Court rejects bail plea of doctor in Rs 35 crore online investment fraud

Noting that the investigation is still at an early and sensitive stage, a local court in Kangan has rejected the bail plea of a doctor along with three others accused in a large-scale online investment scam, in which they allegedly cheated several people out of Rs 35 crore by offering false promises of high returns.

The four accused allegedly benefited from the money taken from the victims, with each of them keeping portions of the defrauded amount in their bank accounts, as per the Kashmir News Trust investigation report.

For more information, click on the link below:

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CDSCO Panel Approves Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Protocol Amendment Proposal to study Abatacept

New Delhi: The Subject Expert Committee (SEC), functional under the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), has approved Dr Reddys Laboratories protocol amendment proposal of the clinical trial titled “A randomised, double-blind, multicenter study comparing the efficacy, safety and immunogenicity of proposed Abatacept biosimilar (DRL_AB) with Orencia administered by the intravenous route as an add-on to methotrexate in the treatment of patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis”,

This came after Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories presented protocol amendment Version 3.0 dated 02 Sep 2024, protocol no. AB-01-004.

Abatacept is a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) used in the management of rheumatic conditions, such as rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, and for the prophylaxis of acute graft-versus-host disease.

Abatacept is a selective costimulation modulator – like CTLA-4, the drug has been shown to inhibit T-cell (T lymphocyte) activation by binding to CD80 and CD86, thereby blocking interaction with CD28. Blockade of this interaction has been shown to inhibit the delivery of the second co-stimulatory signal required for optimal activation of T-cells. This results in the inhibition of autoimmune T-cell activation that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.

Abatacept is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA), which are autoimmune disorders and is also used to prevent acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD).

At the recent SEC meeting for Analgesic and Rheumatology held on 19th March 2025, the expert panel reviewed protocol amendment Version 3.0 dated 02 Sep 2024, protocol no. AB-01-004

After detailed deliberation, the committee recommended approval of the protocol amendment as presented by the firm.

Also Read: CDSCO panel grants clearance to Morepen Labs to conduct BE studies for fatty liver disease drug Resmetirom

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AIIMS Delhi pioneers India’s first TEM-Based diagnostic method for Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

Researchers at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi have achieved a major breakthrough in India’s diagnostic capabilities by developing a cutting-edge method to diagnose Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) – a rare and often misdiagnosed genetic disorder affecting the respiratory system – using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

According to Dr Subhash Chandra Yadav from the Electron Microscope Facility, Department of Anatomy, AIIMS Delhi, this method is the first of its kind in India.

For more information, click on the link below:

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CDSCO Panel Approves Novartis Healthcare’s Protocol Amendment to study Iptacopan

New Delhi: The Subject Expert Committee (SEC), functional under the Central Drug Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), has approved the protocol amendment proposal presented by Novartis Healthcare for Iptacopan (LNP023) study.

This came after the firm presented protocol amendment version 04 dated 30 Nov 2023, protocol no. CLNP023B12001B. This is an open-label, non-randomized extension study to evaluate the long-term efficacy, safety, and tolerability of iptacopan (LNP023) in C3 glomerulopathy or idiopathic immune-complex-membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis.

Glomerulopathy refers to any disease of the glomeruli, the tiny filters in the kidneys. Idiopathic immune-complex-membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN) is a specific type of glomerular disease where immune complexes and complement proteins are deposited in the kidney, potentially due to overactivation of the alternative complement pathway.

Iptacopan is a member of the class of indoles that is 1H-indole substituted by [(2S,4S)-2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4-ethoxypiperidin-1-yl]methyl, methoxy, and methyl groups at positions 4, 5, and 6, respectively. It is a potent inhibitor of complement factor B with potential immunomodulatory activity. It has a role as a complement factor B inhibitor and an immunomodulator.

Iptacopan is a small-molecule factor B inhibitor previously investigated as a potential treatment for the rare blood disease paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) by inhibiting the complement factor B. Factor B is a positive regulator of the alternative complement pathway, where it activates C3 convertase and subsequently C5 convertase.

At the recent SEC meeting for Renal held on 18th March 2024, the expert panel reviewed the protocol amendment version 04 dated 30 Nov 2023 protocol no. CLNP023B12001B.

After detailed deliberation, the committee recommended approval of the protocol amendment as presented by the firm.

Also Read: CDSCO panel rejects USV Pharmaceuticals’ proposal of CT study waiver for fenofibrate tablets in diabetic retinopathy

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NEET PG 2025: 2 petitions filed in SC demanding single-shift exam

Doctors’ demand for holding the upcoming National Eligibility-Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET-PG) examination in a single shift has now reached the Supreme Court.

The United Doctors’ Front (UDF) has filed a petition with the Supreme Court. In the plea, UDF, a registered medical association representing thousands of doctors and medical aspirants, has urged the Apex Court to issue directions to conduct the upcoming NEET PG 2025 exam in a single shift across the country.

For more information, click on the link below:

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Rajasthan govt set to revive Rajasthan Drugs and Pharma

Jaipur: The government of Rajasthan is set to revive Rajasthan Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited (RDPL), a Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) based in the state.  RDPL is jointly owned by the Central government, which holds a 51% equity stake, and the Rajasthan state government, which owns the remaining 49%.

The decision to revive RDPL was announced earlier in the budget, and the Department of Medical and Health has begun follow-up measures. As part of this effort, Neha Giri, Managing Director of Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation Limited (RMSCL), recently conducted an inspection of the RDPL.

During the inspection, Giri was accompanied by RDPL’s Special Officer and other officials of the corporation, as per UNI.

Read also: No prescription by company brand names: SC calls for statutory mandate for doctors to prescribe generic

She inspected the production area, quality control, storage facilities, main building, and campus of RDPL. She was informed that RDPL is located in an industrial area with approximately 10 acres of land under its possession.

Giri inspected the machines and equipment installed at the RDPL campus and assessed their functionality. She directed the RDPL representative to provide information about the company’s building, equipment, and all liabilities. She also sought information about the pending court cases related to RDPL and gave the necessary instructions.
The MD directed that a report be prepared on the 2016 fire incident at RDPL, as well as a compilation of information about the board of directors, currently employed staff, financial provisions, and all liabilities. She also inspected the water supply, electricity supply, biomedical waste, and designated storage areas within the RDPL campus.

Read also: GSK Pharma names Sukanya Choudhury as Regulatory Head, Growth Emerging Markets

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Health Bulletin 03/ May/ 2025

Here are the top health news for the day:

NEET PG 2025: 2 petitions filed in SC demanding single-shift exam

Doctors’ demand for holding the upcoming National Eligibility-Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET-PG) examination in a single shift has now reached the Supreme Court.

The United Doctors’ Front (UDF) has filed a petition with the Supreme Court. In the plea, UDF, a registered medical association representing thousands of doctors and medical aspirants, has urged the Apex Court to issue directions to conduct the upcoming NEET PG 2025 exam in a single shift across the country.

For more information, click on the link below:
AIIMS Delhi pioneers India’s first TEM-Based diagnostic method for Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

Researchers at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi have achieved a major breakthrough in India’s diagnostic capabilities by developing a cutting-edge method to diagnose Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) – a rare and often misdiagnosed genetic disorder affecting the respiratory system – using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

According to Dr Subhash Chandra Yadav from the Electron Microscope Facility, Department of Anatomy, AIIMS Delhi, this method is the first of its kind in India.

For more information, click on the link below:

Court rejects bail plea of doctor in Rs 35 crore online investment scam

Noting that the investigation is still at an early and sensitive stage, a local court in Kangan has rejected the bail plea of a doctor along with three others accused in a large-scale online investment scam, in which they allegedly cheated several people out of Rs 35 crore by offering false promises of high returns.

The four accused allegedly benefited from the money taken from the victims, with each of them keeping portions of the defrauded amount in their bank accounts, as per the Kashmir News Trust investigation report.

For more information, click on the link below:

SC backs direction to prescribe only generic medicines, suggests countrywide adoption

 While hearing a Public Interest Litigation that sought enforcement of a statutory code to regulate unethical marketing practices by pharma companies, the Supreme Court has recently observed that doctors across India should be directed to mandatorily prescribe only generic medicines to patients, instead of the brand names of medicines.

The top court bench orally remarked that if there was a statutory mandate for doctors to prescribe generic medicines, the issue of pharmaceutical companies allegedly bribing doctors to prescribe excessive or irrational drugs and push for high-cost, overpriced brands would be resolved, Live Law has reported.

For more information, click on the link below:

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NEET PG 2024 Transparency Plea: Supreme Court to Hear Matter on May 6

New Delhi: While the date for the National Eligibility-Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET-PG) examination 2025 is getting closer, there is still no clarity on the hearing of the plea seeking transparency in the NEET PG 2024 examination. After being filed in September 2024, the plea before the Supreme Court has been deferred time and again, and now, as per the Apex Court’s website, it is listed for further hearing on May 6, 2025.

Recently, scheduled for a hearing on April 22, the matter was deferred by the Supreme Court. The plea was filed by a group of NEET PG aspirants who alleged that there was a lack of transparency and adherence to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) by the National Board of Examinations (NBEMS), which conducted the NEET PG 2024 exam.

However, after being filed in September last year, the plea has been deferred multiple times by the Supreme Court. Initially, while considering the matter, the Supreme Court on September 20 had expressed displeasure over the last-minute changes in the exam pattern by NBE.

Terming it to be “unusual”, the Apex Court bench comprising CJI DY Chandrachud, Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra had issued notices to the NBE and the Union Government, asking them to file their counter within a week.

Also Read: NEET PG dilemma deepens as Supreme Court defers hearing again

However, during the hearing on September 30, the plea was postponed as no one appeared on behalf of the Central Government. On that day, CJI Chandrachud requested all the Additional Solicitor Generals (ASGs) to be present for the upcoming hearing on October 4, 2024.

Later, the plea once again got postponed on October 25 as NBE had pointed out before the top court bench that while they had filed a detailed response, the Union Government had not. Thereafter, the matter was deferred again on later dates. Recently, the hearing on March 25, 2025 got deferred due to the formation of a special Supreme Court bench in the second half of the day. Again, the hearing scheduled on April 8 was deferred.

Recently, the matter was scheduled to be heard as item number 34 on Tuesday i.e. April 22, 2025. However, it went unheard and was scheduled for a hearing on April 29, 2025. Now, as per the Supreme Court’s website, the matter is listed for further hearing on May 6, 2025.

Also Read: NEET PG Transparency Case: When is Next Supreme Court Hearing? Here’s What We Know

What are the petitioners demanding?

In their plea filed before the apex court, NEET-PG aspirants claimed that the introduction of two shifts, normalisation method, and change in the tie-breaker criterion just three days before the examination affected the students adversely.

The petitioners contended that the NEET-PG information bulletin could be amended at the whims and fancy of the authorities and no rules or regulations existed governing the conduct of examinations.

It challenged the National Board of Examinations (NBE) practice of not disclosing question papers, answer keys, or response sheets of candidates for the exam this year.

The plea said that there was a clear lack of transparency in the conduct of the examination since none of the documents allowed students to check their performance, adding that neither the question paper, nor the response sheet filled in by candidates, or an answer key was supplied to the students, and merely a scorecard had been provided.

The petition, filed by advocate Parul Shukla, highlighted that unlike previous years where the candidate used to receive their total score along with the number of correctly attempted questions and the number of incorrectly attempted questions, the results released on August 23 this year did not provide the total score of the candidate.

“The method/manner in which examination under the NEET PG 2024 is conducted by the respondents (authorities) is manifestly arbitrary and against the principles of transparency and fairness in state action as enshrined under Article 14 of the Constitution of India,” it added.

The plea said that NEET-PG had never been held in two shifts before and had always remained a single-shift and single-day examination to ensure a uniform examination standard and fairness of the national exam.

It highlighted a “serious patent defect in the conduct of the examination”, requiring redressal in order to achieve a clean, transparent and effective system of examination which gives the best candidates.

“The NEET-PG is a multidisciplinary exam where one’s rank also determines their ability to opt for the course and field of their choice. Any slight variation in marks would bar several candidates from specialising in their field of interest,” it added.

While the allegations and concerns regarding the NEET PG 2024 examination are yet to be addressed by the Supreme Court, the aspirants for NEET PG 2025 exam are now concerned over the exam pattern of the PG entrance examination, to be held on June 15, 2025.

Also Read: NEET PG 2024 Transparency Case Hearing listed for tomorrow

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NEET 2025: Bihar Police Warns of Fake Paper Leak Calls, Issues Cyber Fraud Alert

Patna: Ahead of the NEET UG 2025 examination scheduled for tomorrow, the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police has issued a stern advisory warning students and parents against falling for cyber frauds and misinformation related to leaked question papers. The unit cautioned that fraudsters are targeting aspirants with false promises of providing answer sheets or question papers in exchange for money, aiming to disrupt the integrity of the national medical entrance test.

The EOU highlighted that anti-social elements are actively spreading rumours through social media and making fraudulent calls to mislead candidates and parents. The public has been urged to remain vigilant and immediately report any suspicious offers or communications to the authorities.

According to a recent PTI  report, the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police has warned the public and aspirants against rumours and fraud calls by cyber fraudsters to aspirants and parents luring them to provide answer sheets ahead of the NEET UG. The EOU, on Friday, issued an advisory saying, “Public is advised not to fall prey to misinformation and fraud calls by cyber fraudsters luring them to provide answer sheets/question papers in the upcoming National Eligibility Entrance Test, Undergraduate (NEET UG)-2025 examination on May 4.” “There is an apprehension that anti-social elements or cyber fraudsters may try to break the integrity of the examination through rumours on social media platforms,” it said.

The advisory also said that people should immediately inform the police about any such misinformation.

Also Read:BEWARE! NEET 2025 paper Not Leaked, It’s a Scam- Cyber Crime Branch Issues Alert

“We advise people to avoid falling prey to such deceitful practices. Those found guilty of engaging in such activities will face severe consequences, including legal action. A criminal proceeding will be initiated against those who indulge in such activities,” it said.

The statement also said that if people receive any suspicious offers or requests from any individual/agency, the matter should be immediately brought to the notice of EOU.

The EOU last month arrested Sanjeev Kumar Singh alias Sanjeev Mukhiya, the alleged mastermind of the NEET UG-2024 paper leak case and also wanted in several other cases, from the state capital.

He was wanted in connection with his involvement in the paper leak case of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) Teacher Recruitment Exam (TRE-3) held in March 2024.

He was also wanted in the paper leak case of the NEET UG-2024, which is now being probed by the CBI.

According to officials, Mukhiya’s gang is spread across Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan.

The gang was also behind paper leaks in the Haryana veterinary doctor recruitment exam, the Haryana English teachers’ recruitment exam and some recruitment exams conducted in UP.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that amid rising concerns over cyber fraud, the Rajasthan Police issued a public alert to NEET UG 2025 aspirants and their families, warning them against scams related to alleged paper leaks. With the exam scheduled for May 4, fraudsters have intensified their attempts to deceive students by falsely claiming access to leaked question papers in exchange for large sums of money.

Also Read:NEET 2025: NTA launches portal to report suspicious claims, warns candidates

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Novo Nordisk application for oral Wegovy accepted by USFDA for weight loss

Plainsboro: Novo Nordisk has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted its New Drug Application (NDA) submission for an investigational once-daily, 25 mg oral formulation of Wegovy (semaglutide) for chronic weight management in adults living with obesity or overweight with one or more comorbid conditions and to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in adults with overweight or obesity and established cardiovascular disease.

“We are entering a new era of obesity care where patients want individualized treatment plans that address their needs and provide choices, including oral formulations,” said Anna Windle, PhD, Senior Vice President, Clinical Development, Medical & Regulatory Affairs at Novo Nordisk Inc. “Novo Nordisk’s strong legacy in obesity care and decades of scientific research and innovation have brought us to this moment. We are pleased that the FDA has accepted our submission and look forward to working with regulatory authorities on what would be the first oral GLP-1 treatment for obesity.”

The FDA application is based on results from OASIS 4, a 64-week phase 3 randomized, controlled trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of once-daily oral semaglutide 25 mg versus placebo in 307 adults with obesity (BMI >/= 30 kg/m2) or overweight (BMI >/= 27 kg/m2) with one or more comorbidities. Patients with diabetes were excluded.

OASIS 4 included a 64-week treatment period including a 12-week dose escalation, and a 7-week off-treatment follow-up period. In total, 307 participants were randomized 2:1 ratio to once-daily oral semaglutide 25 mg or placebo, as an adjunct to lifestyle intervention for 64 weeks.

The FDA action date to decide on the Wegovy oral formulation NDA will be in Q4 2025.

Wegovy (semaglutide) injection 2.4 mg is currently approved along with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity, for adults and children aged 12 years and older with obesity, or some adults with overweight who also have weight-related medical problems, to help them lose excess body weight and keep the weight off and to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as death, heart attack, or stroke in adults with known heart disease and either obesity or overweight.

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