Thursday, July 31, 2014

Editorial



Editorial

Practicing pharmacists of Alshifa are always in the forefront of rendering service to downtrodden people of  the society and has been continuing the service to the community meticulously right from the beginning. Joining them are our PharmD/M.Pharm students who were actively involved  in various community services through out the first half of 2014  which includes  one month mass drug administration program for filariasis, one day glaucoma awareness program conducted at Alshifa hospital, followed by street drama and awareness campaign at prominent locations of Perinthalmanna locality on March 24th as part of world TB Day.

In the beginning of 2014, Pharmacy Practice department organized a social service program to help the poor section of the society and as part of the program, Team Alshifa visited Vettilakkolli Adivasi hamlet, joined by many of our enthusiastic students to donate food and clothes to those in need. Being health care professionals, our team made sure to bring in awareness and provide a counseling session to the local villager’s about the ill effects of alcohol, tobacco etc and advised the locals to enroll their kids in Anganvaadis ( preliminary schools) to encourage education.

We believe in holistic approach of moulding our students where each student finds their identity, meaning and purpose in life through connections to the community and nature. By participating in such social activities soft survival skills like, leadership qualities, Compassion, Social adaptability, Commitment and  above all, humanitarian values gets instilled among the growing individuals, thereby guiding them towards becoming a thorough professional as well as a good humanitarian.

 To stimulate the awareness of world environment day, an interesting talk was organized titled ‘Birds around us’ followed by planting 1000 trees across the Alshifa campus. Experiences gained by the students and faculty through the community services and training programs have been highlighted in this issue of the newsletter. Department conducted a 2 day hands on training session in clinical skills for Pharm.D students. The newsletter includes regular columns by Dr Mohanta, Professor, Dept of Pharmacy, Annamalai University. T.N  Mr Linu Mohan, Asst Professor,Alshifa college of pharmacy and Mrs Shinu. Asst Professor,Alshifa college of pharmacy. Our column drug update, which was sidelined for about a year has been brought back in this issue. titled ‘Tides of Indian Pharma’


Dr Ekbal has written a very special article  titled ‘Clinical Drug Trials and Contract Research:  Need for Monitoring System’

Dr Ekbal,  is a well known doctor by profession. He is always in the forefront by making hue and cry against medical atrocities. Clinical trials in India is often a nightmare and has been carried out without following any medical ethics. Dr Ekbal has cautioned general public about  such malpractices through his writeup .
 I profusely thank Dr Ekbal who has put his heart and soul in framing this thought provoking article. As goes the saying, a pen is mightier than sword  I hope this article will be an eye-opener to government authorities to take action against malpractices and medical atrocities happening everywhere.

Touching the life of needy will ultimately lead to the progress of a Nation. A better society and better living conditions can be shaped, if every individual start taking such social initiatives. For   the betterment of the community we live in, a health care Pharmacist has a greater role to play.  With our subject knowledge base, relentless efforts  and perseverance towards the goal, we hope we can bring in a difference in the society we are a part of. One should feel the pulse of pharmacist in every sphere of his life.. hope the day is not so far ..

Dilip.Chandrasekhar
Editor in chief.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

TIDES IN INDIAN PHARMA




TIDES IN INDIAN PHARMA
By Levin Thomas



SUN PHARMA SET TO BUY RANBAXY LABORATARIES

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries has agreed to buy generic drug maker Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. for $ 3.2 billion from its current Japanese owner Daiichi Sankyo.  The all stock transaction, historically the largest domestic deal by size in the Indian pharmaceutical sector will create the world’s fifth largest maker of generic drugs. The deal is expected to close by the end of this year. Post the completion of transaction, it will run as a single company. The deal comes against the backdrop of a slew of sanctions against Ranbaxy by US FDA due to concerns about manufacturing processes at its Indian plants. Sun Pharma’s strong sales base in the US, along with its supply chain management that has been strong enough to meet FDA standards in most cases and a good record in managing troubled acquisitions, made the company an attractive buyer for Daiichi Sankyo. Under terms of agreed deal, Ranbaxy share holders will get 0.8 Sun Pharma shares for each Ranbaxy share they own.

“Shan5”: READY FOR MARKETING
The pediatric pentavalent vaccine “Shan5” of Sanofi Pasteur, developed and manufactured by its affiliate Shantha Biotechnics, has received prequalification status from WHO and approval from DCGI to market the vaccine in India. The combination vaccine offers protection to children from diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hib and hepatitis B. The three dose vaccine can be given starting from 6 weeks with a gap of 4 weeks up to 14 weeks of age. 


Sl No.

Drugs

Indication
1

Azacitidine 100mg/vial (Injection)
Treatment of adult patients with subtypes of Myelodysplastic Syndrome

2
Tulobuterol 0.5mg/1.0mg/2.0mg (Transdermal Patch)
Treatment of adult patients with Asthma & COPD
3

Pegaspargase 3750 IU/5ml (Injection)
Treatment of patients with Acute lymphoblastic leukemia who are hypersensitive to Asparaginase
4
Tolterodine tartrate 2mg/4mg (Extended release tablets)
Treatment of Overactive bladder

5

Bortezomib 3.5mg (Sub-cutaneous)
Treatment of Multiple Myeloma
6
Paclitaxel 100mg/300mg (Injection concentrate for nanodispersion)
Treatment of Breast cancer

7
Heparin sodium 1000IU/ml (Topical solution)
Management of post infusion superficial thrombophlebitis