Amid over 20 sudden heart attack deaths in Karnatakas Hassan district, leading drugmakers have defended Covid vaccines on social media. Industry leaders including Dilip Shanghvi, Pankaj Patel, Satish Reddy, and Samir Mehta stressed there is no scientific link between the deaths and vaccination. The Karnataka health department has formed an expert panel to investigate. The Indian Vaccine Manufacturers Association and the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance urged the public to trust Indias vaccine safe

Recent heart attacks in Karnataka's Hassan district raised concerns. An ICMR study shows Covid vaccines are not to blame for sudden deaths. Hospitalization during Covid, binge drinking, and intense activity are possible causes. AIIMS is also studying sudden deaths with post mortems. Karnataka's health department formed a committee to investigate the deaths.

The Delhi High Court has instructed India's drug regulator to address concerns about the approval process for drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro. A public interest litigation raised questions about safety data and clinical trials. The court wants the regulator to consult experts and manufacturers. Ozempic is available in the grey market, though not officially sold in India.

Biocon Ltd. is set to seek regulatory approvals for generic versions of Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy, targeting key markets like Canada, where patents expire next year. Managing Director Siddharth Mittal sees Canada as a prime opportunity, aiming for potential approval in 2026.

Jiangsu Recbio Technology and Biological E. Limited are partnering for HPV9 vaccine. Recbio will transfer technology to Biological E. Limited. This will allow Biological E. Limited to manufacture and commercialize the vaccine. The goal is to make the vaccine accessible in India and other markets. This collaboration aims to prevent cervical cancer.

Apollo Hospitals is demerging its omnichannel pharma and digital health businesses into a new entity, aiming for a separate listing. This move creates India's largest omnichannel pharmacy platform with a revenue target of 25,000 crore by FY27. The promoter family will hold approximately 36.5% in the new company, with Shobana Kamineni as the executive chairperson.

India's pharmaceutical exports experienced a modest 1.5% growth in April and May, following a significant 31.2% surge in March driven by year-end targets and anticipation of US tariffs. Despite pricing pressures and regulatory scrutiny, shipments to the US rose 20.4% to $10.5 billion.

Torrent Pharmaceuticals is set to acquire JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals, with the deal expected to finalize in 15-18 months, pending regulatory approvals. The acquisition, primarily debt-funded, aims to enhance Torrent's presence in the Indian market, particularly in high-growth segments like cardiac and gastroenterology.

Torrent Pharmaceuticals is set to acquire a major stake in J B Chemicals. The deal is expected to finalize in 15 to 18 months. This acquisition will be the second-largest in the Indian pharmaceutical sector after Sun Pharma-Ranbaxy. Torrent will also launch an open offer. Approvals from CCI, SEBI and stock exchanges are awaited.

India's hospital sector is attracting significant investment. Manipal Health is leading the bid to acquire Sahyadri Hospitals. Private equity firms are investing in single-specialty chains in non-metro areas. Hospitals have become a preferred investment destination. The sector's market cap has surged. India requires more hospital beds to meet healthcare demand. The government is promoting medical tourism.

Concerns arose regarding medicine labels. Consumers struggled to read expiry dates. The shiny surface of strips posed readability issues. The Drugs Consultative Committee addressed the matter. A sub-committee will examine packaging in detail. They will assess regulations for packaging suppliers. The government considers voice-assisted QR codes. Braille cards on strips are also under consideration.

The achievement of that goal in India, which ranks third in obesity numbers after the US and China, will shatter the record for prescription brand sales. Keytruda, a breakthrough anti-cancer drug from MSD India (part of the US Merck group), is currently the No. 1 in prescription brands, with annual revenue exceeding Rs 1,600 crore, according to market sources.

Urban India witnesses a surge in dermatology clinic visits, driven by teenagers and young adults seeking solutions for everyday skin concerns beyond chronic conditions. Social media influence and access to information fuel this trend, with consumers actively choosing science-backed skincare. This shift reflects a broader movement towards evidence-based self-care, impacting the skincare market and prompting early dermatologist visits.

Eli Lilly's weight-loss and diabetes drug, Mounjaro, has rapidly gained popularity in India, achieving Rs 24 crore in sales within three months. Young adults in their 30s and 40s are showing significant interest, with many upgrading to higher doses. While experts acknowledge its potential in addressing obesity, they caution about long-term efficacy, side effects, and affordability for the Indian population.

US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy's plan to Make America Healthy Again faces challenges as government cuts eliminate over a dozen data-gathering programs tracking deaths and diseases. The CDC lost experts monitoring areas like abortions, lead poisoning, and violence. Critics warn that these cuts will hinder the ability to understand and address health issues effectively.

In a devastating incident, an Australian woman unknowingly carried and gave birth to another couple's baby due to a mix-up at a Monash IVF clinic in Brisbane. The clinic attributed the error to a human error during the embryo transfer process.

Donald Trump announced a forthcoming major tariff on pharmaceutical imports, aiming to incentivize drug companies to relocate operations to the U.S. He also stated he warned Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) about potential taxes if they didn't establish U.S. plants. Trump criticized the Biden administration's $6.6 billion grant to TSMC's U.S.