Eli Lilly expands India presence with inauguration of Hyderabad site

Hyderabad: Eli Lilly and Company (India) has announced the opening of its new technology and innovation site in Hyderabad; a new strategic hub for advanced digital and technology capabilities that will improve efficiency across Lilly’s global operations.

By focusing on areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), automation, cloud computing, and software product engineering, the site will contribute to solving some of the world’s most pressing health challenges while also creating growth opportunities for local talent.

Located in Gachibowli, Lilly’s Hyderabad site spans approximately 220,000 square feet across four floors within the Phoenix Equinox building. Lilly has already onboarded 100 professionals at the Hyderabad facility and plans to expand the headcount to 1,500 over the next few years.

The facility was officially inaugurated by Diogo Rau, Executive Vice President and Chief Information and Digital Officer of Eli Lilly and Company, alongside the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Telangana, Shri A. Revanth Reddy, and Shri D. Sridhar Babu, Hon’ble Minister for IT, Electronics & Communications, Industries & Commerce, and Legislative Affairs, Government of Telangana. Sanjay Kumar, IAS, Special Chief Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, was also present at the event.

Shri A. Revanth Reddy, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Telangana, said, “We are delighted to welcome Lilly to Hyderabad’s growing life sciences ecosystem. The inauguration of this new site further reinforces the city’s position as a global hub for healthcare innovation, built on scientific excellence, skilled talent, and international collaboration. The Government of Telangana remains committed to fostering an environment where pioneering companies like Lilly can thrive and deliver meaningful impact both in India and globally.”

Shri Sridhar Babu, Hon’ble Minister for Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, Industries & Commerce and Legislative Affairs, Telangana, added, “Hyderabad is rapidly emerging as a global epicentre for digital innovation, and Lilly’s new site inauguration is a strong validation of that momentum. This investment reflects the transformative impact of technology on healthcare. Telangana remains committed to enabling future-focused partnerships that drive economic growth and advance digital health solutions for the world.”

“The inauguration of our Hyderabad site reflects our long-term commitment to India and our intent to strengthen our presence in the region,” said Diogo Rau, Executive Vice President and Chief Information and Digital Officer, Eli Lilly and Company. “This expansion brings together top talent in AI, data science, and engineering to build the digital foundation that will accelerate the discovery and delivery of innovative medicines. Hyderabad offers the perfect blend of deep technical expertise and a spirit of collaboration, making it a natural partner in our mission to make life better for people around the world. The city’s legacy of innovation runs deep—from establishing one of India’s first medical schools in 1846 to being among the earliest regions to adopt railways in recognition of the power of connectivity. Today, we are proud to build on that history by creating an integrated ecosystem that unites medicine, engineering, and digital innovation to transform how healthcare is delivered.”

“Lilly’s Hyderabad site will integrate advanced technology capabilities across key functions, supporting accelerated innovation, enhanced efficiency, and improved health outcomes for patients globally,” the company stated.

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Vagus nerve stimulation paired with meditation increases self-compassion and mindfulness benefits

Stimulating the vagus nerve with a device attached to the outer ear can help make compassion meditation training more effective at boosting people’s capacity for self-kindness and mindfulness, finds a new study led by University College London (UCL) researchers.

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New molecular technology targets tumors and simultaneously silences two ‘undruggable’ cancer genes

University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers have developed a “two-in-one” molecule that can simultaneously turn off two notoriously difficult-to-target cancer-related genes, KRAS and MYC, as well as directly deliver drugs to tumors that express these genes. This advance holds special promise for treating cancers that have been historically challenging to treat.

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Flawed advice on drug safety is pushing women to stop breastfeeding, says new study

The evidence supporting the health benefits of breastfeeding is overwhelming, yet many women taking medicines are being advised to stop, often unnecessarily, according to a new study from the University of Bath.

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Phase III study supports use of canagliflozin for type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents

A Phase III, international, randomized clinical trial assessed the safety and efficacy of canagliflozin for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in children and adolescents.

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Study finds gaps in evidence for air-cleaning technologies designed to prevent respiratory infections

A new study led by researchers from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that although many technologies claim to clean indoor air and prevent the spread of viruses like COVID-19 and the flu, most have not been tested on people and their potential risks are not yet fully understood.

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Over 18,900 organ transplants in 2024, says JP Nadda

New Delhi: Over 18,900 organ transplants were performed in 2024 in India – the highest in a single year, said Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Saturday. 

He was speaking at the 15th Indian Organ Donation Day organised by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) under the aegis of the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health, at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, here, news agency IANS reported.

Nadda stated that the government is continuously streamlining organ donation and transplant so that more and more citizens can benefit from it.

Also Read:AIIMS, PGI Chandigarh faculty get support from Doctors’ associations for Rotatory Headship

“Since the launch of the Aadhar-based NOTTO online pledge website in 2023, more than 3.30 lakh citizens have pledged their organs to donate, marking a historic moment in public participation,” the health minister said.

Noting that surge in pledge registration reflects a growing awareness, Nadda said that “India achieved a remarkable milestone of performing over 18,900 organ transplants in 2024, the highest ever recorded in a single year”.

This is a significant leap from fewer than 5,000 transplants in 2013.

As a result, “India ranks third globally in the total number of organ transplants, behind only the US and China,” Nadda said.

Calling “organ donation one of the noblest acts of humanity”, he urged people to make the “most profound contribution for someone else.”

The Minister also highlighted the alarming rise in cases of organ failures, posing a serious threat to public health and increasing strain on the healthcare system.

“Every year, thousands of people wait for organ transplants. Despite the urgent need, there remains a significant gap between the number of patients waiting for transplants and the number of available donors.”

“This gap is not due to a lack of willingness but often due to a lack of awareness and hesitation rooted in the myths and misconceptions. That’s why today is an important day which gives us a platform to spread awareness, encourage conversation and honour the donors and their families,” Nadda said.

Underlining the government’s efforts for organ transplantation, the minister stated that “to make organ transplant more accessible, financial support of up to Rs 15 lakh is provided to poor patients for transplantation of kidneys, liver, heart and lungs under the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi”.

“Poor patients are provided support of up to Rs 10,000 per month after transplant to cover the medical expenses. Kidney transplant package has also been included in Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri- Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY),” Nadda added.

Also Read:Jharkhand to upgrade 6 District Hospitals into Medical Colleges

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Tirzepatide’s Effectiveness in HFpEF linked to Baseline BMI and Fat Distribution: SUMMIT Trial

A post hoc analysis of the SUMMIT trial, published in JACC, reveals that baseline body mass index (BMI) and fat distribution significantly affect the response to tirzepatide in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and obesity. Patients who lost 15% or more of their body weight experienced greater improvements in exercise capacity, blood pressure, and weight. These findings highlight the importance of baseline BMI in predicting clinical outcomes with tirzepatide therapy. The study was conducted by Barry A. and colleagues.

Obesity is a well-documented cause of HFpEF, an entity of heart failure in which cardiac pumping function is maintained but relaxation and filling are impaired. Conventional treatment has been in this subset of patients. Tirzepatide, a weekly injectable medication, engages both the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors and is effective in weight reduction and metabolic regulation. The SUMMIT trial tested its impact in 731 obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m²) and HFpEF patients categorized under NYHA class II-IV. The patients were randomized to tirzepatide (n=364) or placebo (n=367) for 52 weeks.

This secondary analysis examined whether baseline severity of obesity (BMI) or distribution of obesity (WHR) had an effect on endpoints like cardiovascular death or HF deterioration, quality of life (KCCQ-CSS), 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), C-reactive protein (CRP), and body weight (BW). Cox regression and mixed-effects models were employed. Investigators also assessed the relationship between the magnitude of weight reduction and waist circumference decrease with tirzepatide and improvements in the major endpoints.

Key Findings:

• Younger, female patients with higher BMI had more volume overload, inflammation, and physical restriction. In BMI tertiles, tirzepatide always decreases cardiovascular death or worsening of HF risk with no heterogeneity by BMI or WHR stratum.

More increase in 6-minute walk distance:

• Estimated treatment difference (ETD): 9.9 m (low BMI) vs 26.3 m (middle BMI) vs 37.5 m (high BMI); P = 0.025

Greater weight loss:

• ETD: −10.7% vs −11.8% vs −14.4%; P = 0.006

Greater decrease in systolic BP:

• ETD: −1.00 vs −6.65 vs −6.62 mm Hg; P = 0.035

Trend towards improved quality of life (KCCQ-CSS):

• P = 0.097

In HFpEF patients with obesity, tirzepatide decreased the risk of heart failure events and cardiovascular death independent of baseline BMI or WHR. Increased BMI and WHR were linked to younger age, female gender, increased inflammatory burden, renal dysfunction, and poorer exercise capacity. These results validate the utilization of tirzepatide as an efficacious therapeutic agent for enhancing HFpEF outcomes in obese patients.

Reference:

Borlaug, B. A., Zile, M. R., Kramer, C. M., Ye, W., Ou, Y., Hurt, K., Murakami, M., Packer, M., & SUMMIT Trial Study Group. (2025). Impact of body mass index, central adiposity, and weight loss on the benefits of tirzepatide in HFpEF: The SUMMIT trial. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 86(4), 242–255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2025.04.059

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A new diabetes subtype identified in Sub-Saharan Africa and Black Americans, study finds

An international team of researchers has made a key discovery: many children and young adults in Sub-Saharan Africa diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) may have a different form of the disease – one not caused by the immune system, unlike classic T1D. This discovery could change how diabetes is diagnosed, treated and managed across the region, paving the way for more accurate care and better outcomes.

The research was published today in Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology.

“This is the first study across several Sub-Saharan African countries to use the same lab tests and genetic tools to learn more about type 1 diabetes. We’ve done similar research in the U.S. with different groups, but what’s exciting here is being able to compare results between Africa and the U.S.,” said the paper’s co-author Dana Dabelea, MD, PhD, Distinguished Professor and Associate Dean of Research at the Colorado School of Public Health on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

The researchers enrolled 894 participants with youth-onset diabetes from three African countries: Cameroon, Uganda and South Africa. They compared findings from this population with similar studies done in the U.S. in the same age range.

“It’s a really unique and important opportunity to explore the heterogeneity of T1D across countries and racial groups living in vastly different environments,” adds Dabelea, who is also the director of the Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center at CU Anschutz.

The researchers found that many young people in Sub-Saharan Africa diagnosed with T1D often don’t have the usual markers in their blood (called islet autoantibodies) typically seen in people with T1D in other parts of the world. Specifically, 65% of participants with T1D in this region did not have islet autoantibodies.

Islet autoantibodies help distinguish T1D from other forms of diabetes, like type 2 or monogenic diabetes, which have different causes and treatments.

“This suggests that many young people in this region have a different form of T1D altogether and is not autoimmune in origin,” said Dabelea.

When the researchers compared this data to studies in the U.S., they found a smaller but significant proportion (15%) of Black participants diagnosed with T1D had a similar form of diabetes found in Sub-Saharan Africa – characterized by negative autoantibodies and a low T1D genetic risk score.

However, white Americans with T1D showed the typical autoimmune pattern, even if they didn’t have detectable autoantibodies, their genetics still pointed to autoimmune diabetes.

“The identification of this T1D diabetes subtype in Sub-Saharan African populations and among individuals of African ancestry in the U.S. suggests a potential ancestral or genetic link,” Dabelea notes. “These findings highlight the need to consider alternative etiologies in this group and a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms may provide important insights for future prevention and treatment strategies.”

Reference:

Katte, Jean Claude et al. Non-autoimmune, insulin-deficient diabetes in children and young adults in Africa: evidence from the Young-Onset Diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa (YODA) cross-sectional study, The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

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Consumption of Flavan-3-ol-Rich Foods may help Lower Blood Pressure: Study

According to a meta-analysis published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, foods rich in flavan-3-ols-such as cocoa, tea, and certain fruits-may help lower blood pressure. Flavan-3-ols, found in cocoa, tea, and certain fruits, show promise in improving blood pressure (BP) and vascular function, but are currently not used for cardiovascular prevention.

This meta-analysis evaluated the effects of flavan-3-ol-rich interventions on BP and endothelial function.PubMed was searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published 1946-03/2024 on BP and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) after flavan-3-ol-rich food, beverage, or supplement intake. Random-effects meta-analysis of 109 publications including 145 RCTs and 5,205 participants was performed.

Results: Flavan-3-ol interventions included epicatechin, epigallocatechin-gallate, cocoa products, tea, grape extract, and apples delivering 586 mg (95%CI 510,662) total flavan-3-ols. Interventions decreased office (-2.8 [95%CI -3.9, -1.7]/-2.0 [-2.6, -1.3] mmHg) and 24h-ambulatory BP (-3.7 [-5.8, -1.6]/-2.6 [-4.5, -0.8] mmHg) after chronic repetitive consumption. Effects were larger with elevated and hypertensive baseline BP or categorical hypertension (office: -5.9 [-10.0, -1.8]/-2.7 [-4.4, -1.0] mmHg, 24h-ABP: -6.8 [-16.3,2.8]/-5.1 [-12.5,2.2] mmHg).

Meta-regression analysis confirmed that the magnitude of BP lowering was inversely related to baseline BP, but not to proportion of participants with CVD, diabetes mellitus, and study duration across all studies, and was dose-dependently related to epicatechin dose only in cocoa studies. FMD increased after acute (+2.0% [1.6,2.3]) and repetitive (+1.7% [1.3,2.2]) consumption independent of BP. Reported adverse events were minor and low (0.4%). The considerable heterogeneity of effect sizes (I2>50%) between studies was not explained by the investigated factors limiting the strength of evidence to ‘moderate’. Flavan-3-ol-rich foods considerably reduce elevated BP and improve endothelial function independent of blood pressure supporting their use for cardiovascular prevention.

Reference:

Vasiliki Lagou, Arno Greyling, Mario Ferruzzi, Simon S Skene, Joy Dubost, Ayse Demirkan, Inga Prokopenko, Julie Shlisky, Ana Rodriguez-Mateos, Christian Heiss, Impact of flavan-3-ols on blood pressure and endothelial function in diverse populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials, European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 2025;, zwaf173, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjpc/zwaf173

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