health

New Delhi, July 10: The government has announced that formulations containing high levels of alcohol will require appropriate licences and prescriptions to ensure regulated use and prevent misuse.  Pic Credit: Pexel The move aims to strengthen oversight of alcohol-based medicinal and healthcare products by bringing stricter controls on their manufacturing, distribution, and sale. Under the proposed regulations, manufacturers and suppliers will need to follow specific…

Bhubaneswar, July 10 (UDN): The Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS) and SUM Hospital has become the first hospital in Odisha to establish a comprehensive in-house Molecular Diagnostics and Genomics Laboratory, marking a significant milestone in the state’s healthcare sector by bringing advanced genomic testing closer to patients. The new facility enables doctors to diagnose, classify and monitor cancers, blood disorders and inherited genetic diseases without…

Milan, Italy, July 08 — Genespire, in collaboration with researchers at the San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), has today announced the publication of preclinical data supporting the potential of its liver-directed immune-shielded lentiviral gene therapy approach to treat methylmalonic acidemia (MMA), a severe inherited metabolic disorder. The findings, published in the Journal of Hepatology, show that a single systemic administration of a lentiviral vector encoding the MMUT gene led to sustained improvements in disease features in a validated mouse model of MMA, with effects lasting for the average lifespan of laboratory mice. Since the mice were treated when young, the study supports the durability of the gene therapy through postnatal growth and maturation of the liver. MMA is caused by a deficiency of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase, an enzyme that plays a critical role in the body’s metabolism of food. Its absence results in the accumulation of toxic metabolites that lead to recurrent metabolic crises, growth failure, neurological impairment, and multi-organ damage. In the study, researchers also treated mice with a dose containing an optimized MMUT transgene, thereby improving therapeutic efficacy. In the same mouse model of MMA, this version exhibited a dose-dependent improvement of metabolomic biomarkers, with gene transfer efficiency exceeding 80% of the liver. The study also highlights that genetically corrected cells in the liver may, over time, replace the diseased ones, suggesting that therapeutic efficacy may progressively improve even when starting at lower initial doses. “Together, these findings indicate that Genespire is on a clear path towards the long-term correction of metabolic diseases which impact the liver and other organs,” said Lucia Faccio, CEO of Genespire. “We believe our approach has the potential to translate into human health in the form of a single-administration treatment for patients with MMA, and are committed to continuing our efforts in bringing our lead asset for MMA, GENE202, to the clinic. We would like to extend our gratitude to everyone involved in the research project, especially those at the SR-TIGET.” “We are confident that this study, together with other previous studies from our group at SR-TIGET, provides a comprehensive pre-clinical data package enabling the initiation of clinical testing in pediatric patients affected by MMA” concludes Dr Alessio Cantore, group leader at SR-TIGET and Associate Professor at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, who supervised and coordinated the study and signed it as senior author.

Rourkela, July 8 (UDN): Researchers at NIT Rourkela have developed a smart bandage that could make wound treatment more comfortable by reducing pain during dressing changes and supporting faster healing. Developed by a team from the institute’s Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, the innovative dressing uses nanomaterial-based technology to address one of the major challenges in wound care — bandages sticking to wounds and…

Bhopal, July 8: The Madhya Pradesh Government is working to expand digital healthcare services to the remotest parts of the state under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), with the aim of improving access to quality and affordable healthcare through technology. The initiative focuses on strengthening digital health infrastructure and connecting patients, healthcare institutions, and service providers through an integrated digital ecosystem. The expansion is…

Lucknow, July 8: The Uttar Pradesh government has launched a new cashless healthcare scheme aimed at providing easier and more accessible medical treatment facilities to teachers and employees working in the education sector. Under the initiative, eligible teachers and education department staff will be able to avail cashless medical services at empanelled hospitals, reducing the financial burden of healthcare expenses and ensuring timely access to…

New Delhi, July 8: The Government has approved Navi Mumbai International Airport as an authorised point for importing medicines into India, providing pharmaceutical companies with an additional gateway for drug shipments. The decision will help improve the movement of medicines by offering better logistics support, faster transportation and more options for pharmaceutical importers. The approval is expected to benefit drug manufacturers, healthcare companies and importers…

Guwahati , July 7 : The liver is one of the most important organs in the human body. It performs several vital functions, including removing toxins from the body, helping in digestion, regulating energy metabolism, producing essential proteins, and strengthening the immune system. One of the liver’s most remarkable features is its ability to regenerate itself. However, this also means that liver disease often progresses…

Gandhinagar, July 7: Health facilities across Gujarat have removed more than five lakh unused and obsolete items as part of a statewide cleanliness campaign aimed at improving hygiene and strengthening healthcare management. The drive focused on clearing unnecessary materials, outdated equipment, and unused resources from hospitals and health centres to create cleaner and more organised spaces for patients and healthcare workers. Officials said the initiative…

July 6: The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) has achieved a major milestone by linking over 104 crore health records across its digital health ecosystem. The initiative aims to create a unified and secure digital health infrastructure in India, enabling individuals to access and manage their health records seamlessly across healthcare providers. The system is designed to improve continuity of care, reduce duplication of medical records,…