PharmIndia Newsletter Issue 9

lucky_pharmacist's picture
Author: 
lucky_pharmacist
Monday, September 29, 2008 - 17:32

PharmIndia Newsletter Issue 9

Ancient Ayurveda has suggested many methods for analyzing the various herbs, but at that time herbs were used in their original form to powder, pills or juice of fresh herbs or distillate of herbs. All the suggestions and methods for identifying a particular herb were physical and taste based. Now, since a lot of work has been done, chemical tests are available for identification of true herbs and quantity of active constituents.

Good manufacturing practices should be applied with a neat, clean and sanitary environment. All the requirements regarding purity, quality and efficacy should be totally complied with and given top.

Standardization is a hotly debated subject in the Ayurvedic drug industry today. Tremendous work is going on in herbal drug standardization. But it is not an easy task as preparations described under diverse systems of herbal medicine have their own concepts. A system called Panchendriya Parikshan (test for the 5 essential qualities) for ensuring that only the highest quality raw materials enter the production process can be used.

For screening the preparation of drugs several parameters are to be followed. In the final Ayurvedic medication the following can be ensured:

The Substance (Dravya)

The Taste (Rasa)

The Property (Guna)

The Potency (Virya)

The Post-digestion effect (Vipaka)

The Therapeutics (Prabhva)

The Pharmacological activity (Karma)

Hundreds of traditional products are manufactured in accordance with the principles of Ayurveda as laid down in the ancient scriptures and also based on knowledge acquired through research. The institution enjoys wide reputation for the quality of its products. The Quality Control and Research and Development wing should ensure that standard raw materials are used, accuracy is maintained at various stages of production and the final products are superior.

With this message comes this weeks newsletter hope you get the recent information from it.

News

Actis Biologics completes two acquisitions in US

Actis Biologics has acquired patented technology platform for effective treatment of hepatic cancer, from CellPoint Diagnostics, USA, which is based on ligand linker drug delivery [LLD] system, and can tremendously reduce the toxicity of chemotherapeutic agents. Details

India to see $2.5 bn pharma outsourcing by 2012: Zinnov study

A new report says western drug manufacturers will outsource $2.5 billion worth of R&D work to India by 2012. India gains as western companies cut costs, said a new study by Bangalore-based consulting company Zinnov. Details

Orchid, Merck to jointly develop anti-infective drugs

Chennai-India based Orchid Chemicals and pharmaceuticals limited and MSD Pharmaceuticals, Merck’s subsidiary in India have established a strategic research collaboration and license agreement. This agreement will focus on the discovery, development and commercialization of agents for the treatment of bacterial and fungal infections. Details

Double whammy for Ranbaxy

Ranbaxy’s woes don’t seem to be ending. The US Food and Drug Administration has ended purchasing Ranbaxy’s AIDS drugs made in Ranbaxy’s India facilities which the FDA says are ineligible to make drugs. Details

A New Computer-Modelling Tool to Improve Psoriasis Management and Treatment Outcomes

At the 17th EADV Conference in Paris, LEO Pharma has unveiled a new weapon in its long-running campaign to improve psoriasis management and treatment outcomes. Details

AARP Drug Price Survey Overlooks Critical Factors, Says Biotechnology Industry Organization

The AARP survey centers on a subset of drugs available to Medicare beneficiaries and does not take into account the discounts, rebates and other negotiated prices that evidence suggests are passed on to Medicare beneficiaries in the form of lower premiums, copayments and deductibles in the Medicare Part D program, resulting in a decrease in the overall cost of that program. Details

NICE approves Pradaxa(R) (Dabigatran Etexilate) as first new oral anticoagulant

National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) appraised Pradaxa® (dabigatran etexilate) as a treatment option for the prevention of venous thrombembolic (VTE) events in adults who have undergone elective total hip or total knee replacement surgery. VTE is among the most fatal blood clotting diseases in UK and includes deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Details

Upcoming Events

4th Modern Drug Discovery and Development Summit

October 15-17, 2008 in San Diego, California.

For further information and registration, please visit:

http://gtcbio.com/conferenceDetails.aspx?id=110

Patient Recruitment and Retention in Clinical Trials

28th & 29th October 2008, Hyatt Regency at Penn's Landing, Philadelphia, PA

For further information and registration please visit:

http://www.jacobfleming.com/conferences/life-science/patient-recruitment

BioQatar Symposium 2008 - Translating Clinical Research into Business Ventures

17-18 November 2008, Sharq Village & Spa, Doha, Qatar

For further information and registration, please visit:

http://www.bioqatar2008.com

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Comments

eswar's picture

eswar

Wed, 10/01/2008 - 23:55

Dear Lucky,
Standardization is really like a heart of ayurvedic... and it is a challenge to the researcher...
eswar :-)

Regards

ESWAR :-)

lucky_pharmacist's picture

lucky_pharmacist

Thu, 10/02/2008 - 05:01

Dear Eswar, It is the real challenge because if we have a standard system, we can counter attack on those claims which say that the traditional medicines are toxic or conatin higher amount of toxic substances.

guptashubhranshu's picture

guptashubhranshu

Thu, 10/02/2008 - 05:38

Dear Lucky, nice blog...After reading one of the previous blogs on contamination of ayurvedic products with lead , arsenic etc. , it has really become important to look deeply into the standardization aspects....Great going!

lucky_pharmacist's picture

lucky_pharmacist

Thu, 10/02/2008 - 06:18

Dear Shubhranshu, rightly said, & not only ayurvedic but all traditional medicines & even allopathic medicines need standardization. When all you friends reply with such good zeal feel like I am able to pass on the message through my blog.

guptashubhranshu's picture

guptashubhranshu

Thu, 10/02/2008 - 19:35

Definitely lucky....It really feels great when we all friends reply enthusiastically on each other's blog... Actually, ayurvedic medicaments are really popular in India and are considered safe; but it seems that they face a higher chances of heavy metal contamination!

lucky_pharmacist's picture

lucky_pharmacist

Fri, 10/03/2008 - 05:48

Dear Shubhranshu, I do know this problem but if you would have read my previous blogs in this regard or the comment I gave on blog by Pratyesh about his topic you'll come to know more about this problem.

guptashubhranshu's picture

guptashubhranshu

Fri, 10/03/2008 - 07:11

Dear lucky, I went through the explanantion now and I think you are very correct..Sice, ayurveda being an indian system could be best understood by the Indians only...And thank you for such a detailed explanantion....