Sohini Das

Stories by Sohini Das

Why Dr Reddy's had to shut all its units

Why Dr Reddy's had to shut all its units

Rediff.com   25 Oct 2020

Security breach came days after the firm got approval to conduct trials for Covid-19 vaccine candidate Sputnik V.

Covid-19 impact: Low interest loans likely for vaccine companies

Covid-19 impact: Low interest loans likely for vaccine companies

Rediff.com   10 Oct 2020

While there has been no commitment from the government on the procurement of vaccines, initial volumes, or distribution plans, there is a likelihood that the low interest loans may be made available to these players only when the time to scale up manufacturing arises.

Covaxin: How Bharat Biotech plans to boost immunity

Covaxin: How Bharat Biotech plans to boost immunity

Rediff.com   6 Oct 2020

Adjuvants may be added to a vaccine to produce more antibodies and longer lasting immunity thus minimising the dose of antigen needed.

Covid vaccine: Pharma firms ready expansion plans

Covid vaccine: Pharma firms ready expansion plans

Rediff.com   6 Oct 2020

The Indian vaccine industry largely feels there are two ways in which vaccine innovation can be spurred - one, get a high price for the product and two, have the government buy a few hundred million doses of the product at a certain price.

How India is gearing up to distribute Covid-19 vaccine

How India is gearing up to distribute Covid-19 vaccine

Rediff.com   18 Sep 2020

A model being considered is to have a combined cold chain approach - where the agricultural cold chain would be combined with vaccine cold chains.

Labs bet on Covid tests for next growth phase

Labs bet on Covid tests for next growth phase

Rediff.com   14 Sep 2020

The bouquet of Covid-19 tests that most diagnostic labs are offering include antibody tests (blood tests), rapid antigen tests (point of care tests that detect the presence of an antigen from a nasal or throat swab in case of SARS-CoV-2), and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests.

India will wait for DCGI nod to restart Oxford vaccine trial

India will wait for DCGI nod to restart Oxford vaccine trial

Rediff.com   11 Sep 2020

The global trials were halted after a study participant suffered a 'potentially unexplained illness, reports Sohini Das.

In the works: Priority list of who will get Covid vaccine first

In the works: Priority list of who will get Covid vaccine first

Rediff.com   4 Sep 2020

The Centre has also contacted five domestic and three multinational vaccine makers to understand how soon a candidate vaccine against Covid-19 will be ready.

Indian pharma firms working on new repurposed drug for Covid-19

Indian pharma firms working on new repurposed drug for Covid-19

Rediff.com   2 Sep 2020

Many companies globally are working on plasma research to develop and manufacture hyperimmune globulin therapies from plasma donations.

How India's healthcare system will change forever

How India's healthcare system will change forever

Rediff.com   27 Aug 2020

The National Digital Health Mission seeks to provide a unique health ID to each citizen who wishes to have one and also on-board the healthcare service provides - hospitals, pharmacies and diagnostic labs, among others. It will have an online database of doctors and personal health records.

'Cipla has emerged as a great catchment area for talent'

'Cipla has emerged as a great "catchment area" for talent'

Rediff.com   20 Aug 2020

An insider said that over the past decade or so Cipla has become immune to the exits of leaders. There have been no directional change in the long-term strategies.

Serum Institute to start phase-2 trials of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine

Serum Institute to start phase-2 trials of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine

Rediff.com   19 Aug 2020

The institute expects to complete both, phase-2 and 3 trials in India by the end of this year.

Covid drug sales shine even as market slows

Covid drug sales shine even as market slows

Rediff.com   18 Aug 2020

Fabiflu sales have grown by 62 per cent in July. It was launched in June. This drug is being used by doctors for mild-to-moderate Covid patients even if they are in home isolation.

Fortis to re-brand itself as Parkway

Fortis to re-brand itself as Parkway

Rediff.com   15 Aug 2020

The company said this was 'important' to reinforce the 'complete disassociation' from its erstwhile promoters -- Malvinder and Shivinder Singh.

How govt plans to distribute Covid-19 vaccine

How govt plans to distribute Covid-19 vaccine

Rediff.com   13 Aug 2020

The procurement and distribution will be centralised though the government is yet to take a call on the initial number of doses that will be procured.

After showing signs of recovery, pharma sales dip in July

After showing signs of recovery, pharma sales dip in July

Rediff.com   11 Aug 2020

Growth has been under pressure since the lockdowns related to Covid-19 started and fresh prescription generations slowed.

Serum Institute to provide Covid vaccine at Rs 250 a dose

Serum Institute to provide Covid vaccine at Rs 250 a dose

Rediff.com   8 Aug 2020

Serum Institute of India plans to make 300 million doses of AZD1222 by December, and will begin phase-2 trials soon. It has also tied up with Novavax for development and commercialisation of its candidate.

Meet Adar Poonawala, India's COVID-19 vaccine man

Meet Adar Poonawala, India's COVID-19 vaccine man

Rediff.com   6 Aug 2020

Serum Institute is investing $200 million to create capacities for the COVID-19 vaccine. Sohini Das profiles its 39-year-old CEO.

At Rs 35 a pill, Sun Pharma's FluGuard is the cheapest favipiravir drug

At Rs 35 a pill, Sun Pharma's FluGuard is the cheapest favipiravir drug

Rediff.com   5 Aug 2020

Favipiravir is the only oral anti-viral treatment approved in India for potential treatment of patients with mild to moderate Covid-19 disease.

Dr Reddy's to launch Covid drugs remdesivir and favipiravir in August

Dr Reddy's to launch Covid drugs remdesivir and favipiravir in August

Rediff.com   30 Jul 2020

Apart from favipiravir and remdesivir, its key Covid-19 products, DRL has already launched nutraceutical products and hand sanitisers during the pandemic.