Bristol Myers Squibb  has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Opdivo® (nivolumab) in combination with Yervoy® (ipilimumab) as a first-line treatment for adult and pediatric patients (12 years and older) with unresectable or metastatic microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) colorectal cancer (CRC). This landmark decision is based on data from the CheckMate-8HW trial—the largest Phase 3 immunotherapy trial in MSI-H/dMMR mCRC patients.

The trial evaluated Opdivo plus Yervoy against Opdivo monotherapy across all lines of treatment and versus investigator’s choice chemotherapy in the first-line setting. The dual immunotherapy combination met both primary endpoints, significantly improving progression-free survival (PFS) compared to both Opdivo alone and standard chemotherapy. In immunotherapy-naïve patients, Opdivo plus Yervoy reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 38% compared to Opdivo monotherapy (HR 0.62; P=0.0003). Median PFS was not reached with the combination, and PFS rates at 12, 24, and 36 months were consistently higher.

In the first-line setting, the combination showed a 79% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death versus chemotherapy (HR 0.21; P<0.0001). Median PFS was not reached with Opdivo plus Yervoy, compared to just 5.8 months with chemotherapy. Additionally, the overall response rate (ORR) was significantly higher with the combination (71% vs. 58%).

Safety data showed that adverse reactions (ARs) were manageable and consistent with previous reports for both Opdivo and Yervoy, with no new safety concerns identified.

This approval, granted ahead of the FDA’s Prescription Drug User Fee Act goal date, converts a prior accelerated approval into full approval and expands the indication into the first-line setting. Experts hail the decision as a major advance for patients facing this aggressive cancer subtype.

“Dual immunotherapy with Opdivo plus Yervoy may redefine first-line treatment in MSI-H/dMMR mCRC,” said Dr. Heinz-Josef Lenz, CheckMate-8HW investigator. Advocacy groups also applauded the move, calling it a much-needed option for a patient population with significant unmet needs.

OTA Diagnostic, a medtech startup backed by IIMA Ventures, has received an Indian Patent for its innovative M-Strip—a cervical cancer screening test that uses menstrual blood as a biospecimen. This breakthrough follows regulatory approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) and successful clinical validation.

Developed through a strategic partnership between OTA Diagnostic and Sterling Accuris Diagnostics, the M-Strip is a self-sampling, sanitary pad-based device designed for cervical cancer (HPV) and STI screening. Sterling Accuris played a key role as a go-to-market partner, supporting clinical validation and enabling early market adoption.

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in India, accounting for approximately 80,000 deaths annually. Traditional screening methods are often invasive, painful, and inaccessible, particularly in remote areas—leading to low participation rates and late-stage detection. M-Strip offers a non-invasive alternative, empowering women to collect menstrual blood samples easily and send them for laboratory analysis, eliminating the need for uncomfortable procedures and reliance on skilled personnel.

Clinical validation revealed that 96% of users preferred the M-Strip over conventional methods, with testing identifying high-risk HPV in 9% of cases. This aligns with WHO guidelines, which recommend high-performance HPV testing like PCR from age 30 for early detection and prevention. Unlike traditional diagnostics such as cytology or microscopy, which detect late-stage effects of HPV, M-Strip targets early identification.

In collaboration with the Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS), IOTA Diagnostic is also working on an indigenous HPV PCR kit to further enhance early detection. The innovation has been recognized at the IIMA Healthcare Summit 2025, where India’s Health Minister J.P. Nadda presented an award to the team.

M-Strip is the result of efforts by Vaibhav Shitole, Founder of IOTA Diagnostic; Rajiv Sharma, MD of Sterling Accuris Diagnostics; and Dr. Somesh Chandra, Senior Consultant at KD Hospital, Ahmedabad.

Cadila Pharmaceuticals is proud to introduce Vasograin EC, a reformulated version of Vasograin with a USFDA-approved formulation. A widely trusted solution for migraine relief, now manufactured in a US FDA-approved facility that adheres to stringent global standards, highlights our unwavering commitment to providing trusted & quality migraine relief solutions.

“At Cadila Pharmaceuticals, Care continues to improving patient outcomes by ensuring our medications meet the highest regulatory and quality benchmarks.

Vasograin EC is formulated to deliver rapid and long-lasting migraine relief. Its reduced tablet size enhances patient compliance, comfort, and adherence, empowering individuals to regain control of their daily lives.

As demand for effective migraine management continues to rise, Cadila Pharmaceuticals remains at the forefront, offering innovative and accessible healthcare solutions.

Over the last two years, Vasograin EC has achieved an impressive 42% growth, further cementing its position as the preferred choice for individuals seeking effective management of acute and prolonged migraine attacks. With its proven efficacy and reliability, Vasograin EC continues to lead the anti-migraine market, holding the No.1 position in the ergotamine segment with an outstanding 84% market share.

To date, over 400 crore Vasograin tablets have been sold through a network of more than 2 lakh retailers, reflecting its widespread trust and acceptance among patients and healthcare professionals.

CureVac N.V.  a global biopharmaceutical company pioneering mRNA-based medicines, announced that the U.S. FDA has cleared its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for CVHNLC, an investigational mRNA-based immunotherapy for squamous non-small cell lung cancer (sqNSCLC). CVHNLC includes two mRNA constructs encoding eight tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), some of which have not been previously tested in cancer immunotherapy.

The Phase 1, open-label, dose-escalation study will evaluate the safety and tolerability of CVHNLC in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced sqNSCLC. Part A of the study will involve patients with metastatic Stage IV sqNSCLC who have received at least three cycles of pembrolizumab, either as monotherapy or with chemotherapy. Participants will receive CVHNLC doses ranging from 100µg to 400µg alongside pembrolizumab for up to 12 months or until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurs. An optional Part B will explore CVHNLC with first-line chemotherapy and pembrolizumab.

Primary endpoints include incidence of dose-limiting toxicities and treatment-related adverse events. Secondary endpoints include overall response rate, progression-free survival, duration of response, and disease control rate.

Dr. Myriam Mendila, CureVac’s Chief Scientific Officer, highlighted the urgent need for new therapies in sqNSCLC, noting the potential of shared tumor antigens for off-the-shelf mRNA treatments. Dr. Alexander Zehnder, CEO of CureVac, emphasized that CVHNLC is CureVac’s second oncology program to enter clinical development and was designed using both established and novel TAAs identified through the company’s proprietary discovery platform. He added that similar mRNA-based immunotherapies are being developed in collaboration with MD Anderson Cancer Center and are expected to reach clinical trials within the next 18–24 months.

The Indian Society for Clinical Research (ISCR) has announced the appointment of Dr. Seema Pai as its new President for the 2025–2028 term. She succeeds Dr. Sanish Davis, who led the organization from 2021 to 2025.

Alongside Dr. Pai, Anirban Roychowdhury has been named Honorary General Secretary, and Amita Bhave has been appointed Treasurer for the new term.

The announcement comes as ISCR marks its 20th anniversary in 2025. Reflecting on India’s journey in clinical research, Dr. Pai stated, “India has made remarkable progress, evolving from conducting late-phase trials in the early 2000s to driving innovations such as indigenous CAR-T cell therapy in 2025. Our focus on quality, speed, and ethics has earned global recognition and trust. ISCR remains dedicated to patient centricity, regulatory excellence, and fostering collaborations that continue to advance clinical research in India.”

Dr. Pai brings over two decades of experience in the field and currently leads Pfizer’s global site study operations across India, South Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Outgoing President Dr. Sanish Davis noted that the past four years have been pivotal for India’s clinical research landscape. “We have seen the ecosystem mature significantly, with ISCR playing a vital role in enhancing regulatory frameworks and promoting collaboration between industry and academia,” he said.

As ISCR enters a new chapter, its leadership remains focused on strengthening India’s position as a hub for high-quality, ethical, and globally relevant clinical research.

Thermo Fisher Scientific  the world leader in serving science, has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NSG BIO, Singapore’s largest BSL-2-certified co-working laboratory and office space. This partnership is designed to empower biotech startups in Singapore by providing access to advanced laboratory technologies, essential scientific resources, and expert guidance to accelerate research and development.

The MoU was signed at NSG BIO’s state-of-the-art facility by Ms. Daphne Teo, Founder and Chairwoman of NSG BIO, and Ms. Sho-Wen Yeo, Vice President and General Manager, Southeast Asia & Taiwan, Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Since its founding in 2019, NSG BIO has played a pivotal role in supporting biotech innovation across diverse sectors including health, biomedical, agrifood, and industrial biotechnology. Its efforts span cutting-edge areas such as precision medicine, AI-driven drug discovery, and synthetic biology. Through this collaboration, Thermo Fisher and NSG BIO aim to enhance research productivity, foster scientific innovation, and support the broader national vision of advancing healthcare and life sciences in Singapore.

“We are excited to collaborate with NSG BIO to support Singapore's growing biotech ecosystem,” said Ms. Sho-Wen Yeo. “By providing seamless access to advanced instruments and essential consumables, we help researchers stay focused on their science without being hindered by operational challenges. This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to scientific innovation in the region.”

Ms. Daphne Teo emphasized the significance of the collaboration, stating, “This is a major milestone in our mission to drive biotech innovation in Singapore. By giving startups access to premium lab equipment and flexible credit terms, we’re removing critical barriers that often limit early-stage research. Together, we are building an environment where breakthrough discoveries can thrive.”

A new report by Apollo Hospitals reveals a silent health crisis in India, with millions unknowingly living with chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes. Screening of 2.5 million individuals across Apollo’s nationwide network found that 26% had high blood pressure and 23% were diabetic, despite showing no symptoms—highlighting a major gap in early diagnosis.

The Health of the Nation 2025 report also points to a shift in the profile of metabolic disorders. Fatty liver disease, historically linked to alcohol, now increasingly affects non-drinkers. Of 2.57 lakh individuals screened, 85% of those diagnosed with fatty liver had no history of alcohol use. Alarmingly, more than half of them had normal blood test results, suggesting that traditional diagnostics are failing to catch early warning signs.

Women’s health post-menopause presents another urgent challenge. Diabetes rates in women jump from 14% before menopause to 40% after, while obesity rises from 76% to 86%. Fatty liver disease also becomes more prevalent, underlining the need for age- and gender-specific screening protocols.

Childhood and adolescent health is also deteriorating. Obesity affects 8% of primary school children and spikes to 28% among college students. Moreover, 19% of youth in this age group show signs of pre-hypertension—indicating early onset of lifestyle-related diseases.

Nutritional deficiencies remain widespread. Nearly 80% of those screened were deficient in Vitamin D, while 45% of women suffered from anemia. Among adults under 40, 49% of men and 35% of women showed signs of Vitamin B12 deficiency, posing risks to energy, cognition, and metabolism.

Mental health and sleep disorders are on the rise, with 7% of women and 5% of men reporting depression symptoms. One in four people screened were at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea, especially after age 55.

Cardiovascular risks are also surfacing earlier. Advanced scans showed coronary calcium buildup in 46% of those tested, including 2.5% of people under 40. The report calls for widespread preventive screening and a shift from reactive care to proactive health management. As Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Chairman of Apollo Hospitals, states: “Preventive healthcare is no longer the future—it’s the present.”

Jupiter Hospital, Thane, marked a heartwarming milestone as its Respiratory Support Group – Re: Aspire completed one impactful year of empowering patients with chronic respiratory conditions. This unique initiative, guided by Dr. Alpa Dalal, Head of the Department, Pulmonary Medicine, and Dr. Ankita Asher, Head of the Department, Cardio-Pulmonary Rehabilitation, has become a beacon of hope, resilience, and community.

Re: Aspire was launched with the vision of helping patients not just during illness, but in rebuilding their confidence, independence, and social well-being post-recovery. The support group caters to individuals with conditions such as asthma, COPD, ILD, and lung fibrosis—many of whom have battled prolonged ICU stays, ventilator support, oxygen dependence, and the emotional toll of chronic illness.

“When patients come together and share their journeys, it becomes a collective healing process,” said Dr. Alpa Dalal. “Re: Aspire has given our patients not only medical rehabilitation but also emotional strength, social acceptance, and the motivation to dream again.”

To celebrate the group’s one-year anniversary, a first-of-its-kind cultural event was organized where patients, many of whom were previously critical or oxygen-dependent, took center stage. They performed dances, sang songs, presented skits, and shared deeply personal journeys—from ICU stays to reclaiming joy through singing, playing with children, and participating in everyday life.

One patient shared, “I was on a ventilator in the ICU for 30 days, then bedridden for another month. From needing two people to make me stand, to now dancing with my children—it’s been a Herculean journey. This transformation wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Jupiter’s incredible doctors and rehabilitation team.”

Dr. Ankita Asher added, “Rehabilitation is not just about physical recovery—it’s about guiding people back into life. With Re: Aspire, we’ve created a safe and nurturing platform that helps patients rediscover their purpose and joy. It’s about celebrating small wins and building a life beyond illness.”

Re: Aspire not only provides a safe space for patients but also for caregivers, encouraging them to share, bond, and heal together. It continues to serve as a nurturing environment for holistic rehabilitation, helping individuals transition from hospital to home with dignity and optimism.

As Jupiter Hospital celebrated this remarkable journey, the treating doctors and staff were moved to see their patients not just survive—but thrive—with hearts full of hope and hands ready for action.