Heena Sharma Blog

The total number of coronavirus cases across the world has crossed the 10-million mark and the death toll has gone past 500,000. There currently are over 100 vaccines at various stages of development worldwide, including in India, Britain, China, the US, Russia and Israel. Dr Soumya Swaminathan, the chief scientist at WHO, said nearly 2 billion doses of the Covid-19 vaccine would be ready by the end of next year. But who would be the first to get a Covid-19 vaccine? Probably people in the country where the first effective vaccine is developed. Thus, there's pressure from governments on pharmaceutical companies and scientists to come up with a vaccine as soon as possible. Last week, WHO said UK-based AstraZeneca was leading the vaccine race while US-based pharmaceutical major Moderna was not far behind. Read More

Drug firm Glenmark Pharmaceuticals on Monday said it has received tentative approval from the US health regulator for generic Dapagliflozin tablets used for treatment of type-2 diabetes. The product is a generic version of AstraZeneca AB's Farxiga tablets. "Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc USA has been granted tentative approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for Dapagliflozin tablets, 5 mg and 10 mg," Glenmark said in a filing to BSE. Citing IQVIA sales data for the 12 month period ending January 2020, the company said Farxiga tablets, brand and all available therapeutic equivalents in strengths of 5 mg and 10 mg, achieved annual sales of approximately $1.8 billion. Read More