Germany Merck sees return to organic earnings growth in 2024

Frankfurt: Merck KGaA forecast a return to modest operating earnings growth this year but only when adjusted for currency headwinds, citing a gradual recovery in demand for specialty materials used to make biotech drugs and semiconductors.

In a statement on Thursday, the German group said that 2024 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), adjusted for one-offs, would likely see “slight-to-moderate” currency-adjusted growth.
Foreign exchange effects are expected to drag earnings lower by between 1% and 4%, it added.
The Life Science division, which makes gear and substances for biotech labs, will see an “inflection point” during the first half of 2024, as drugmakers put in more orders again.
During the pandemic, makers of drugs and vaccines stocked up on Merck’s supplies such as filters and bioreactors, which were repurposed for other medical products after the pandemic.
Germany’s Merck also predicted a turning point early during the second half of 2024 for chemicals used in semiconductor manufacturing, where it is among the world’s largest suppliers.
It also reported 14.2% lower 2023 adjusted EBITDA at 5.9 billion euros ($6.43 billion), which translates into a currency-adjusted decline of 9%, in line with the average analyst estimate posted on the company’s website.
Merck’s pharmaceuticals unit said it suffered a major setback in December, when its experimental multiple sclerosis (MS) drug fell through in highly anticipated late-stage trials

Read also: Merck gets positive EMA Committee opinion for Keytruda, chemotherapy combo for Resectable non-small cell lung cancer

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Quack practising for 40 years arrested in Guwahati

Guwahati: As part of its ongoing investigation to crackdown quacks in Assam, a quack was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly cheating patients by practising without having a valid medical degree for the past 40 years.  

The quack allegedly duped patients for over four decades and reportedly practised in Assam and Bengal with a fake medical degree and came into the police radar after he started practising in Gynecology and Obstetrics at a private pharmacy in Lal Ganesh locality of Guwahati for two years.  

The accused was treating patients at the private pharmacy operated by him after his retirement in 2005. Upon verification, it was found that the accused used the registration number of a legitimate doctor, Surendra Narayan from West Bengal, to treat patients and present himself as a qualified medical professional. 

Also read- After 17 Years Practice, Quack Arrested In Guwahati

After illegally obtaining a doctor’s medical license, the accused began his fake practices in 1983 and continued for decades deceiving hundreds of people. 

However, concerns were raised about the accused illicit actions when residents and local doctors discovered spelling mistakes and technical errors in documents that had his signature, leading to doubt about his qualifications.  

These illicit actions prompted a city-based doctor, Abhijit Neog who has aided in the exposure of 32 alleged “fraudulent” doctors including the accused since 2016 to investigate further the matter leading to the arrest of the accused. 

During the investigation of the case, the police discovered that the accused acquired a diploma from the Guwahati-based School of General Medical Practice in 1977, an institution not recognised by any statutory body. Moreover, he failed to produce a Diploma in Gynecology and Obstetrics (DGO) as mentioned on his letterhead at the pharmacy.

As per The Telegraph news report, the accused deceived the patients and his family members who had known him all along as a doctor.

Subsequently, a case was registered against the quack based on Neog’s complaint. The accused was remanded to 14 days in judicial custody on Wednesday after Neog submitted significant evidence at the Guwahati court.

Meanwhile, the police have sealed the pharmacy and an investigation is underway to identify any further illegal medical activities performed by the accused. 

Also read- Quack With Forged German Degree Held From Odisha’s Ganjam

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USFDA gives nod for commercial production at Zydus Ahmedabad API unit

Ahmedabad: Pharma major Zydus Lifesciences has announced that the company has received Post Application Action Letter from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for
the inspection conducted at the Ahmedabad API facility, confirming that
the inspected facility has been considered as ready to commercially manufacture and supply the API.


This facility underwent for-cause cGMP surveillance and Pre-Approval Inspection for manufacturing of
drug substances Enzylutamide from 14th to 22nd Dec 2023.

Enzalutamide is used for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Read also: USFDA issues 6 observations for Zydus Lifesciences Ahmedabad facility

Formerly known as Cadila Healthcare Limited, Zydus Lifesciences Limited is an Indian multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Ahmedabad. The company is primarily engaged in the production of generic drugs. Cadila was founded in 1952 by Ramanbhai Patel.

Read also: Zydus Lifesciences bags WHO prequalification nod for Miltefosine formulation, API to treat Leishmaniasis

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Health Bulletin 07/ March/ 2024

Here are the top health news for the day:

Open school students eligible for MBBS entrance exam

Now all the candidates who have passed their 10+2 exam from open schools will be eligible to appear in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) as the Supreme Court has recently observed that all the open schools recognized by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the State Education Board shall now be recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC) for the entrance test for admission to undergraduate medical courses.

Previously, such candidates were barred from appearing in NEET exam under Regulation 4(2)(a) of the Medical Council of India Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, 1997.

For more information click on the link below:

Now Open School Students Eligible For MBBS Entrance Exam- Open Schools Recognized By CBSE And State Education Boards Shall Be Recognized By NMC For NEET: SC


Ganesh Baraiya: Gujarat’s 3-feet tall medico triumphs against MCI odds for MBBS degree

When Ganesh Baraiya wanted to take admission to medical college, the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI) now National Medical Commission (NMC) did not believe that he was capable of becoming a doctor, because he is all of three-feet tall.

But he did not let the MCI rejection trip him up, and today he is `Dr’ Baraiya, an MBBS intern.

For more information click on the link below:

Journey Of Determination And Resilience! Ganesh Baraiya, 3-Feet Tall Doctor From Gujarat Defies All Odds To Earn His MBBS Degree Despite MCI Rejection

Lancet study warns about “overmedicalisation” of menopause

A new approach to menopause that better prepares and supports women during midlife is needed – going beyond medical treatments, to empower women using high-quality information on symptoms and treatments, empathic clinical care and workplace adjustments as required, says a new four paper Series published in The Lancet.
Series co-author, Professor Martha Hickey, University of Melbourne and Royal Women’s Hospital (Melbourne), says “The misconception of menopause as always being a medical issue which consistently heralds a decline in physical and mental health should be challenged across the whole of society. Many women live rewarding lives during and after menopause, contributing to work, family life and the wider society. Changing the narrative to view menopause as part of healthy ageing may better empower women to navigate this life stage and reduce fear and trepidation amongst those who have yet to experience it.”
Reference: Prof Martha Hickey, Prof Andrea Z LaCroix, Jennifer Doust, Prof Gita D Mishra, An empowerment model for managing menopause, the Lancet, DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)02799-X

Man vaccinated for Covid 217 times reports no side effects

Who hasn’t felt a twinge of apprehension before getting their COVID-19 vaccine? The fear of needles or the worry about potential side effects is something many of us can relate to. But imagine a man who not only overcame these fears but went on to get vaccinated a staggering 217 times. In a surprising discovery, researchers found that a 62-year-old German man willingly got 217 doses of different COVID-19 vaccines. Despite concerns about too many vaccines, he didn’t experience any reported side effects.

Initially, people thought he was collecting vaccine cards for bad reasons, but later investigations showed he genuinely got all those shots over 29 months.

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2nd year PG medical student beaten up by patient, kin at Vellore Medical College; Suffers neck injury

Vellore: In a shocking incident, a second-year post-graduate medical student at the Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH) Vellore recently became the victim of alleged physical assault by a patient and her male companion.

The doctor was physically assaulted after he raised concerns about the presence of male visitors in the women’s ward. The Vellore Taluk police have arrested the accused woman and her companion in response to the doctor’s complaint.

A video of the incident circulating on social media shows a 36-year-old woman and her companion assaulting the doctor who is a second-year post-graduate medical student. The footage also captures the patient resorting to using her slippers to hit the doctor.

The alleged assault resulted in the doctor suffering neck injuries and receiving treatment at the hospital.

The attack occurred after a fight broke out between the duo and the doctor when the male friend of the patient was asked to not sit on the bed and leave immediately since it was a women’s ward.

Also read- Viral Video Shows Saline Bottles Hanging On Ropes Outside Hospital, Over 300 Patients Getting Treatment On Road

Based on the doctor’s complaint, the Vellore Taluk police on Monday arrested the woman and her companion under The Tamil Nadu Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property) Act, 2008, and sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

According to the police, the female patient was admitted to the hospital for a urinary tract infection, a week ago. She was getting treatment at the women’s ward in the first block of the hospital.

As per The Hindu news report, the patient’s companion visited her in the ward on Monday evening. When the on-duty doctor was doing rounds at the hospital’s ward, he claimed to have witnessed the man lying on the patient’s bed. 

Following this, the doctor asked where the patient was and the man said that she had gone to the restroom. Subsequently, the doctor objected to the presence of male visitors in the women’s ward and asked him to leave the ward immediately. This led to a disagreement between the doctor and the man. 

Shortly after, the patient joined in and engaged in a verbal altercation with the doctor. Subsequently, the video footage revealed the patient and her visitor physically assaulting the doctor by slapping him and striking him with slippers.

The video also showed hospital staff intervening in the altercation and ending the fight by separating both parties. Later, the police reached the spot after receiving information from the hospital authorities and took note of the situation. 

Meanwhile, the hospital authorities confirmed that “According to hospital rules, male visitors were not allowed inside the women’s ward.”

Also read- MP Doctor Angrily Snaps At Home Guard, Video Goes Viral

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Chalk powder instead of medicines: Telangana drug controller issues alert against drugs by Meg Lifesciences

Telangana: In a significant move to curb the menace of falsified drugs, the Drugs Control Administration, Telangana, has issued a Spurious Drug Alert and Stop Use Notice for all
drugs claiming to be manufactured by ‘Meg Lifesciences.’

Telangana Drug Control Administration has become aware that certain drugs claimed on the label as manufactured by ‘Meg Lifesciences, Khasara No. 47/5, Palli Gaon, Distt. Sirmour, 173 001’ are being circulated in the market after the recent raid conducted by the administration. Stocks worth Rs. 33.35 lakhs seized in the raid claimed to be manufactured by Meg Lifesciences. Cases have been registered against several offenders involved in this spurious drugs racket.

These drugs have been found to be falsified medicines, manufactured by anti-social elements, containing no active ingredient (‘Nil’ medicine). They have been found to contain chalk powder and starch, posing significant health risks to consumers. 

Certain Spurious Drugs claimed on the label as manufactured by Meg Lifesciences (Fictitious/Non-existent Company) seized by DCA, Telangana are MPOD-200 Tablets (Cefpodoxime Proxetil and Lactic Acid Bacillus tablets), MEXCLAV 625 Tablets (Amoxicillin & Potassium Clavulanate Lactic Acid Bacillus tablets), Cefoxim-CV Tablets (Cefpodoxime Proxetil & Potassium Clavulanate Lactic Acid Bacillus tablets).

“Consumers and healthcare professionals are informed to STOP USE immediately – to discontinue the use of any drugs claiming to be manufactured by ‘Meg Lifesciences.’ Retailers and wholesalers are directed to STOP the sale and distribution of any drugs bearing the label of ‘Meg Lifesciences,’ and to inform the area Drugs Inspector immediately,” Telangana DCA said in a press note.

Upon further investigation, it has been confirmed that ‘Meg Lifesciences’ is a fictitious/non-existent company.

Given the scenario, the Telangana DCA further urged the public to remain vigilant and report any information regarding the distribution or sale of drugs from this purported manufacturer, ‘Meg Lifesciences. It provided a toll free number 1800- 599-6969,  operational from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm on all working days, which can be used to report about the spurious drug.

For more details, check out the press note on:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/press-releasespurious-drug-alertstop-use-noticemeg-lifesciences-1-233839.pdf

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Rare inflammatory disease responds best to double inhibition, shows study

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare and often aggressive syndrome of hyperactive inflammation with up to a 40% mortality rate. Scientists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have shown that a drug inhibiting two major inflammatory signaling proteins works better than drugs inhibiting either protein alone in models of HLH. The drug ruxolitinib, which inhibits both inflammation-related signaling proteins Janus Kinase 1 (JAK1) and JAK2, was superior to other drugs tested, which inhibited only JAK1 or JAK2.

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Airflow dynamics are as important as the volume of air flow in dispersing pathogens, study finds

If you’ve ever wondered why some folks never catch the office or school cold, where they’re sitting might be keeping them from the path of pathogens, according to new UBC Okanagan research.

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Pilot study confirms feasibility, acceptability of bowel symptom intervention studies

In a pilot study, a telephone-based dietary intervention designed to improve bowel function was shown to be widely acceptable to participants who had had surgery for rectal cancer. The intervention did not significantly improve overall bowel function in these participants, but it did provide some benefit, and the pilot demonstrated that it is feasible to conduct large studies of such approaches.

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Study reveals unexpected literacy in autistic people who cannot speak

About one-third of autistic people are unable to communicate using speech, and most are never provided an effective alternative. However, a new study from scientists at the University of Virginia suggests that many of these individuals are literate, raising the possibility that they could learn to express themselves through writing.

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