Government-regulated medicines, including those for cancer, diabetes, heart conditions, and antibiotics, are set to become costlier, with prices expected to rise by 1.7%, according to government sources.

Rajiv Singhal, General Secretary of the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), stated that the price increase would provide relief to the pharmaceutical industry as raw material costs and other expenses continue to rise. He noted that it could take two to three months for the new prices to reflect in the market, as there is typically a 90-day supply of saleable medicines available.

A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilisers found that several pharmaceutical firms have repeatedly breached pricing regulations by exceeding allowable price hikes. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), India’s drug price regulatory body, identified 307 instances of such violations.

Under the Drug (Prices Control) Order (DPCO), 2013, the NPPA sets ceiling prices for essential drugs, requiring manufacturers and marketers to sell them at or below the fixed rates, plus applicable GST. Despite this, earlier reports from the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers indicated that price ceilings on medicines listed in the National List of Essential Medicines (2022) saved patients an estimated ₹3,788 crore annually.

Illumina, a global leader in DNA sequencing and genomic technologies, announced changes to its Board of Directors. Scott Gottlieb, MD, who has served on the board since 2020, has been elected as the non-executive Chair. Additionally, Keith Meister, founder and Chief Investment Officer of Corvex Management, will join the board on March 28, 2025. Meanwhile, Stephen MacMillan, Chairman, President, and CEO of Hologic, will retire from the board ahead of the company’s upcoming annual shareholders’ meeting.

Dr. Gottlieb expressed his enthusiasm for his new role, stating, “I’m honored to lead Illumina’s Board as the company continues to revolutionize patient care and drive genomic advancements. We extend our gratitude to Steve for his contributions and welcome Keith Meister, whose expertise as an investor in genomics and track record in value creation will benefit Illumina and its stakeholders.”

Mr. MacMillan reflected on his time with Illumina, highlighting the company's impact on genomics and scientific progress. “I am proud of Illumina’s achievements in advancing genomic innovation. With confidence in the leadership and vision of the board and management, I believe they will continue to accelerate the company’s transformative work.”

Mr. Meister also expressed his commitment, stating, “Illumina has a strong strategy to drive the expansion of genomic technologies in patient care. I look forward to working with the board and management team to accelerate revenue growth and enhance shareholder value.”

These leadership changes underscore Illumina’s commitment to innovation and continued growth in the genomics sector.

German biotechnology company Miltenyi Biotec has announced that its CAR-T therapy, ZAMTO Cell, for B-cell lymphoma is expected to be available in India by early 2026. CAR-T therapy, a form of immunotherapy, involves genetically modifying a patient’s T cells to recognize and attack cancer cells.

The company has applied for Phase 2 trials with Indian drug regulators and is collaborating with Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore to advance clinical development. If approved, ZAMTO Cell would be India’s first dual-target CAR-T therapy, offering an expanded treatment option for blood cancer patients. Unlike existing CAR-T therapies from Novartis, Gilead, and Johnson & Johnson—often inaccessible in India due to costs exceeding ₹3-4 crore—Miltenyi Biotec aims to make this therapy more affordable.

Miltenyi Biotec has completed Phase 1 trials at CMC Vellore and is hopeful for quick Phase 2 approval by mid-2025. “If all goes well, we anticipate Phase 2 approval by the second quarter,” said Priya Hingorani, Managing Director of Miltenyi Biotec India. The therapy targets both CD19 and CD20, an approach shown to reduce relapse rates compared to single-target CAR-T treatments.

With over 50,000 new cases of blood cancer annually in India, existing treatment options such as chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants remain limited. Miltenyi Biotec is working on building infrastructure and training hospital staff at its Hyderabad-based Miltenyi Innovation and Technology Center (MITC) to support CAR-T therapy deployment.

Pricing remains a concern, but the company is exploring partnerships to lower costs. “As with MRI and CT scans, costs will decrease over time as technology advances,” Hingorani noted. Beyond B-cell lymphoma, Miltenyi Biotec is also evaluating CAR-T therapy for thalassemia and sickle cell disease, with the goal of making these lifesaving treatments widely accessible in India.

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has presented compelling data suggesting its Rybrevant-Lazcluze combination could replace AstraZeneca’s Tagrisso as the new standard of care for first-line EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The Phase 3 MARIPOSA trial, presented at the European Lung Cancer Congress (ELCC) 2025, showed a 25% reduction in the risk of death compared to Tagrisso.

While the median overall survival (OS) for the Rybrevant-Lazcluze regimen has not yet been reached, it is expected to extend patient survival by at least a year beyond the 36.7-month median seen with Tagrisso. The study demonstrated a growing survival advantage over time, with 56% of patients on Rybrevant-Lazcluze alive at 42 months, compared to 44% with Tagrisso.

J&J attributes the improved efficacy to Lazcluze, a third-generation EGFR inhibitor, combined with Rybrevant, an EGFRxMET bispecific antibody that targets EGFR and its escape pathway, MET. Rybrevant’s enhanced FC function also engages immune cells to attack cancer.

Despite the survival benefits, the combination therapy has higher rates of adverse events, including rash, paronychia, and venous thromboembolism. To improve tolerability, J&J is exploring preventive measures, such as corticosteroid pre-treatment and anticoagulation therapy, which have shown promise in reducing side effects.

J&J is also developing a subcutaneous formulation of Rybrevant, which could cut administration time from five hours to five minutes. However, an FDA rejection in December 2024 due to manufacturing concerns has delayed its approval. J&J expects to address these issues and launch the subcutaneous version later this year.

Meanwhile, AstraZeneca has introduced a Tagrisso-chemotherapy combination, which also showed a 25% reduction in death risk in the FLAURA2 trial. However, it failed to reach statistical significance, and its survival benefit appeared to wane over time.

J&J believes Rybrevant-Lazcluze should become the new standard of care, offering superior survival benefits without chemotherapy. The company aims to ensure that every eligible patient receives the best available first-line therapy.

Guangzhou-based Bio-Thera Solutions has entered into a commercialization and license agreement with Hyderabad-based Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories for two biosimilars—BAT2206, a proposed biosimilar of Johnson & Johnson’s Stelara, and BAT2506, a biosimilar of J&J’s Simponi.

Under the agreement, Bio-Thera will oversee the development, manufacturing, and supply of both biosimilars. Dr. Reddy’s will be responsible for regulatory approvals and commercialization in Southeast Asian markets, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Additionally, Dr. Reddy’s will hold exclusive commercialization rights for BAT2206 in Colombia.

“This is our first partnership focused solely on Southeast Asia, and Dr. Reddy’s is the perfect partner to help bring BAT2206 and BAT2506 to patients in the region,” said Bio-Thera CEO Shengfeng Li. Dr. Reddy’s CEO – Branded Markets (India and Emerging Markets) M.V. Ramana added, “Our partnership with Bio-Thera enables us to further expand our biosimilars offerings in emerging markets.”

Stelara is approved in the EU for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults and children over six years, active psoriatic arthritis, moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease in adults, and ulcerative colitis. Simponi is approved in the U.S. for moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, active psoriatic arthritis, active ankylosing spondylitis, and moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. It carries a boxed warning for serious infection and malignancy.

This collaboration reinforces Dr. Reddy’s strategic push into biosimilars and expands Bio-Thera’s reach into emerging markets, ensuring greater access to affordable biologics.

CytoSite Bio (CytoSite) has entered into a collaboration agreement with Lantheus Holdings, Inc. for the clinical development and potential commercialization of its investigational Phase 1-ready Granzyme B-targeted PET imaging tracer. The agreement grants Lantheus an exclusive option to license the technology worldwide.

The two companies will jointly conduct clinical development, with Lantheus having the option to acquire exclusive global rights for further development and commercialization. CytoSite is eligible for payments based on development, regulatory, and commercial milestones, along with royalties on future sales.

Granzyme B is an enzyme released by immune cells to destroy harmful cells, including cancer. Early studies suggest that CytoSite’s investigational PET imaging tracer could evaluate immunotherapy effectiveness soon after treatment initiation. This could allow physicians to assess early treatment response within days rather than waiting months. Additionally, pharmaceutical companies may use this tracer to rapidly assess new therapies, streamlining development and resource allocation.

“The clinical data we have generated validates our belief that Granzyme B PET imaging can transform outcomes in immuno-oncology, autoimmune, and inflammatory diseases,” said Benjamin Larimer, PhD, Co-founder and CEO of CytoSite. “Partnering with Lantheus provides a clear commercialization path while advancing our radiotherapeutic program.”

“If approved, CytoSite’s Granzyme B biomarker could become a valuable tool for oncologists, radiologists, and medical professionals,” said Umar Mahmood, MD, PhD, Co-founder of CytoSite and Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School.

With the rising incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in India, Apollo Cancer Centres (ACC) has launched ColFit, an innovative screening program aimed at early detection and prevention. CRC ranks third globally in cancer incidence and fourth in India, with cases increasing by 2–3% annually. Despite being one of the most preventable and treatable cancers when detected early, many cases in India are diagnosed at advanced stages, leading to poor outcomes and high healthcare costs.

“Over the past two decades, CRC cases in the country have increased significantly. It is one of the most preventable and treatable cancers when detected early,” said Dr. Deepak Kumar Gupta, Senior Consultant Gastroenterology at Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai. India’s age-standardized rate (ASR) for CRC is 7.2 per 100,000 males and 5.1 per 100,000 females, but survival rates remain low, with only 40% of patients surviving beyond five years. According to doctors, CRC often begins as benign polyps that take 10–15 years to turn cancerous. “Almost 10% of piles and fissures are actually cancers, yet people often self-treat without screening,” Apollo doctors warned.

ColFit utilizes the Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT), a non-invasive, highly sensitive stool test that detects hidden blood, an early indicator of CRC. The screening process categorizes patients based on risk levels. Average-risk individuals (aged 45+) undergo FIT, while high-risk individuals (with a family history, genetic syndromes, or inflammatory bowel disease) undergo FIT and colonoscopy. Abnormal results prompt further analysis for occult blood or DNA mutations. Colonoscopy findings help detect polyps or tumors.

For follow-ups, negative cases are monitored periodically, while positive cases undergo biopsies if necessary. Patients receive lifestyle counseling and personalized screening plans. “A shift to proactive screening is essential,” emphasized Dr. Purushottam Vashistha, Senior Consultant Gastroenterology at AHNM. Dr. Rajesh Shinde highlighted that 50% of CRC cases are diagnosed late, and 20% present with metastases, making early detection crucial. Dr. Gupta urged those with persistent symptoms or a family history to prioritize regular screenings.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has released the National Guidelines on Medical Oxygen Management at a workshop held at AIIMS, Delhi. The event also marked the launch of the National Capacity Building Programme on Oxygen Management, led by the Department of Hospital Administration, AIIMS.

Union Health Secretary Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava emphasized the importance of maintaining and utilizing medical oxygen infrastructure to meet surge demands during emergencies. She also highlighted key lessons from India’s COVID-19 management. Prof. M Srinivas, Director of AIIMS, stressed the need for continuous training and awareness to strengthen oxygen management practices.

The National Guidelines on Medical Oxygen Management provide a structured approach for procurement, storage, and administration of medical oxygen, ensuring patient safety, capacity building, and emergency preparedness.

The National Capacity Building Programme on Oxygen Management, launched by the Disaster Management Cell of the Ministry, aims to train 200 master trainers nationwide. These trainers will further educate hospital administrators and medical officers on proper oxygen handling, reducing wastage, and improving clinical outcomes.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Health, AIIMS, and medical experts attended the workshop, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening India’s medical oxygen infrastructure.