Sterling Hospitals, a leading multispecialty hospital in Ahmedabad, proudly announces the successful execution of a groundbreaking robotic-assisted surgery to remove a pancreatic tumor in a 68-year-old Kenyan patient. Dr. Nitin Singhal, the Director of Surgical Oncology at Sterling Ahmedabad, skillfully performed this revolutionary procedure.

 The patient, who traveled to India for treatment had several pre-existing conditions like diabetes, hypertension, a history of heart bypass surgery, osteoarthritis, and obesity. He also took numerous medications and was experiencing abdominal fullness and mild pain for several months. Dr. Nitin Singhal's evaluation revealed a serious condition requiring urgent medical attention. Fortunately, the tumor was treatable with surgery. Traditionally, pancreatic surgeries were performed using the conventional open technique, involving a large abdominal incision. However, Dr. Singhal emphasized the drawbacks of this method considering the patient’s pre-existing health conditions which could lead to increased pain, pulmonary complications, and longer hospital stays. Dr. Singhal and his team at Sterling Hospital opted for a minimally invasive approach using robotic surgery which allowed for smaller incisions, magnified views, and enhanced precision and control.

Dr. Singhal Director of Surgical Oncology, Sterling Ahmedabad commenting on the complexities of the case said, “Pancreatic tumor removal is among the most complex cancer surgeries. Traditional approaches come with the risk of complications and lengthy recoveries. However, robotic surgery at Sterling Hospitals allowed us to perform this delicate procedure through tiny incisions, often less than a centimeter. This minimally invasive technique offers magnified views, unmatched precision, and significantly faster healing times. We're proud to have saved this patient and look forward to helping many more in the future."

Following the successful robotic pancreatic surgery by Dr. Nitin Singhal and his dedicated team, including Dr. Shivani Kakroo (Anesthetist), Dr. Jatin Patel (Anesthetist) and Team, the patient experienced a remarkable recovery. Without the need for blood transfusion, he stood the same day, walked and ate from the next day, and was discharged on the 5th day—significantly earlier than conventional surgery. The tumor was completely removed, ensuring a cure for the patient.

Dr. Simmardeep Gill, MD & CEO - Sterling Hospitals, emphasized the patient-centric approach, stating, “The Robotic surgery at Sterling hospitals is not limited to pancreatic tumors; it can benefit patients with various cancers, including uterus, intestinal, stomach, esophagus, lungs, kidney, prostate, and bladder cancers. This case showcases our efforts to deliver exceptional healthcare experiences to individuals from diverse backgrounds.”

Sterling Hospital aims to make advanced medical technology accessible to all cancer patients by offering single line robotic packages that balances the treatment cost with reduced hospital stays and medications 's successful robotic surgery for pancreatic tumor removal. This marks a breakthrough in cancer treatment and dedication to pushing the boundaries of medical technology to provide exceptional care with a focus on patient well-being.

U.S. FDA Approves Pfizer’s BEQVEZ™ (fidanacogene elaparvovec-dzkt), a One-Time Gene Therapy for Adults with Hemophilia B. A one-time dose of BEQVEZ has reduced bleeds post-treatment compared to standard of care with a median of zero bleeds (range 0 to 19) after up to three years of follow-up, providing sustained bleed protection and potentially avoiding years of treatment burden with prophylaxis for many patients

Pfizer Inc.announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved BEQVEZ™ (fidanacogene elaparvovec-dzkt) for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe hemophilia B who currently use factor IX (FIX) prophylaxis therapy, or have current or historical life-threatening hemorrhage, or have repeated, serious spontaneous bleeding episodes, and do not have neutralizing antibodies to adeno-associated virus serotype Rh74var (AAVRh74var) capsid as detected by an FDA-approved test. BEQVEZ is a one-time treatment that is designed to enable people living with hemophilia B to produce FIX themselves rather than the current standard of care, which requires regular intravenous infusions of FIX that are often administered multiple times a week or multiple times a month.1,2

“Many people with hemophilia B struggle with the commitment and lifestyle disruption of regular FIX infusions, as well as spontaneous bleeding episodes, which can lead to painful joint damage and mobility issues,” said Adam Cuker, M.D., M.S., Director, Penn Comprehensive and Hemophilia Thrombosis Program. “A one-time treatment with BEQVEZ has the potential to be transformative for appropriate patients by reducing both the medical and treatment burden over the long term.”

Hemophilia B is a rare genetic bleeding disorder that prevents normal blood clotting because of a deficiency in FIX that causes those with the disease to bleed more frequently and longer than others.3,4 The standard of care for hemophilia B treatment is prophylactic infusions of FIX replacement therapy that temporarily replace or supplement low levels of blood-clotting factor.2,4 Despite prophylaxis and regular intravenous infusions, many people living with moderate to severe hemophilia B are at risk of spontaneous bleeding episodes.5,6,7 The current standard of care also places strain on healthcare systems’ budgets and resource utilization.6,8,9,10 According to the World Federation of Hemophilia, more than 38,000 people worldwide are living with hemophilia B.11

“This milestone is a testament to Pfizer’s continued effort to advance the standard of care for people living with hemophilia, with the delivery of a medicine that has the potential to offer both long-term bleed protection and value to the healthcare system because of its one-time administration,” said Aamir Malik, Chief U.S. Commercial Officer and Executive Vice President, Pfizer. “We are leveraging our expertise that comes with more than 40 years of experience in the hemophilia space, and are proactively working with treatment centers, payers, and the hemophilia community to appropriately help ensure the healthcare system is prepared to readily deliver BEQVEZ to the patients who can benefit from it.”

With BEQVEZ now approved for use, Pfizer is launching an innovative warranty program based on durability of patient response to treatment. The goal of the warranty is to provide greater certainty to payers, maximize access for eligible patients who receive BEQVEZ, and offer financial protection by insuring against the risk of efficacy failure.

“For people living with hemophilia, disease management can interfere with many aspects of their lives. A one-time infusion of BEQVEZ may allow eligible patients more time for the things they love,” said Kim Phelan, Chief Operating Officer, The Coalition for Hemophilia B. “We are excited to have BEQVEZ as a promising treatment option for eligible people living with hemophilia B. We look forward to learning more and celebrating with the community and with Pfizer at our annual conference that is currently taking place.”

BEQVEZ is currently under review with the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and the treatment recently received regulatory approval in Canada. In addition to BEQVEZ, Pfizer currently has two other Phase 3 programs investigating gene therapy in populations where there is a high unmet need: hemophilia A (giroctocogene fitelparvovec) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (fordadistrogene movaparvovec). Additionally, a Phase 3 trial is investigating marstacimab, a novel, investigational anti-tissue factor pathway inhibitor for the treatment of people with hemophilia A and B with and without inhibitors. A Biologics License Application and European Marketing Authorization Application for marstacimab are currently under review with the FDA and EMA, respectively.

In a concerted effort to meet the distinctive healthcare needs of the Indian population, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur and All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Jodhpur have embarked on a collaborative journey to drive advancements in medical technology.

This innovative partnership aims to leverage the interdisciplinary expertise of both institutions to develop robust solutions tailored to Indian healthcare requirements.

Under this collaboration, joint academic programs have been established to equip students with diverse backgrounds in engineering, medicine, nursing, bioengineering, and related fields with the skills necessary to identify healthcare challenges and devise effective solutions.

Prof Santanu Chaudhary, director of IIT Jodhpur, emphasized the importance of creating medical technologies specifically designed to address the needs of the Indian populace, rather than relying solely on adaptations of solutions developed for other regions.

The collaborative effort follows a structured approach consisting of three pivotal phases: Identify, Invent, and Implement. This framework not only fosters innovation but also cultivates the entrepreneurial spirit among students, preparing them to drive impactful changes in the field of medical technology.

During the implementation phase, students are provided with various resources, including biodesign fellowships, prayas grants, and startup seed support, to facilitate the translation of their ideas into tangible solutions.

Moreover, IIT Jodhpur and AIIMS Jodhpur have established a conducive ecosystem that encourages innovation and facilitates the transition of cutting-edge research into practical applications. This ecosystem has paved the way for the emergence of several startups and groundbreaking technologies aimed at addressing critical healthcare needs.

Among the notable innovations resulting from this collaboration are novel syringe designs, digitally crafted maxillofacial prosthetics, and non-invasive devices for correcting nasal septal defects.

Furthermore, recent breakthroughs in medical sensor technology from IIT Jodhpur have demonstrated significant progress. Researchers have successfully developed a nano sensor capable of tracking disease progression and providing rapid medical intervention by targeting cytokines. Additionally, the introduction of a human breath sensor, heralded as the first "Made in India" product of its kind, holds promise for detecting alcohol levels in breath and monitoring various respiratory conditions.

This collaborative endeavour between IIT Jodhpur and AIIMS Jodhpur stands as a testament to their commitment to driving healthcare innovation forward, with a focus on addressing the unique healthcare challenges faced by India.

Discusses partnership and collaboration on production of vaccines, especially Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV)

Union Health Secretary Shri Apurva Chandra today visited the manufacturing unit of global pharmaceutical company Bilthoven Biologicals at Utrecht, Netherlands. He had an engaging meeting with CEO Mr. Juergen Kwik & CEO of Poonawalla Science Park (PSP) at Bilthoven Mr. Jef De Clercq on EU pandemic preparedness partnership and collaboration on production of vaccines. He met the senior management and was briefed on the various manufacturing units of the facility. A detailed presentation was made on their future manufacturing plans. Bilthoven Biologicals B.V. Co., manufactures pharmaceutical products such as vaccines for polio, diphtheria-tetanus-polio, and tetanus along with bacillus calmett

The bioengineering and vaccine production firm Bilthoven Biologicals was purchased by Serum India Ltd., in 2012. This has strengthened its capacity of producing vaccines and also provided it with a valuable manufacturing base in Europe. Recently Serum and Bharat Biotech have announced collaboration for enhanced production of OPV. Bharat Biotech will collaborate with Netherlands-based Bilthoven Biologicals B.V, a wholly-owned arm of Serum Institute of India. An agreement has been signed under which Bharat Biotech will procure drug substances for manufacturing oral polio vaccines to be supplied within India and globally. This will contribute to supply security of oral polio vaccines. With this partnership, the capacity of BBIL to manufacture Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) has increased to 500 million doses every year. 

Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) of the Union Health Ministry is one of the key interventions for protection of children from life threatening conditions by providing vaccination, including vaccine against polio. India has been certified free of Polio in March 2014. However, to maintain the polio-free status, polio vaccine is given to children as part of the high quality national and sub-national polio rounds across the country. A sustained supply of OPV is essential for keeping India polio free. The partnership between BBIL and Serum will contribute to providing a sustained supply of OPV in the country.

The Odisha government has instructed campus medicine stores operating within public health institutions across the state to vacate their premises following an order from the Orissa High Court.

These campus medicine stores had challenged a communication issued by the health and family welfare department on February 27, 2015. According to this communication, no extension of licenses for on-campus medical stores would be granted, and no new campus medical stores would be allowed to open.

Despite the expiration of their license agreements, these campus medicine stores continued to operate under interim orders from the high court. However, on April 19, the high court dismissed all writ petitions filed by these stores.

In light of this development, the health and family welfare department issued directives on Thursday to authorities at MKCG Medical College and Hospital, VIMSAR Burla, and chief district medical and public health officers of 24 districts to serve "vacation notices" to the campus medicine shops. The shops have been given a 15-day period to vacate the premises.

"You are further directed to take all possible steps in accordance with the law to recover possession of the premises immediately after the expiry of the 15 days period," stated Shalini Pandit, the department secretary, in a letter.

There are a total of 101 campus medicine shops listed by the department, located in primary health centers (PHCs), community health centers (CHCs), sub-divisional hospitals (SDHs), district headquarters hospitals (DHHs), and medical college and hospitals (MCHs). Some of these shops have already been closed. The remaining stores will be vacated promptly, as per a statement from a health department official.

Strand Life Sciences, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries and a global leader in genomic and bioinformatic solutions, has introduced its cutting-edge prenatal screening and diagnostics portfolio, customized for the Indian population.

The pioneering portfolio includes two revolutionary technologies: CNSeq and MaatriSeq, meticulously crafted to address the specific requirements of Indian communities.

These groundbreaking technologies offer unparalleled efficiency, affordability, and precision, revolutionizing genetic diagnostics in India, according to the company.

Developed by Strand Life Sciences, these advanced tests are based on a genomic analysis pipeline meticulously validated on Indian samples and conditions, ensuring accuracy and reliability.

Ramesh Hariharan, CEO & co-founder of Strand Life Sciences, emphasized the company's commitment to setting new benchmarks in genetic diagnostics. He stated, "Strand is leading the charge in advanced genomic solutions, redefining the standards in genetic diagnostics."

Hariharan expressed Strand's dedication to supporting the Indian government's initiatives to alleviate the burden of rare diseases in the country.

Key Features of Prenatal Screening & Diagnostics Technologies

CNSeq represents a significant leap forward in prenatal diagnostics, leveraging state-of-the-art Next Generation Sequencing technology. Powered by proprietary software, CNSeq delivers unparalleled precision in identifying Copy Number Variations (CNVs), surpassing conventional cytogenetic and molecular techniques.

In contrast, MaatriSeq stands out as the first Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening (NIPS) solution validated on the Illumina NovaSeq X Plus sequencing platform. This technology offers a highly accurate and cost-effective alternative, facilitating widespread access to prenatal screening across India. Demonstrating exceptional sensitivity and specificity, MaatriSeq excels in identifying fetal chromosomal abnormalities, outperforming existing methods.

First chronic condition management platform to be recognized as a Class C ‘Software as a Medical Device’

Lupin Digital Health, India’s first evidence-based cardiology Digital Therapeutics (DTx) platform, is proud to announce that its Lyfe platform has received approval as a Class C Medical Device from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO). This milestone marks a ground breaking advancement in post-discharge integrated care, highlighting the potential of evidence-based digital therapeutics solutions to transform patient care.

Having undergone a rigorous application, review, and on-site audit process, this Class C Medical Device license reaffirms the platform’s effectiveness and emphasizes its commitment to quality, safety, and rigour.

Lyfe is now India’s first clinically proven remote cardiac rehabilitation program, designed to enhance heart health and quality of life. By providing tailored, accessible solutions in the comfort of patients’ homes, Lyfe empowers individuals to confidently manage their heart health.

Commenting about this recognition, Rajeev Sibal, President – India Region Formulations, Lupin, stated, “This approval reaffirms our dedication to excellence in cardiac care. We are proud to be at the fore front of digital therapeutics in India, signifying our commitment to supporting cardiologists with patient-centric solutions and improving cardiovascular outcomes.”

Elaborating on the significance of receiving this license, Sidharth Srinivasan, CEO, Lupin Digital Health added, “Securing the Class C Medical Device license for Lyfe is a significant achievement. It validates Lyfe as a best-in-class platform to support millions of cardiac patients in India. This recognition will also encourage more cardiologists, hospitals and insurers to adopt remote cardiac rehabilitation for improved patient health outcomes.”

Trusted by over 700 cardiologists and serving patients across 280 districts in India, Lyfe provides cardiovascular patients who have undergone events like Angioplasty, Bypass Surgery and Heart Failure a better way to manage and recover from their condition.

Nestlé India Limited referred hereafter as “Nestlé India” and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories along with its subsidiaries together referred to as “Dr. Reddy’s”), both together referred as “JV Partners”, today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to form a joint venture (“JV Company”) to bring innovative nutraceutical brands to consumers in India and other agreed territories. The partnership will bring together the well-known global range of nutritional health solutions as well as vitamin, minerals, herbals and supplements of Nestlé Health Science (NHSc) with the strong and established commercial strengths of Dr. Reddy’s in India. The joint venture will help JV Partners combine their strengths and grow their complementary nutraceuticals portfolios in categories such as metabolic, hospital nutrition, general wellness , women’s health and child nutrition for consumers across India.

The JV Company will be headquartered in Hyderabad. The JV Company will leverage the capabilities as well as services of the Nestlé Group and Dr. Reddy’s.

Select brands will be licensed by the JV Partners to the JV company. The Nestlé Group will license brands such as Nature's Bounty, Osteo Bi-Flex, Ester-C, Resource High Protein, Optifast, Resource Diabetic, Peptamen, Resource Renal and Resource Dialysis. Dr. Reddy’s will license brands such as Rebalanz, Celevida, Antoxid, Kidrich-D3, Becozinc in the nutrition, and OTC segments. The JV Company is expected to become operational in Q2 of FY’25.

Commenting on the joint venture, Mr. Suresh Narayanan, Chairman and Managing Director, Nestlé India said, “I am very happy to share that we are entering into a joint venture with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd. We have been on a journey where we strive to add value to the lives of our consumers through powerful brands and products. This joint venture is another important step in that direction, allowing us to bring our science-backed nutritional solutions to more people across the country. Dr. Reddy’s is a trusted name in the pharmaceutical space and shares our commitment to provide access to high quality products. This joint venture will enable us to build a robust retail and distribution network to take our brands closer to consumers and making a meaningful difference to improve the quality of life.”

M.V. Ramana, CEO – Branded Markets (India & Emerging Markets), Dr. Reddy’s said, “This joint venture is a novel approach by two companies that have a shared purpose of good health. We are pleased to partner with Nestlé India to bring innovations from the Nestlé Health Science global portfolio to consumers in India. This novel approach of leveraging mutually complementary strengths of both parent companies will enable better access and affordability for consumers.”

Paras Healthcare Private Limited recently held a foundation stone laying ceremony for its upcoming 300-bed hospital in Gurugram, marking a significant expansion in healthcare services. Positioned in Sector 63-A, this new facility represents Paras Health's commitment to enhancing medical infrastructure in the region.

The ceremony was attended by esteemed individuals including Dr. Dharminder Kumar Nagar, Managing Director of Paras Health; Ankit Goel, Director of Essel Infra LLP; Dr. Kapil Garg, Director of Paras Health; and Dr. Santy Sajan, Group Chief Operating Officer of Paras Health.

With a focus on core specializations such as oncology, gastroenterology, neurosciences, cardiac sciences, orthopedics, and transplant programs, the hospital aims to meet the growing demand for advanced healthcare services. Equipped with state-of-the-art medical technologies including robotic and navigation systems, the facility will cater to the needs of both domestic and international patients.

Dr. Nagar emphasized, "We are expanding our service offerings to include organ transplant programs such as lung and liver transplants, complementing our existing kidney and bone marrow transplant services. With increased capacity and enhanced capabilities in cancer care, we are well-positioned to address the evolving healthcare requirements of Gurugram."

Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee IIT Roorkee and UnivLabs Technologies Private Limited, India, have signed a Technology Transfer Agreement and a MOA for translating research findings into real-world applications. This relationship enhances the potential for success in developing and commercializing the technology developed by a team of researchers from IIT Roorkee and resources with UnivLabs Technologies Private Limited, India '. The technology entitled “A biodegradable polymeric composite with enzymatic degradation for ureteral stent and its methods of preparation”.

This patented technology is based on the Ureteral stents, these are often used to maintain fluid drainage from the kidney to the bladder when the ureter is obstructed due to many clinical reasons, such as, kidney stones, tumors, blood clots and post-operative swelling and infection. They are required to be in place for a maximum of four months in general. However, the currently used ones being non-degradable, needs a surgery to remove them and are often associated with discomfort leading to pain, urinary tract infection, stent migration, fragmentation of breakage, and very importantly sedimentation on them, known as encrustation. Available clinical stents are made up of silicone and polyurethane polymer. Team of researchers Prof. Debrupa Lahiri, Prof. Partha Roy, Ms. Gunjan Kaushik from IITR and Dr. Anil Mandhani from Univ Labs and Fortis, Gurgaon have developed materials for a total biodegradable stent with required degradation profile and mechanical integrity for an ideal ureteral stent, which will reduce biofilm formation and encrustation, while also ensuring that the stent disappears completely without the need for a second surgery for its removal.

Speaking about the technology, Dr Anil Mandhani, Director, UnivLabs Technologies, said, “the development of a total biodegradable ureteral stent addresses several key challenges associated with conventional stents, offering significant benefits in terms of patient comfort, reduced complications, and improved clinical outcomes. With a focus on excellence and a commitment to transforming healthcare, both IIT Roorkee and UnivLabs Technologies Private Ltd. are poised to make significant contributions to the advancement of medical science and patient care.”

Speaking on the collaboration with UnivLabs Technologies, Prof. Akshay Dvivedi, Dean Sponsor Research and Industrial Consultancy (SRIC), IIT Roorkee, said “The potential of this technology being transferred from IIT Roorkee holds great promise for revolutionizing healthcare practices, particularly in the field of urology with the development of biodegradable ureteral stents. This innovation has the potential to improve patient outcomes, reduce complications, and enhance overall quality of life for individuals requiring such medical interventions. We look forward that this collaboration represents a promising advancement in the field of urology and medical device technology.”

Prof. K.K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, highlighted “Research is a catalyst for positive change, driving progress and shaping the trajectory of human civilization. Its impact extends far beyond academia, touching every aspect of society and paving the way for a brighter tomorrow. We believe that, the innovation of biodegradable ureteral stents holds great promise for advancing healthcare practices in urology. It represents a promising advancement that underscores the importance of research and collaboration in driving innovation in healthcare.”