Archive: November 14, 2022

Business

Alembic Pharmaceuticals receives USFDA Final Approval for Cyclophosphamide Capsules, 25 mg and 50 mg

Nov 14, 2022 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments

14th November, 2022, Mumbai: Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited (Alembic) today announced that it has received final approval from the US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Cyclophosphamide Capsules, 25 mg and 50 mg. The approved ANDA is therapeutically equivalent to the reference listed drug product (RLD), Cyclophosphamide Capsules, 25 mg and 50 mg of Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. Cyclophosphamide Capsules is an alkylating drug indicated for the treatment of malignant disease and minimal change nephrotic syndrome in pediatric patients. Refer to our label for full indication.

Cyclophosphamide Capsules, 25 mg and 50 mg, have an estimated market size of US$ 8 million for twelve months ending Sep 2022 according to IQVIA.

Alembic has a cumulative total of 176 ANDA approvals (152 final approvals and 24 tentative approvals) from USFDA.

Health

Shantilal Shanghvi Cornea Institute, Inaugurated at L V Prasad Eye Institute!

Nov 14, 2022 by Rabindra 0 Comments

Hyderabad, 14th November 2022: The Shantilal Shanghvi Cornea Institute, an Institute of Excellence and a Global Resource Centre, was inaugurated on 12 November 2022 at the L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) by Sri N V Ramana – Former Chief Justice of India and Prof Partha Pratim Majumder – National Science Chair, Govt of India. In recognition of the support extended by the Shantilal Shanghvi Foundation, the Cornea Institute at LVPEI has been named the ‘Shantilal Shanghvi Cornea Institute. The centre was inaugurated in the presence of Mr Dilip Shanghvi – Director of Shantilal Shanghvi Foundation, and the senior leadership team of L V Prasad Eye Institute.

The Cornea is a clear transparent layer in front of the eye, often called the window of the eye. A person must have a clear and healthy cornea for good vision. If it develops an opacity or is swollen or damaged, adequate light does not enter the eye, making the vision blurry. Common causes of these conditions are injuries, eye infections, congenital disorders and cataract surgery complications resulting in significant visual disability. Since it is located in the most prominent part of the eye, it also is susceptible to injuries and infections.

Shantilal Shanghvi Cornea Institute,

Corneal diseases are a leading cause of blindness and visual impairment in India and developing countries worldwide. Of the 10 million blind people in India, over 2 million Indians are affected by corneal blindness, 60% being below the age of 12.

Dr Pravin Vaddavalli, Director of the Shantilal Shanghvi Cornea Institute & the Institutes of Excellence Program, L V Prasad Eye Institute, said: “The Shantilal Shanghvi Cornea Institute is an integral part of LVPEI. The focus is on preventing avoidable corneal blindness by taking a comprehensive approach to tackling corneal conditions and resulting vision loss. The focus of the Shantilal Shanghvi Cornea Institute will be to make appropriate treatment available for eye problems resulting from corneal diseases. Envisaged as a Global Resource Centre, it will not only focus on caring for patients at all levels of eye care but also on creating and disseminating knowledge directly through the LVPEI network and indirectly by partnerships and capacity building of other eye healthcare organisations.”

Annually, across the LVPEI network of 260+ centres, over 50,000 patients are examined for various corneal eye problems, and 18,000 corneal surgeries are performed. Over 50% of these services are provided completely free of cost to patients from underprivileged backgrounds, irrespective of the complexity of care needed.

Dr Prashant Garg, Executive Chair, L V Prasad Eye Institute, added: “We extend our sincere thanks to Mr Dilip Shanghvi and his family for their generous support. With this partnership, we will be scaling up our services to bring advanced and equitable corneal eye care services to the doorstep of communities – making it accessible and affordable for all. We also extend our sincere gratitude to Sri N V Ramana – Former Chief Justice of India, and Prof Partha Pratim Majumder – National Science Chair, Govt of India, for joining us for this milestone event at the L V Prasad Eye Institute.”

Commenting on the partnership, Mr Dilip Shanghvi, Director of Shantilal Shanghvi Foundation, said: “The Shantilal Shanghvi Foundation is working towards addressing challenges related to healthcare and access in India. We are happy to partner with LVPEI and support them in their endeavour to manage corneal blindness and help patients with improved vision and improved quality of life.”

Institute of Excellence and a Global Resource Centre: For controlling all major forms of blindness and visual impairment at the national and global levels, one of the strategic focus areas for LVPEI is to develop Institutes of Excellence. These institutes not only work towards making quality eye care services accessible and affordable for the communities, including those in remote rural areas but also focus on creating an interlinked network of ‘Global Resource Centres’ followed by the development of ‘Regional Centres’ using prevention and treatment strategies, human resource development and research. The Institutes of Excellence at LVPEI encompass corneal eye diseases, retinal eye diseases, eye cancer, children’s eye care, elderly eye care and vision rehabilitation, and several individual Institutes of Excellence are also evolving.

Business

Star Alliance named the World’s Leading Airline Alliance at the World Travel Awards 2022

Nov 14, 2022 by Mansi Praharaj 0 Comments

SINGAPORE – November 14, 2022 – Star Alliance has been named the World’s Leading Airline Alliance at the World Travel Awards for the third consecutive year. At the North America 2022 edition of the awards held in August, the Star Alliance Los Angeles airport lounge also retained the award for North America’s Leading Airport Lounge for the third year running.

In receiving these awards, Star Alliance CEO Jeffrey Goh said: “We are extremely delighted to be receiving the World Travel Awards for the third consecutive year. This is particularly fitting as we celebrate our 25th anniversary this year.”

Mr. Goh continued: “These awards are testimony to the great work that more than 400,000 employees across the Star Alliance network do each day in delivering safe and seamless travel, and also to all the customers who have continued to give us and our member carriers their confidence and support.”

Now in its 29th edition, the World Travel Awards was established to acknowledge, reward, and celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries. The annual awards are awarded based on a worldwide poll of qualified executives working within travel and tourism, and the consumer travel buyer.

Graham E Cooke, Founder, of World Travel Awards, said: “Star Alliance continues to set the benchmark for global aviation and I am delighted that both the travel trade and the public have acknowledged this by voting it the World’s Leading Airline Alliance 2022 at the World Travel Awards. Earlier this year, Star Alliance’s ground-breaking LA lounge was also the runaway winner for North America’s Leading Airport Lounge once again.”

In addition to these two awards won at the alliance level, a number of Star Alliance member carriers also came away as individual winners this year. Nine of them won awards in 21 categories, ranging from World’s Leading Airline – First Class, to Leading Airlines in Europe, Oceania, Asia, and Mexico & Central America.

Business

HGS Completes Acquisition of NXTDIGITAL’S Digital Media Business in India

Nov 14, 2022 by Rabindra 0 Comments

Mumbai, India, November 14, 2022: Hinduja Global Solutions Ltd. (HGS) (listed in BSE & NSE) today announced that it has received the order from the Hon’ble National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) approving and sanctioning the Scheme of Arrangement between NXTDIGITAL Limited and Hinduja Global Solutions Limited. With this approval in place, NXTDIGITAL’s Digital Media business in India, including its assets, liabilities, and investment in its subsidiaries, become part of HGS, effective February 1, 2022 (the Appointed Date as per the Scheme of Arrangement). This acquisition opens up a direct-to-consumer practice for HGS.

Partha DeSarkar, Executive Director and Group CEO of HGS said: “We’re very pleased with the addition of the NXTDIGITAL Digital Media portfolio to HGS. It opens up a new, fast-growing market opportunity while also expanding our presence in India. Their expertise in emerging technology areas like broadband-over-satellite, public Wi-Fi, and satellite-based data analytics adds a different dimension to our core work in digital-led BPM. I believe we can leverage each other’s expertise, talent, and credentials in the media and telecom segments to grow faster and expand further in Asia and globally. I am also excited that HGS can now participate significantly in the Digital India initiative.”

Vynsley Fernandes, MD, and CEO, NXTDIGITAL said: “We’ve been looking to strike new synergies in our mission to become India’s premier integrated Digital Delivery Platforms Company. HGS is a great choice for us with complementary capabilities and shared values stemming from both being Hinduja Group companies. We’re very excited about this new chapter as it can help us amplify growth.”

As HGS and NXTDIGITAL leverage their new synergies and work towards building this partnership from a technology and digital standpoint, it is certain to positively impact both people and customers in the long term. HGS will add a headcount of nearly 1,200 in India and a presence across 1,500 locations covering 4,500 pin codes through NXTDIGITAL. The partnership will allow NXTDIGITAL to expand into new geographies while strengthening its already firm footprint in India.

Entertainment

26th Edition Parampara Series – The National Festival of Dance and Music by Natya Tarangini Raja Radha Reddy Performing Arts Centre

Nov 14, 2022 by Mansi Praharaj 0 Comments

New Delhi, 14th November 2022– ‘Parampara Series’ – National Festival of Dance and Music organised every year by Dr(s). Raja Radha Reddy and Kaushalya Reddy to give enlightenment about our classical rituals of India and invited renowned artists to perform in the 3-day festival starting from 12th-14th November 2022.

The Parampara Series was launched by Natya Tarangini keeping in mind the necessity to bring the common masses closer to Indian traditions and culture and to ensure that the rich Indian Heritage is preserved for generations to come. Natya Tarangini has been successfully spreading quality art among its audience through its annually organised National Festival of Dance and Music titled ‘Parampara Series’. Natya Tarangini has presented various stalwarts but our endeavour is not restricted to bridge the gap between the legendary artists and audience but also to giving a platform to the young talents who are trying to make their foothold in the world of art and culture.

For over two decades thousands of people have witnessed the magnificent art of nearly a hundred artists. Right from the selection of artists, to the timely and aesthetic execution of performances, Natya Tarangini has established itself as a premier organization capable of presenting performances of National and International scale and repute. Today, Natya Tarangini has a formidable reputation as one of the key cultural players in New Delhi.

Natya Tarangini also promotes other art forms through its Art Gallery ‘Nandjeet Khemka Art Gallery’ wherein the Paintings / Sculptures of various artists are displayed. Apart from this, Natya Tarangini is actively involved in conducting education Workshops and Seminars.

This year Natya Tarangini is presenting Parampara Series from the 12th-14th November 2022 from 7 pm to 9 pm at Raja Radha Rangmanch (Amphitheatre), Natya Tarangini, Sector 6, Pushp Vihar, New Delhi. The festival has represented some of the most successful dance productions of recent times in addition to the musical concerts by legendary artists Raja Radha Reddy, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Rama Vaidhyanathan, Aruna Sairam, and Aditi Mangaldas. Pt Jayateerth Mevundi. As has been the tradition, the audience of the Parampara Series will witness two concerts every evening (Dance and Music).

The eminent guests at the event were  Hon’ble Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Odissi Dancer Sharon Lowen, Subhalakshmi Khan, Writer Aruna Vasudev, Actor Chandrachur Singh, Designer Shivan Narresh to name a few.

Ms Kaushalya Reddy, Artistic director & Guru of Natya Tarangini– “I feel fortunate and happy that I get to curate the Natya Tarangini Raja Radha Reddy National Festival of Dance & Music- The Parampara every year. The Parampara series is an endeavour to redefine and rejuvenate India’s rich cultural heritage. Every year as part of the series we bring amazing works by renowned artists from across India. The Parampara Series is our way to preserve and enrich the cultural mosaic of our everyday life and we take pride in the fact that it has been widely received in its efforts and is now in its 26th year.

Business, News

Meghalaya Win First Gold Medal at 2nd North East Olympic Games in Cycling

Nov 14, 2022 by Rabindra 0 Comments

Shillong, Nov 12: Meghalaya won their first gold medal at the 2nd North East Olympic Games with Willbornson Wahlang winning the MTB Downhill Hardtail men’s race at Malki Forest here today.

Meghalaya swept this particular category, with its cyclists taking silver and bronze as well through Amedius Therlang Marbaniang and Nicholas Syrti respectively. Just two seconds separated the top three, with Wahlang finishing the course in a time of 2 minutes, 23 seconds, ahead of Marbaniang (2:24) and Syrti (2:25).

Meghalaya Win First Gold Medal

Manipur claimed a further gold medal through Thokchom Tennyson Singh (2:08) in the MTB Downhill Full Suspension men’s race, ahead of Meghalaya’s Dame Wanki Ha-o Suiam (2:15). Another Manipur cyclist, Kshetrimayum Jack Singh (2:19), was third.

In the women’s open cross country race, Lindum Iakia of Arunachal Pradesh was first in 9 minutes, 42.00 seconds, with the Manipur pair of Pangambam Priya Devi (9:43.44) and Haomon Urbashi Devi (9:48.10) second and third respectively.

Yesterday, in the junior competition, AZ Thotmachan from Manipur bagged the gold medal, with Pynshailang Khyllait from Meghalaya second and Vanlalruata of Mizoram third. In the elite men’s cross country, gold was won by Manipur’s Khundrakpam Ronel Singh, with home hero Kevin John Khyllait crossing the line in second place and Mesak Vanlalvena from Mizoram third.

The prize distribution ceremony for all the above events was held today, with Dr. M Ampareen Lyngdoh MLA the chief guest. Other dignitaries included Additional CEO of NEOG 2022 and Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Shri Cyril VD Diengdoh IAS.

The cyclists will now have a break of two days before Tuesday’s 80km road race, which will take the riders from Shillong to Mawthadraishan.

Business

o9 Solutions’ employees join hands to make Social Impact globally

Nov 14, 2022 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments

Bangalore, November 14, 2022 – o9 Solutions, a leading enterprise AI software platform provider for transforming planning and decision-making, recently celebrated Social Impact Day on September 23, 2022, globally. At o9, over 440 employees engaged in various social and environmental activities across the global o9 offices to make a positive impact on our environment and communities.

In Bangalore, 260 employees participated in the cleanliness drive at the Lalbagh Botanical Garden, collecting a substantial amount of plastic and organic waste, to facilitate a clean environment. The event was conducted in collaboration with Samarthanam Trust. o9 employees also organized a public awareness drive on responsible waste management and environmental cleanliness. In addition, they participated in a workshop on creating vermicompost, which was conducted by experts, learning to recycle organic waste. o9 Solutions donated mobile waste bins and cleaning aids to the Botanical Garden administration.

In addition, o9 collaborated with Umeed Foundation for volunteer work. o9 employees spent time with children at an orphanage in Hyderabad and elderly people at old age homes in Lucknow and Patna. In Dallas and Amsterdam, o9 employees participated in cleanliness drives to give back to their communities.

o9 also partnered with Goodera to organize a virtual sign language session for employees to sensitize them towards the needs of individuals with hearing and speech impairments, with a view to build an inclusive community.

Recently, o9 Solutions joined the UN Global Compact initiative, a voluntary leadership platform for the development, implementation, and disclosure of responsible business practices. It is one of the world’s largest and most impactful initiatives for sustainable businesses.

“We enable enterprises to build sustainable supply chains by helping them optimize their utilization of resources using our Digital Brain platform, allowing them to move closer to their goal of carbon neutrality. Our everyday actions have a big impact on our society and environment. Social Impact is one of our core values and reflects our commitment to building a better world through individual and community activities,” said Siddhartha Niyogi, Managing Director, India Operations, o9 Solutions.

Business

Suniel Shetty ages himself to look like the formidable Thalaivan in Dharavi Bank

Nov 14, 2022 by Mansi Praharaj 0 Comments

Suniel Shetty is one of those incredible Bollywood stars who defies age. He has successfully shattered all stereotypes about life beyond 60 with his youthful charm and well-maintained physique. The actor gives us a glimpse of this in Samit Kakkad’s directorial – MX Original Series, Dharavi Bank where he Is seen playing the role of Thalaivan – a powerful, ruthless, and unattainable kingpin of India’s largest slum – Dharavi.

To aesthetically portray the part of this 63-year-old villain, the team had to use prosthetics to make Suniel look 60+! Speaking about the actor’s commitment to this role, Director Samit Kakkad said, “Anna would report on location at 5 am on the dot because it would take him 4 hours to do hair and make-up with the use of prosthetics. Thalaivan’s character spans across different age groups in the series and to showcase this progression, we had to make Anna age himself because he is so fit that nobody would believe he is playing a 63-year-old without prosthetics.”

On his role, Suniel Shetty commented, “As I always say, age is just a number and I can only hope and work towards living a healthy lifestyle with the right nutrition and exercise. My character, Thalaivan, is a self-made leader that commands the authority and respect of the people of Dharavi, who he considers as part of his family and are of utmost importance to him. He helms a Rs 30000 Cr empire and his face and posture had to reflect the responsibilities he has and the experiences he’s endured to stay elusive and successful. So, I understand why we had to use prosthetics and even though it took 4 hours daily to perfect this look, it added a lot of authenticity to my character – the ruthless Thalaivan.”

Produced by Zee Studios, the series also features a stellar cast comprising Vivek Anand Oberoi, Sonali Kulkarni, Luke Kenny, Freddy Daruwala, Shanthi Priya, Santosh Juvekar, Nagesh Bhosle, Siddharth Menon, Hitesh Bhojraj, Samikssha Batnagar, Rohit Pathak, Jaywant Wadkar, Chinmay Mandlekar, Bhavvana Rao, Shruti Srivastava, Sandhya Shetty, Pavitra Sarkar and Vamsi Krishna in key roles.

Health

Healthy Lungs calls for Paediatric Asthma Awareness on Children’s Day

Nov 14, 2022 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments

Children are the most vulnerable and innocent members of the family and need special care and attention from elders. National Children’s Day highlights the need to raise awareness of children’s welfare and ensure a better future. On children’s day, Alkem has pledged to spread awareness about paediatric asthma through its initiative “healthy lungs”. Healthy Lungs portal (www.thehealthylungs.com) is a one-stop knowledge repository to consume knowledge about lung diseases. The portal also acts as an experience-sharing platform for patients with access to the patient community.

Asthma is a major noncommunicable disease (NCD), affecting both children and adults, and is the most common chronic disease among children. Asthma is often underdiagnosed and under-treated, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Doctors have highlighted the importance of access to accurate information for better management of asthma in children. This children’s day Healthy Lungs has taken the initiative to spread the right information to parents to take informed decisions for their kids.

Recently published epidemiological data on asthma demonstrate that India has 37.8 million cases of asthma and India contributes to over 42% of all global asthma deaths. In the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), the global prevalence of wheezing was estimated to be 11.6% for 6-7-year-old children and 13.7% for 13-14-year-old children. In India, asthma is responsible for 10 million missed school days each year and is the third principal cause of child hospitalization. Infants and pre-schoolers are exposed to indoor and outdoor air pollution and second-hand smoke, and a life-long increased risk of chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma. India ranks 2nd in traffic-related pollution-caused asthma among children. Worldwide, 11–14% of children aged 5 years and older currently report asthma symptoms and an estimated 44% of these are related to environmental exposures. Untreated asthma can aggravate its severity and often lead to lung attacks requiring immediate hospitalization.

Asthma is a recurring inflammatory lung disorder in which certain stimuli (triggers) inflame the airways and cause them to temporarily narrow, resulting in difficulty in breathing. The diagnosis is based on a child’s repeated wheezing episodes, a family history of asthma, and sometimes the results of tests that measure how well the lungs function. Although, asthma symptoms can often be prevented by avoiding triggers, long-term treatment of inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators is required for living a healthy life.

One of the major challenges in managing paediatric asthma is, parents should not ignore respiratory symptoms in their children and shall consult with a paediatrician at the earliest. It is extremely important to educate parents on the effective and regular use of inhalation devices to keep their kids’ asthma in control.

Education

Novo Nordisk Education Foundation Organizes 5K Walkathon to Mark World Diabetes Day ‘22

Nov 14, 2022 by Rabindra 0 Comments

Bengaluru, November 14, 2022:Whitefieldon Sunday woke up to people walking in unison to create awareness on integrated diabetes management. The Novo Nordisk Education Foundation (NNEF) organized the 5K walkathon to mark World Diabetes Day 2022. The event was flagged off by Mr. Vikrant Shrotriya, Managing Trustee, NNEF, Mr. John Dawber, Corporate Vice President, Novo Nordisk Global Business Services, and. K. Ramachandra, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Control Room, Bengaluru City. The initiative was in line with the International Diabetes Federation’s theme for World Diabetes Day 2022 – Educate to Protect Tomorrow.

Novo nordek

The walkathon saw active participation from residents in the neighborhood, Novo Nordisk employees, patient groups, and health care professionals (HCPs). It highlighted the need for improved access to reliable diabetes care for people living with diabetes and educate individuals on the 4 pillars of diabetes management: consume a variety of healthy foods and limit fried and salty foods, exercise at least 30 minutes 3-5 days a week, take regular medication to keep blood sugar in check, and monitor blood sugar regularly.

Novo Nordisk India has also partnered with Flipkart Health to launch a digital marathon aimed at spreading awareness about diabetes and helping children living with Type 1 diabetes. For every person that participates in the digital marathon, Novo Nordisk will donate 1 insulin vial to a child with Type 1 diabetes through the Novo Nordisk Education Foundation.

Commenting on the walkathon, Mr. Vikrant Shrotriya, Managing Trustee, NNEF, said“We are delighted to see such a great turnout at the walkathon. I thank our chief guests for being part of this diabetes awareness program. Access to the right education and care is instrumental in helping people with diabetes live long and healthy lives. I am hopeful that this walkathon will inspire people to look at diabetes management from a holistic lens and see exercise, diet, and timely treatment and monitoring not as an option but a way of leading a healthy life.”

Inaugurating the walkathon, Mr. K. Ramachandra, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Control Room, Bengaluru City said,“It is important we confront and treat diabetes as a critical health issue given the number of patients India is seeing today. This is a promising initiative and the need of the hour. Awareness of how to best manage the disease is instrumental in helping people understand the disease, adhere to treatment regimens, and seek preventive help. Small steps like these can make a big difference over a continued period, but we need to start today.”

Mr. John Dawber, Corporate Vice President, Novo Nordisk Global Business Services said, “Diabetes is a growing health challenge and timely diagnosis and management is key. With a sharp increase in the number of people with diabetes in India, it is crucial to focus on preventive lifestyle measures that can help delay the onset of diabetes, and optimal management of diabetes to prevent further complications. At Novo Nordisk, the quest to improve the lives of millions of people with diabetes by advancing treatment, driving prevention, and ultimately curing diabetes inspires our work today and for the next hundred years.”

Untreated diabetes can cause complications such as eye, nerve, kidney, and heart problems over time as chronically high blood sugar levels cause damage to the body’s tissues and organs4,5. It is advised to keep your sugar levels in control and talk to your doctor if you notice any early signs and symptoms of diabetes or related complications.