise to meet the rapidly expanding demands of the medtech sector.

​The curriculum provides structured training across academic theory, practical laboratory work, and advanced research. The first semester covers core fundamentals, including medical device technology, regulatory affairs, manufacturing processes, biocompatibility, and toxicology, accompanied by practical laboratory sessions. The second semester broadens into emerging innovations, quality control, risk assessment, safety management, clinical evaluation, market access, intellectual property rights (IPR), and entrepreneurship, alongside seminars and advanced lab work. The final two semesters focus entirely on research methodology, biostatistics, journal clubs, and intensive dissertation projects.

​To ensure high standards of practical training, the regulations permit students to conduct research either at approved on-campus facilities or through formal Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with recognized external partners. These eligible partner institutions include CDSCO-approved manufacturers, nationally recognized device testing laboratories, Institutes of National Importance, Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission materiovigilance centres, accredited Clinical Research Organisations (CROs), and specialized R&D facilities. This strategic regulatory addition establishes a vital academic bridge between traditional pharmacy training and the modern medical device industry.

Written by: Pragna Biswas

Graphics by: Pramit Hazra

Australia on Alert: The Rising Threat of H5 Bird Flu

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Australia on Alert: The Rising Threat of H5 Bird Flu

A fur seal washed up at Beachport in South Australia in late August. Nothing appeared obviously wrong with the animal at first, but testing by CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness confirmed H5 bird flu. It was the first confirmed detection of H5 bird flu in a mammal in Australia, with authorities believing the infection was likely linked to exposure to infected wild birds or contaminated environments.

The Agriculture Minister said the development was concerning but not unexpected as the virus continues to circulate in wild birds. Wildlife experts have also warned that the virus could have a serious impact on seal populations, as has been seen in some overseas outbreaks.

It all started back in June with detections in migratory seabirds in Western Australia. Since then, the virus has been detected in wild birds across several states, with South Australia among the hardest-hit areas. More than a thousand greater crested terns have died on islands in South Australia, while little penguins and other native species have also been affected.

Authorities began catching and vaccinating little penguins on Phillip Island in mid-August. The vaccination requires two doses, so it is not practical to vaccinate every wild bird. Instead, the program is focused on protecting key populations and managed colonies considered particularly vulnerable. Hundreds of native species could be at risk as the virus continues to spread, although vaccination is only one part of the response.

Private veterinarians and wildlife carers are also facing increasing pressure, with new precautions for handling potentially infected birds and greater use of personal protective equipment. Veterinary and wildlife organisations have encouraged clinics to continue supporting affected wildlife while following appropriate biosecurity measures. The situation is placing significant physical and emotional pressure on those working on the frontline.

For everyone else, the advice is fairly simple: stay away from sick or dead birds and mammals, avoid touching them, note where they were found and report suspected cases through the appropriate emergency or wildlife authorities. Australia is now responding to the outbreak with surveillance, vaccination, testing and biosecurity measures, with the focus on acting quickly to limit its impact on wildlife.

Written by: Bimbita Kar

Graphics by: Pramit Hazra

Lupin Partners With Tenpoint to Bring YUVEZZI Eye Drops to European Markets

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Lupin Partners With Tenpoint to Bring YUVEZZI Eye Drops to European Markets

Indian pharmaceutical giant Lupin Limited has struck a licensing deal that will let its subsidiary VISUfarma B.V. sell YUVEZZI™, a presbyopia eye drop, across the European Union, the UK, Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland. The agreement, signed with Visus Therapeutics (a Tenpoint Therapeutics subsidiary), hands VISUfarma exclusive control over regulatory filings, marketing, and distribution of the product in these territories.

YUVEZZI combines carbachol and brimonidine tartrate in a single daily drop — the only approved treatment of its kind for presbyopia, the age-related decline in near vision that typically sets in around age 45. The drug works by keeping the pupil constricted just enough to sharpen close-up focus without over-dilating.

Financially, VISUfarma will make a direct investment in Visus, while Tenpoint and Visus stand to earn milestone payments and sales-based royalties as the drug rolls out.

Lupin CEO Vinita Gupta framed the deal as a natural extension of the company’s earlier VISUfarma acquisition, calling it a step toward strengthening the firm’s European eye-care footprint. Tenpoint CEO Henric Bjarke echoed that sentiment, pointing to VISUfarma’s established presence in ophthalmology as the reason for choosing Lupin as a partner.

YUVEZZI already has U.S. FDA approval, and Tenpoint has filed for UK authorization through the MHRA’s International Recognition Procedure, with further regional applications planned. Presbyopia affects roughly 2 billion people worldwide, making it one of the largest untapped markets in vision care.

Written By: Sayan Das 

Graphics by: Pramit Hazra

Charles River and Medigen Partner to Advance Next-Generation Enterovirus Vaccine

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Charles River and Medigen Partner to Advance Next-Generation Enterovirus Vaccine

 Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE: CRL) has entered a collaboration with Taiwan-based Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp. (MVC) to support development of MVC’s next-generation multivalent enterovirus vaccine. Under the arrangement, Charles River will apply its Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) platforms to help characterize and validate the virus seed bank underpinning the vaccine candidate, work that feeds directly into Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) requirements.

MVC brings a track record in enterovirus vaccines to the table: its ENVACGEN Enterovirus 71 vaccine already holds regulatory clearance in both Taiwan and Vietnam. The company is now looking to build on that base with a broader multivalent candidate, and turned to Charles River for expertise spanning virology, non-clinical development, and regulatory strategy to move the program toward IND-enabling studies and eventual global trials.

“We are excited to collaborate with MVC and apply our testing and NGS expertise for vaccine development,” Kerstin Dolph, Charles River’s Corporate Senior Vice President of Global Manufacturing, said in a statement, adding that the partnership reflects the company’s broader push to combine biologics testing know-how with safety science to help partners hit development milestones.

MVC Chief Executive Officer Leo Lee said the collaboration would help the company build a development process calibrated to international regulatory expectations from the outset, and that MVC intends to extend the relationship to future vaccine programs as it expands its footprint across Southeast Asian markets.

The deal also comes on the heels of Charles River’s acquisition of Pathoquest, a specialist in NGS-based characterization and quality-control testing for biopharmaceuticals, which the company says will sharpen its sequencing capabilities across the drug development pipeline. Beyond the enterovirus program, the two companies indicated they plan to scope out additional joint vaccine initiatives targeting unmet infectious-disease needs.

Written By: Sayan Das 

Graphics by: Pramit Hazra

Ipsen Completes Kartos Therapeutics Acquisition to Boost Late-Stage Oncology Pipeline

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Ipsen Completes Kartos Therapeutics Acquisition to Boost Late-Stage Oncology Pipeline

Ipsen  has officially completed its acquisition of KartosTherapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. The transaction integrates navtemadlin, an investigational, first-in-class oral MDM2 inhibitor in Phase 3 clinical development, directly into Ipsen’s expanding oncology and hematologypipeline.

​Navtemadlin is currently being evaluated in the global Phase 3 POIESIS study as an add-on therapy to ruxolitinib in patients with intermediate- and high-risk TP53 wild-type myelofibrosiswho experience a suboptimal response to standard-of-care ruxolitinib alone. Designed to restore natural p53 tumor-suppressor activity, early clinical data suggest that navtemadlinhas the potential to convert suboptimal treatment responses into clinically meaningful and disease-modifying outcomes.

​Myelofibrosis is a rare and severe myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by progressive bone marrow failure, debilitating symptoms, splenomegaly, and a heightened risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). While ruxolitinib serves as the standard first-line treatment, an estimated 50% to 75% of patients discontinue therapy within three years, resulting in a median overall survival of only one to two years following discontinuation. Navtemadlin aims to directly address this substantial therapeutic gap.

​Under the terms of the merger agreement, Ipsen completed the upfront payment of $450 million, with Kartos shareholders eligible for up to $1.3 billion in additional regulatory and sales-based milestones. The transaction is projected to become accretive to Ipsen’s core operating income starting in 2029.

​The completed acquisition positions Ipsen to establish a dedicated franchise in hematologic malignancies while advancing transformative therapies for patients with high unmet medical needs.

Written by: Pragna Biswas

Graphics by; Pramit Hazra

Union Minister Anupriya Patel announced India Must Move from ‘Pharmacy of the World’ to ‘Laboratory of the World

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Union Minister Anupriya Patel announced India Must Move from ‘Pharmacy of the World’ to ‘Laboratory of the World

Addressing the third edition of the IIMA Healthcare Summit 2026 on the theme “Advancing AI in Healthcare,” Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Smt. Anupriya Patel, stated that India must move beyond being the “Pharmacy of the World” to become the “Laboratory of the World,” powered by research, innovation, and emerging technologies.  

​Speaking at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), the Minister highlighted the country’s historic contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic, supplying vaccines and essential medical supplies to over 200 countries while administering over 2.2 billion domestic doses. Turning to emerging technologies, she emphasized that artificial intelligence (AI) has immense potential to accelerate drug discovery, personalize treatment, and optimize healthcare delivery. However, she stressed that AI adoption must remain human-centered, safe, and privacy-compliant—complementing rather than replacing human clinical judgment.  

​The Minister outlined key national initiatives supporting this vision, including the ₹5,000 crore PRIP (Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma-MedTech Sector) Scheme, the ₹10,000 crore Biopharma SHAKTI mission, and the establishment of AI Centres of Excellence at AIIMS New Delhi, PGIMER Chandigarh, and AIIMS Rishikesh.  

​Shri Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, discussed how Indian startups are utilizing AI to shorten drug discovery timelines and announced that the Government is working to provide financial support to eligible startups for software licensing and operational costs. Smt. Punya SalilaSrivastava, Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare, highlighted digital health integration through the AyushmanBharat Digital Mission (ABDM), noting that over 96 crore ABHA IDs and 1,000 crore health records have been linked to date.  

​During the summit, the India Pharma Archives—a digital living archive developed by the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) and IIMA Archives—and a book documenting India’s COVID-19 vaccine journey were officially unveiled .

Written by: Pragna Biswas

Graphics by: Pramit Hazra

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