Category Archives: Science & Technology

INDIA RECORDS : 2 PATENTS : Arunachal Scientist Dr. Sanjeeb Kalita Bags Two Indian Patents for Diabetes Treatments

Dr. Sanjeeb Kalita has been granted two Indian patents for developing ‘Polyherbal formulation for the treatment of painful ‘Diabetic Neuropathy’ and ‘hybrid cotton patch’ and a method for its fabrication.

A scientist from the Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Bio-resources and Sustainable Development at Kimin in Papumpare district of Arunachal Pradesh has been granted two Indian patents for developing ‘Polyherbal formulation for the treatment of painful Diabetic Neuropathy’ and ‘hybrid cotton patch and a method for its fabrication’.

Dr. Sanjeeb Kalita, the scientist of the centre under the Arunachal Pradesh State Council for Science and Technology (APSCS&T) carried out fundamental research and development for both the inventions at Guwahati-based Institute of Advanced Studies in Science and Technology, official sources said on Friday.

source/content: thehindu.com (edited)

INDIA RECORDS : PATENT FOR PHARMACEUTICALS : CET Obtains Patent for Compound with Anti-Cancer Properties

The compound has been derived from the medicinal plant Koduveli.

The College of Engineering Thiruvananthapuram (CET) has bagged a patent for inventing a pharmaceutical agent that is expected to have immense potential in cancer treatment.

The newly synthesised compound, 3-([4-Chloro-3(Trifluoromethyl) Phenyl] Amino)-5-Hydroxy-2-Methyl-1,4-Dihydronapthalene-1,4-Dione, was the result of the five-year long research jointly undertaken by Shyni P. Laila and Arunkumar B.

The researchers were guided by Annette Fernandez, the former head of the Department of Chemistry at CET who had retired as Principal of the Government College of Arts and Science, Pathirippala, in Palakkad few years ago.

They pointed out the pharmaceutical agent is a fluoro derivative (a derivate compound obtained by reaction with a fluoro-compound) which was derived by structural modification of a hydroxyquinone, Plumbagin, that was isolated from the roots of Plumbago zeylanica, a medicinal plant known as Koduveli in local parlance.

source/content: thehindu.com (edited)

GLOBAL CONTRACTS – INDIA TO THE WORLD: ASIA : MEDICINE & SCIENCE : Biocon Biologics Bags $90-mn Contract from Malaysian Government to Supply Human Insulin

Biocon Biologics Insugen formulations will be available to all Ministry of Health hospitals, district health offices, and health clinics.

Biocon Biologics Limited (BBL), a subsidiary of Biocon on Tuesday said it has bagged a three-year contract valued at $90 million from the Malaysian government for the supply of recombinant human insulin brand Insugen.

Biocon Sdn Bhd., a subsidiary of Biocon Biologics, will manufacture and supply its range of insulins to its partner Duopharma Marketing Sdn. Bhd. (DMktg), a subsidiary of Duopharma Biotech, a pharma & biotech firm in Malaysia.

Biocon Biologics’ Insugen formulations will be available to patients at all Ministry of Health hospitals, district health offices, and health clinics, as per an official statement.

 

source/content: thehindu.com (edited)

GLOBAL LEADER : EUROPE : Scotland’s Indian-Origin COVID Adviser Professor Dr. Devi Sridhar, Edinburgh University Reveals Face Mask Threat

Devi Sridhar, professor of global public health at Edinburgh University who is on the Scottish government’s coronavirus advisory board, told ‘The Times’ newspaper this weekend that she was sent white powder and a used face mask in the post last year.

“I was extremely shaken and it was probably the hardest part because it was in my real life, not virtual or online,” said Sridhar, who often appears on UK radio and television as an expert commentator on the COVID-19 pandemic.

source/content: economictimes.indiatimes.com (edited)

GLOBAL EXCELLENCE : UAE RECORDS : Indian Doctor Dr Zainul Aabideen Performs 1st Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant in UAE

A Indian Malayali doctor in Abu Dhabi wrote himself into record books when he performed the first pediatric stem cell bone marrow transplant in the UAE.

Dr Zainul Aabideen, a native of Kannur in Kerala, presently Head of the Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Burjeel Medical City successfully performed the advanced allogeneic procedure on a five-year-old girl from Uganda with sickle cell disease.

Billed as the first such surgery done in the UAE, the patient’s 10-year-old sister donated her bone marrow for the transplant treatment at Burjeel Medical City, a flagship hospital of VPS Healthcare.

Sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder, which results in an abnormality in the hemoglobin found in red blood cells, causing them to become sickle-shaped and leading to several complications including anemia, swelling in the hands and feet, frequent pain, acute chest syndrome, and sometimes stroke.

Prior to the treatment, the child has been regularly admitted to the hospital due to complications arising from her disease since birth.

source/content: awazthevoice.in (edited)

PATENT: INDIAN INNOVATION : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY : Allahabad University Students Develop Device to Check Backflow after Injection

The students of the chemistry department in Allahabad University (AU), led by their supervisor and dean faculty of science Prof Shekhar Srivastava, have developed a device which will prevent backflow of injected liquid in humans.

The device will automatically lock the output pipe after the stipulated amount of medicine or for that matter any liquid as being injected by the doctor has been injected in the body.

The device has been granted patent for a period of 10 years by the Kolkata-based office of General of Patent, Design and Trademark, ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.

The device is the effort of a team led by Prof Srivastava and included research scholars Rahul Kannaujia, Ghulam Mustafa and Mukta Singh.

source/content: daijiworld.com (edited)

INDIAN INNOVATION – GREEN : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY : IIT Guwahati Develops Technology to Standardise Electric Vehicles in India

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has developed a technology that rates the motors and batteries of electric vehicles and suggests the best drivetrain components for the Indian scenario to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

According to IIT Guwahati, this is a unique method of its kind which standardises the electronic vehicles based on Indian drive-cycles.

T. G. Sitharam, director, IIT Guwahati, said, “The development in the field of next-generation energy-efficient EV technology is one of the most important breakthroughs required for the sustainable development of the country and to reduce the carbon footprint. IIT Guwahati is earnestly working in this direction. This development will augment this process and maximize the outcomes.”

source/content: thetelegraph.com (edited)

INTERNATIONAL : AVIATION : HAL-Israel Aerospace Sign MoU for Conversion of Civil (Passenger) Aircraft into Multi-Mission Tanker Transport Aircraft (MMIT)

In a move aimed at bolstering the ‘Make in India’ campaign, HAL has entered into a MoU with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to convert Civil (Passenger) aircraft to Multi Mission Tanker Transport (MMTT) aircraft in India.

The move will provide India’s defence ecosystem with new capabilities and cost effective solutions in the market.

The MoU will facilitate HAL and IAI’s decades’ long expertise in developing, manufacturing and producing leading defence platforms.

The scope of MoU also covers “passenger to freighter aircraft” conversion along with MMTT conversions.

A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in Delhi by D Maiti, CEO (MiG Complex), HAL and Yaacov Berkovitz, Vice President and General Manager, Aviation Group, IAI in the presence of Chandraker Bharati, JS (Aero), Ministry of Defence, Goveernment of India.

source/content: daijiworld.com (edited)

WORLD : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY : Dr. Reddy’s Acquiring Novartis Cardiovascular Drug ‘Cidmus’ for $61 m

Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories has entered into an agreement with pharma giant Novartis AG to acquire cardiovascular brand Cidmus in India for $61 million.

Under the agreement, it will be assigned and transferred the Cidmus trademark in India from Novartis AG. Cidmus sales in the country was around ₹136.4 crore for the most recent 12 months ending in February 2022, Dr. Reddy’s said on April 1, citing IQVIA MAT numbers.

The Cidmus brand will be affixed on the pharmaceutical composition comprising a combination of Valsartan and Sacubitril (currently under Novartis patent) which is indicated for heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction. The tablets were available in three strengths, the company said.

source/content: thehindu.com (edited)

RECORDS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY : India’s 1st BTVA Procedure Performed at Yashoda Hospital, Hyderabad

BTVA : Bronchoscopic Thermal Vapour Ablation

For the first time in India, the procedure of Bronchoscopic Thermal Vapour Ablation (BTVA), which is an endoscopic lung volume reduction (ELVR) treatment was done at the Yashoda Hospital.

The procedure is known to help reduce hyperinflation and improve respiratory mechanics in patients with severe emphysema.

Emphysema is a sub-type of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) wherein the air sacs within the lungs are destroyed.

The patient who received the procedure at Yashoda Hospital was a 65-year-old man, previously a chain-smoker, who was nearly bed-ridden due to a lack of oxygen absorption

source/content: newindianexpress.com (edited)