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What is Accuracy and Precision in Pharmaceutical Analysis?

B. Pharm, S.P.E.R, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi Race With Dreams! © 2015-2016

Targeted Anti-Cancer agents (Short Review)

B. Pharm, S.P.E.R, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi Race With Dreams! © 2015-2016

Pharmacy e-Books

B. Pharm, S.P.E.R, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi Race With Dreams! © 2015-2016  For all pharmacy related books Click here: Link   h ttps://t.me/pharmacyebook  For any information you can contact us by emailing us. https://t.me/pharmacyebook

National Pharmacy Week 2018

Celebration of national Pharmacy Week at Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), New Delhi  Cheif guest: Deputy Drug Controller of India (Dr. Naresh)  Attended by all the faculty members, HoDs and Dean of School of Pharmaceutical Education And Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 

Wet Granulation Method for Tablet compression

B. Pharm, S.P.E.R, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi Race With Dreams! © 2015-2016

Motivation: A short review on concept of motivation in Pharmaceutical Industry

Motivation |   تحریک   Definition:  According to William G. Scott, motivation is a process of stimulating an individual to act, to accomplish desired goal. According to Mcfarland, Motivation refers to urges, drives, desires, strive, needs, etc. It is a type of process of compelling individuals to strive and struggle for attainment of company's goals. It is a type of emotion/ drive that operating upon ones' will and promoting him/her to act for the attainment of particular goal. Motivation convert dormant energy to active/ motive form. Motivation transform Human behavior and efforts. Characteristics of motivation: It is an internal feeling Person in total is involved, not in parts It is Goal Directed behavior. Importance of motivation: High performance levels can be achieved. Low employee turnover and absentees. Acceptance of organizational changes by employees. Why do we need motivation? To create an environment in which emplo...

Suffering from disease is less painful...

Readers you are now thinking what rubbish I am sharing, but hold on let me complete the title: Suffering from disease is less painful than suffering with the consequences of the disease! Yeah, nowadays I am suffering from high grade fever and chills and the pain of those distasteful medicines, the pain of that dysgeusia, and more importantly the pain of limited mobility! is somewhat more tearful for me than the disease itself.  As a pharmacist I myself can't resist to criticize the current dosage forms available for bedridden patients. Not just the dosage form but also the dosage regime, I used to remember to take all the medications on time round the clock. But still as a human it is not a easy task. Prevention is better than cure! 

Drug makers may have to pay 5 times more for pharma imports

NEW DELHI: Drug makers importing medicines may soon have to pay the government up to five times more to register their products here and get their overseas manufacturing facilities audited by the Indian regulator. The move aims to increase domestic manufacturing of medicines.    After a meeting between the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization and industry stakeholders in August, the ministry is once again mulling a hike in fees for several regulatory submissions for foreign drug makers, said two senior health ministry officials. A similar move was suggested in December 2015 as well.   “All stakeholders present agreed, in principle, to a hike in fees (as per the 2015 draft notification),” stated a document that ET has viewed.   “Members also stressed (the need) to revise fees periodically after three years, instead of 15 years. The proposal for amendment in rules is under process.” Revision of fees is necessary, as rates have not been updated for more tha...

Pharmaceutical Marketing

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Govt bans Saridon, 327 other combination drugs

The health ministry has banned the manufacture, sale and distribution of 328 fixed dose combinations (FDCs) of drugs with immediate effect and restricted another six. This brings to an end a protracted legal  battle between manufacturers of these combination drugs and the ministry, which has been working since 2016 to get these “irrational” and “unsafe” drugs banned. Among the roughly 6,000 brands estimated to be affected by the ban are popular drugs like the painkiller Saridon, the skin cream Panderm, combination diabetes drug Gluconorm PG, antibiotic Lupidiclox and antibacterial Taxim AZ. The government had banned 344 FDCs on March 10, 2016 and later added five more to this list. However, manufacturers of these drugs contested the ban in various high courts and the Supreme Court. The SC on December 15, 2017 asked for the matter to be examined by the Drugs Technical Advisory Board. DTAB concluded in its report that there was no therapeutic justification f...

New technique reveals how Zika virus interacts inside our cells

Discovery could enable development of new anti-viral therapies Date:September 10, 2018 Source:University of Cambridge Summary:Scientists have developed a new technique that can determine how viruses interact with a host's own RNA. As well as providing insight into how viruses direct the host cell to create new virus particles, this technique could allow researchers to design artificial molecules capable of blocking the virus replication process and preventing the virus spreading. RNA viruses are often considered to present the highest threat for triggering a worldwide pandemic. In the absence of effective and available vaccines or medicines, the diseases caused by RNA viruses such as Ebola virus, Zika virus and SARS coronavirus, exert a significant public health impact, while viruses attacking swine cause heavy losses to the pig farming industry. Meanwhile new RNA viruses continue to emerge, due to their rapid evolution. RNA viruses are so-called because they use RNA instead o...

Adrenocortical Hormones

Pfizer ends two Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug trials

Pfizer is shutting down two clinical studies assessing the anti-myostatin monoclonal antibody domagrozumab (PF-06252616) for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). A Phase II safety and efficacy study (B5161002) and an open-label extension study (B5161004) are being terminated, following a primary analysis of data. The Phase II study B5161002 - investigating the efficacy and safety of domagrozumab, administered in monthly IV doses, in 121 boys aged 6 to 15 with DMD, regardless of underlying mutation - failed to meet its primary efficacy endpoint of demonstrating a difference in the mean change from baseline in 4 Stair Climb (in seconds) following one year of treatment. “Further evaluation of the totality of evidence including secondary endpoints did not support a significant treatment effect,” Pfizer said, further stressing that the studies were not terminated for safety reasons. “We are disappointed by these results and while we are not progressing wi...

Effect of air pollution on brain activity

Presenting by: M. Mirza Riyaz Beig  Air pollution is dumbing us down, according to a study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Researchers found that exposure to toxic air could wield an average loss of one year's worth of education. The study, conducted in China, found that air pollution affects the cognitive performance of all age groups, though its effects were most pronounced for those over 64 years. Air pollution is responsible for 7 million deaths a year, according to The Guardian.

Going to celebrate 🎉 world pharmacist day

Pharmacy related quiz competition

Harvard study reveals healthiest way to consume carbohydrates

Presented by: M. Mirza Riyaz Beig  A Harvard study found eating a well balanced diet, which included carbohydrates in moderation, is the healthiest, the Daily Mail reported. In a study that included 15,400 people, researchers also found too much or too little of it can damage your health. Cutting out potatoes and pasta or consuming an excess amount won't do any good to your body and increase the risk of an early death. However, the key is eating it in moderation and incorporating vegetables, lentils and nuts to your diet. "We need to look really carefully at what are the healthy compounds in diets that provide protection," Dr Sara Seidelmann, a researcher of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, told the Daily Mail. Adding, "Low-carb diets that replace carbohydrates with protein or fat are gaining widespread popularity as a health and weight loss strategy. "However, our data suggests that animal-based low carbohydrate diets, which are prevalent in North Americ...

Diabetes drug may help treat fatty liver too

A medicine used commonly for diabetes treatment has shown positive result  when used to treat fatty liver for which there are few approved drugs at present. A study was conducted on 50 people suffering from diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). They were divided into two groups – one received standard treatment for diabetes while the other was given a drug called empagliflozin for 20 weeks in addition to the standard treatment. Dr Ambrish Mithal, one of the authors of the study, said they found significant reduction, around 4%, in liver fat among the second group of patients. “If someone had 10% fat in liver, it reduced to 6% with the administering of this drug in 20 weeks,” said Dr Mohammad Shafi Kuchay, another researcher. Both of them work at Medanta Medicity in Gurgaon. Dr Kuchay added that nearly 60% of all diabetics suffer from NAFLD, which can progress to steatohepatitis (NASH) and eventually to cirrhosis or even cancer in a...

Pharma companies bag 40% of US generics

MUMBAI: The  volume  share of Indian pharma companies in the US generic market has grown to nearly 40 per cent in August despite regulatory woes and pricing pressures. A steady increase in drug approvals and portfolio rationalisation by  MNCs resulted in India’s volume share rising by 5 per cent over the last few months, though value is still impacted due to price erosion. The US, the most lucrative generics market valued at around $60 billion, accounts for 40-60 per cent of revenues of most domestic companies — including Sun Pharma, Cipla, Lupin and Aurobindo — with an overall share of around $10 billion. Over the last couple of years, channel consolidation and deep pricing pressure has hit generic companies, leading to biggies like Teva, Mylan and Sandoz recently rationalising their portfolio. This has given ground for Indian companies to increase their hold in the US market and it can continue to rise as the portfolio rationalisation ...

Big discovery by scientists: Turmeric extract can be used to kill cancer cells, says study

Extracts of turmeric – a condiment commonly used in Indian cuisine – can be rendered soluble and delivered to tumours to kill cancer cells, scientists say. Turmeric is known for its therapeutic effect and as a way to kill germs present in raw meat. Recently, scientists have also discovered that curcumin, a naturally occurring substance isolated from turmeric, is an effective agent for killing cancer cells. “Until now, however, curcumin is what we call in pharmaceutical science as a ‘false lead’ – it is therapeutic, but the full effect can’t be utilised because it’s poorly soluble in water,” said Dipanjan Pan, an associate professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the US. “When you try to deliver a drug, it requires solubility in water, otherwise it won’t flow through the bloodstream,” said Santosh Misra, a post-doctoral researcher working with Pan. Researchers including those from the Universi...

Sun Pharma launches Kapspargo Sprinkle in US; drug can treat chest pain, high blood pressure

Sources: MoneyControl News By: M. Mirza Riyaz Beig  India’s largest drug maker Sun Pharma, has launched Kapspargo Sprinkle in the US. The drug is used in the treatment of chest pain, heart failure and high blood pressure. Kapspargo Sprinkle, approved by USFDA is a patented formulation of metoprolol succinate, the only extended-release sprinkle formulation of the beta1-selective adrenoreceptor blocking agent called beta-blocker. The metoprolol succinate extended release tablets have sales of around $600-700 million sales per annum in US. Kapspargo Sprinkle pellets can be sprinkled over soft food or administered via a nasogastric tube, and are designed to facilitate long-term, once-daily administration, particularly for patients who have difficulty in swallowing tablets. "Roughly 40 percent of patients requiring long-term care have difficulty swallowing, a problem that may result in patient non-adherence to medications as well as medication errors," said Abhay Gandhi, CEO-North...
Books recommended to a Pharmacy undergraduate student   By: M. Mirza Riyaz Beig 1. Pharmaceutics Remington Essentials of Pharmaceutics Ansel's Pharmaceutical dosage forms and drug delivery system Martin's Physical pharmacy and Pharmaceutical science  Physical Pharmacy FastTrack Hospital and Clinical Pharmacy by M. Aqil Ananthanarayan and Paniker's Textbook of Microbiology Hugo Russell Textbook of Microbiology Tutorial Pharmacy by Cooper and Gunn Pharmaceutical Compounding and dispensing FastTrack  Pharmaceutics- The Science of Dosage form by M.E. Aulton Harry's Cosmetology Forensic Pharmacy by C. K. Kokate Forensic Pharmacy by N. K. Jain N. K. Jain Dispensing Pharmacy Pharmaceutical Engineering by Subramanyam Libermann and Lachmann: Industrial Pharmacy 2. Pharmaceutical Chemistry  Vogel's Textbook of Quantitative chemical analysis Ashutosh Kar- Pharmaceutical Drug Analysis   Modern Analytical and inorganic Chemistry Physical C...

Novartis renews drug donation of Egaten® (triclabendazole) until 2022

Novartis reaffirms its commitment to the fight against liver fluke (fascioliasis), signing a renewed memorandum of understanding with the World Health Organization (WHO) to extend its drug donation for Egaten® (triclabendazole) until 2022. Egaten is currently the only treatment for fascioliasis recommended by the WHO and is on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines. This new four-year commitment (January 2019 to December 2022) includes the donation of 600,000 tablets of Egaten annually, expected to reach 300,000 patients per year. Since the start of the donation program in 2005, Novartis has donated approximately 4 million tablets of Egaten, valued at USD 41 million, helping to treat around 2 million people with fascioliasis in more than 30 countries worldwide. Fascioliasis, commonly known as liver fluke infestation, is a neglected tropical disease that currently affects an estimated 2.4 million people worldwide[1], with an additional 180 million at risk of infection[2]. It is...

India launches probe as China co recalls BP drug

India’s drug controller has initiated an investigation against all companies importing key raw material  valsartan for commonly used  for hypertension  drugs from Chinese manufacturer  Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals . This comes in the wake of recall of medicines containing valsartan in several developed countries recently, including the US, Germany and Italy after reports that an ingredient used in valsartin’s manufacturing by this particular company carries “potential cancer risk”. Both the importer and the Chinese manufacturer,  Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals, will be issued a show-cause notice soon. Valsartan medicines are used to treat patients with high blood pressure in order to reduce complications such as heart attack and stroke. Regulatory agencies, including US Food and Drug Administration and  European Medicines Agency , started a review of medicines containing the active substance valsartan. However, even as the review is underway, na...

Study Cell Phone Radiation Can Damage Eyes Cause Early Cataracts

By: M. Mirza Riyaz Beig The scientists, who have studied the impact of electromagnetic waves on human eye, say that cell phone usage can also lead to early cataract in lens apart from affecting retina, cornea and other ocular systems of the eye. While scientists across the globe are still debating whether cell phone radiation exposure results in brain tumors, a new study carried out by scientists at Charotar University of Science and Technology (CHARUSAT) has revealed that cell phones also affect eyes. “The wavelength of wireless signals (which is about 2 to 2.5 cm) used for cell phones and other wireless terminals matches with that received by the human eye. The dielectric constant (absorption capacity) of eye tissues is around 70 which is greater than unity (above 50). This means that the eye can absorb electromagnetic energy very quickly,” explains Dwivedi. These scientists have also recommended that a mobile handset should be kept as far as possible from the eye. “It should not be ...

Achillea micrantha Extract as antimicrobial agent

By Asma Naqi  The composition of detectable small organic compounds in the ethanol extract of Achillea micrantha was defined by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis. There were 71 low molecular weight organic compounds observed, two of which remained unidentified. The antibacterial activity of the extract was studied in respect to Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa using the agar diffusion test and serial dilutions to define minimum inhibitory concentration. In order to compare the antibacterial activity of the herb and blossom truss extract of A. micrantha, the extracts of A. millefolium and A. leptophylla was used. In relation to the microorganisms tested, a significant inhibitory effect was observed with the aqueous alcoholic extract of A. micrantha at the minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.05 µg/ml. About this plant:  https://www.gbif.org/species/3120277

Introduction to antibiotics

By M. Mirza Riyaz Beig  Link 🔗 to full document 

Toothpaste and hand wash are causing antibiotic resistance

Date: June 19, 2018 Source: University of Queensland By Asma Naqi  Summary: A common ingredient in toothpaste and hand wash could be contributing to antibiotic resistance, according to new research. The study focused on triclosan, a compound used in more than 2000 personal care products. A study led by Dr Jianhua Guo from UQ's Advanced Water Management Centre focused on triclosan, a compound used in more than 2000 personal care products. Dr Guo said while it was well-known the overuse and misuse of antibiotics could create 'superbugs', researchers were unaware that other chemicals could also induce antibiotic resistance until now. "Wastewater from residential areas has similar or even higher levels of antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes compared to hospitals, where you would expect greater antibiotic concentrations," he said. "We then wondered whether non-antibiotic, antimicrobial (NAAM) chemicals such as triclosan can directly induc...

PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIAL INTERNSHIP

   A video 🎦 related to Pharmaceutical industrial internships. Sharing a small but informative video showing our experiences and objectives about Pharmaceutical Industries when we were working as interns at Wings Biotech, Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, India. https://youtu.be/ xEUxPXjCdvE

Clinical and Hospital Pharmacy

After completing my Summer Internship in Clinical and Hospital Pharmacy at Shri Ram Singh Hospital and Heart Institute I would like to express the importance of Clinical Pharmacy in the hospitals. Clinical Pharmacy and its relation with Rational Therapeutics Rational use of drugs may be defined as "Patients receive medications appropriate to their clinical needs, in doses that meet their own individual requirements, for an adequate period of time, and the lowest cost to them and their community" (WHO 1985). Irrational prescribing and dispensing is a worldwide problem. There are reports that suggest that close to 75% of antibiotics are prescribed inappropriately even in teaching medical hospitals. One of the main reasons for antibiotic resistance is attributed to the irrational use of antibiotics. Thus, a policy on rational use of drugs should be an extremely important part of any National drug policy and it should aim at improving the overall health of the country...