Tag: drugs

Marijuana is a less dangerous drug — check out this new US government proposal

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The US Justice Department on Thursday formally moved to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, a historic shift in generations of U.S. drug policy.

A proposed rule sent to the federal register recognizes the medical uses of cannabis and acknowledges it has less potential for abuse than some of the nation’s most dangerous drugs.

The plan approved by Attorney General Merrick Garland would not legalise marijuana outright for recreational use.

The Drug Enforcement Administration will next take public comment on the proposal in a potentially lengthy process.

If approved, the rule would move marijuana away from its current classification as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin and LSD.

Pot would instead be a Schedule III substance, alongside ketamine and some anabolic steroids.

The move comes after a recommendation from the federal Health and Human Services Department, which launched a review of the drug’s status at the urging of President Joe Biden in 2022.

Biden also has moved to pardon thousands of people convicted federally of simple possession of marijuana and has called on governors and local leaders to take similar steps to erase convictions.

“This is monumental,” Biden said in a video statement, calling it an important move toward reversing longstanding inequities. “Far too many lives have been upended because of a failed approach to marijuana, and I’m committed to righting those wrongs. You have my word on it.”

The election year announcement could help Biden, a Democrat, boost flagging support, particularly among younger voters.

The notice kicks off a 60-day comment period followed by a possible review from an administrative judge, which could be a drawn-out process.

Biden and a growing number of lawmakers from both major political parties have been pushing for the DEA decision as marijuana has become increasingly decriminalized and accepted, particularly by younger people. Some argue that rescheduling doesn’t go far enough and marijuana should instead be treated the way alcohol is.

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York applauded the change and called for additional steps toward legalization.

The U.S. Cannabis Council, a trade group, said the switch would “signal a tectonic shift away from the failed policies of the last 50 years.”

The Justice Department said that available data reviewed by HHS shows that while marijuana “is associated with a high prevalence of abuse,” that potential is more in line with other Schedule III substances, according to the proposed rule.

The HHS recommendations are binding until the draft rule is submitted, and Garland agreed with it for the purposes of starting the process.

Still, the DEA has not yet formed its own determination as to where marijuana should be scheduled, and it expects to learn more during the rulemaking process, the document states.

Some critics argue the DEA shouldn’t change course on marijuana, saying rescheduling isn’t necessary and could lead to harmful side effects.

Dr. Kevin Sabet, a former White House drug policy adviser now with the group Smart Approaches to Marijuana, said there isn’t enough data to support moving pot to Schedule III. “As we’ve maintained throughout this process, it’s become undeniable that politics, not science, is driving this decision and has been since the very beginning,” Sabet said.

The immediate effect of rescheduling on the nation’s criminal justice system is expected to be muted. Federal prosecutions for simple possession have been fairly rare in recent years.

Schedule III drugs are still controlled substances and subject to rules and regulations, and people who traffic in them without permission could still face federal criminal prosecution.

Federal drug policy has lagged behind many states in recent years, with 38 states having already legalized medical marijuana and 24 legalizing its recreational use. That’s helped fuel fast growth in the marijuana industry, with an estimated worth of nearly $30 billion.

Easing federal regulations could reduce the tax burden that can be 70% or more for marijuana businesses, according to industry groups. It also could make it easier to research marijuana, since it’s very difficult to conduct authorized clinical studies on Schedule I substances.

Also Read: IMF knocks Joe Biden’s China tariffs as risk to US, world growth

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

11 people die in shootings in small town in southern Mexico state of Chiapas, prosecutors say

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Eleven people were killed Tuesday in mass shootings in a small town in the southern Mexico state of Chiapas, the state prosecutor’s office said.

The office said the shooting occurred in the township of Chicomuselo, an area known as a trafficking route for migrant and drug smuggling that has been hit by cartel turf battles in recent months.

The township — and the outlying hamlet of Morelia, where the killings occurred — is in a sparsely populated area near Mexico’s border with Guatemala.

There have been confrontations between drug cartels in the area as recently as Monday, but at least some of the victims of Tuesday’s shootings appeared to be simply residents of the town.

The border area of Chiapas has been plagued by violence as the rival Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels battle for territory. Thousands of people have been displaced as the cartels work to control migrant, drug and weapons smuggling routes and forcibly recruit locals.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Benefits of Semaglutide as per study published in Nature Medicine

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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A recent study featured in the medical journal Nature Medicine has indicated that semaglutide, a medication used for treating diabetes and aiding weight loss, can reduce the likelihood of major heart issues by 20%.

Semaglutide, administered weekly via injection, belongs to the GLP-1 group of drugs, primarily prescribed for adults with Type 2 diabetes but also approved for weight management. Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide drugs, Wegovy and Ozempic, hold a significant market share globally, contributing $8.7 billion in sales for the company in the previous quarter.

The study, which focused on over 17,000 adults with heart conditions, overweight, or obesity but without diabetes, demonstrated promising results. Over a span of 65 weeks, patients experienced consistent weight loss with semaglutide, a trend that persisted for up to 4 years.

By the 208th week, individuals on semaglutide had shed approximately 10% of their body weight and 7.7 cm from their waistlines, in contrast to a mere 1.5% reduction in body weight and 1.3 cm decrease in waistlines among those not using the medication. This weight loss trend was observed across various demographics, including genders, races, body types, and geographical regions.

Furthermore, the data indicated that semaglutide exhibited fewer adverse effects and helped in preventing health complications, particularly in individuals with higher Body Mass Index (BMI).

Besides Novo Nordisk, Eli Lily too has introduced its weight loss drug Zepbound and diabetes drug Mounjaro, both GLP 1 class of drugs with molecules different from Semaglutide.

This research though focused on semaglutide is is deemed crucial by experts as it provides statistics of the importance of weight loss across various demographic groups helping then in personalised care strategies for maintaining health.

For example, experts underscore the escalating health risks associated with weight gain and obesity, noting that the prevalence of individuals with a BMI of 30 or higher has tripled since 1975. Excessive body fat, particularly around vital organs, heightens the risks of developing heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic ailments.

Conversely, even modest weight loss, around 5%, can enhance heart and blood sugar health, with greater weight loss, ideally exceeding 10%, yielding even more significant benefits.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Explained: Why Sierra Leone has declared a national emergency over Zombie drug ‘Kush’

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio has issued a national emergency amid growing demands of his administration to take action against an unprecedented growth in the use of a synthetic drug called Kush. The government claims that since it first surfaced in Sierra Leone, the extremely addictive concoction of substances has resulted in hundreds of fatalities and dozens of addicts with mental health issues.

In a late-night countrywide broadcast on April 4, President Bio declared a national emergency, referring to the drug as a “death trap” and stating that it presented an “existential crisis.”

“Our country is currently faced with an existential threat due to the ravaging impact of drugs and substance abuse, particularly the devastating synthetic drug kush.”

The death toll from Kush abusers has been rising, he said, giving the go-ahead for the establishment of a National Task Force on Drugs and Substance Abuse, whose main objective would be to address the Kush epidemic.

According to him, medical facilities with enough personnel and qualified specialists would be established in each region to provide treatment and assistance to those struggling with drug addiction.

What is a Kush that’s wreaking havoc in West Africa?

For many years, kush—a potent combination of addictive substances—was widely used throughout the nation. It is a concoction of formaldehyde, fentanyl, tramadol, cannabis, and, some claim, crushed human bones.

Notably, the nation has one of the worst rates of young unemployment in West Africa, at 60%.

Several people who spoke with the British daily The Guardian recounted horrific accounts of human bones being ground into kush, and although this is yet to be confirmed, local media reported gravedigging arrests for this reason.

Where the drug is found

Substance trafficking is made simple by the open land borders that countries like Guinea and Liberia share with Sierra Leone.

As per The Conversation, a single Kush joint may be purchased for around five leones (₹2087) and can be utilised by two or three individuals. In a single day, up to 40 joints can be ingested.

Notably, the nation has one of the worst rates of young unemployment in West Africa, at 60%.

The drug poses two risks: the user runs the risk of self-harm, and the substance is extremely addictive. The need to pay for the next dose, which is frequently accomplished through prostitution or criminal activities, is another issue.

How Kush impacts people

Depending on the person and the amount of substance used, the effects of the drug might vary. There are many different effects of cannabis, such as relaxation, exhilaration and altered consciousness.

A powerful opioid, fentanyl has a plethora of negative effects, including adrenaline and sleeplessness. Similar effects are seen by users of tramadol, an opioid that is less strong than fentanyl (100 mg of tramadol having the same impact as 10 mg of morphine), who get drowsy and spaced out, or detached from their surroundings.

According to a report by BBC, the main cemeteries in Freetown have requested police security due to the increase in kush usage since young men have been known to dig up graves.

It is unclear why ground-up human bone is one of the numerous ingredients required to produce kush.

How frequently is Kush used?

The scope of the issue, according to Dr. Jusu Mattia, acting medical superintendent of the Sierra Leone Psychiatric Teaching Hospital in Freetown, may be observed by taking a stroll around the city’s parks. “If you randomly select 10 people, seven of them will be on kush,” he told The Guardian.

The number of patients being treated for kush addiction at the hospital has greatly increased after it underwent major upgrades in recent years with funding from the global NGO Partners In Health.

In 2020, 47 users were detected. This number rose to 1,101 in 2022. However, the number of patients admitted to the Sierra Leone Psychiatric Hospital with Kush-related conditions increased by 4,000% between 2020 and 2023. The majority of them are males, ages 18 to 25.

What measures are the authorities implementing?

The World Health Organisation estimates that there are just five psychiatrists practising in Sierra Leone, a nation of around 8.4 million people. Government figures do not reveal the specific number of deaths.

Despite the dire predictions, hospital clinical psychologist Caroline Ofovwe argues there is hope, “The kush journey is not always geared towards a doomsday.” She told The Guardian that there are some patients whose families have encouraged them to become clean and become role models for others. Additionally, the hospital intends to launch a drug detox clinic soon.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Sanofi resolves 4,000 Zantac lawsuits across US, except Delaware

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare company Sanofi has agreed to settle approximately 4,000 personal injury claims from users of its heartburn drug Zantac, resolving litigation in all US state courts besides Delaware, the company confirmed on Thursday.

The settlement, finalised last month, hinges on individual plaintiffs’ approval and is expected to conclude over time, according to a company spokesperson. While specific terms remain undisclosed, Bloomberg was the first to report on the deal.

Limited Financial Impact

Sanofi asserted that the settlement amount reflects the brief period during which Zantac was marketed and the company’s robust legal defences. They emphasised that the resolution of these cases would not significantly impact their finances.

Zantac, originally developed by GSK and approved in 1983, has been the subject of numerous lawsuits alleging its link to cancer. Sanofi acquired the over-the-counter treatment in 2016 through an asset swap with Boehringer Ingelheim.

Concerns about Zantac’s contents led to its withdrawal from the market in 2019, following scrutiny by online pharmacy Valisure.

FDA’s Action and Litigation Landscape

In 2020, the FDA instructed all companies to remove Zantac from the market due to concerns about its main ingredient, ranitidine, potentially transforming into a carcinogen, over a period of time or when exposed to high temperatures. Zantac has since returned to the market with a new formulation that does not include ranitidine.

Companies facing federal litigation, including Pfizer, gained a huge win in 2022 when a Florida district judge rejected the science backing the claims that Zantac can cause cancer. The ruling freed the drugmakers from approximately 50,000 cases that had been consolidated in the Florida court.

The state claims remain, with roughly 75,000 consolidated in Delaware, including approximately 20,000 against Sanofi.

Over the last 10 months, GSK has settled individual Zantac cases in California to avoid jury trials. With a longer history with Zantac, GSK faces more claims than the other companies, with Reuters reporting 79,000 outstanding cases in October of last year.

Maintaining Innocence Amid Settlements

Despite settlements, both Sanofi and GSK maintain their stance that Zantac does not cause cancer. Sanofi clarified that their decision to settle aims to mitigate litigation expenses and distractions rather than admitting liability.

“Consistent with the federal court’s ruling that plaintiffs had insufficient evidence that ranitidine can cause plaintiffs’ alleged cancers, the medical, scientific, and regulatory communities have extensively evaluated and have found the allegations of the plaintiffs that Zantac causes cancer to be without merit,” Sanofi’s spokesperson said. “Sanofi is settling these cases, not because we believe the claims have any merit, but rather to avoid the expense and ongoing distraction of the litigation. No concessions of liability have been made.”

Last year, an International Chamber of Commerce arbitration tribunal sided with Sanofi when Boehringer claimed that the Paris drugmaker agreed to indemnify it from future liabilities on cancer claims against Zantac.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Essential medicines to get expensive in April 2024? Health Ministry issues clarification

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Reports claiming an upsurge in medicine prices from April 1 are false and deceptive, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The clarification comes after it was reported that over 500 medications will see a substantial rise in prices from April 1, 2024.

The Drug Price Control Orders (DPCO) 2013 — which classify medications into scheduled and non-scheduled formulations — were cited in the health ministry’s report.

Scheduled formulations are those that are included in Schedule I of DPCO 2013, whereas non-schedule formulations are those that are not included in Schedule-I of DPCO 2013.

The ministry continued, explaining that the Department of Pharmaceuticals’ National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) reviews the ceiling pricing of scheduled medications every year using the Wholesale Price Index (WPI).

Listed under Schedule I of the DPCO, 2013, these medications are classified as essential. According to statistics released by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), the yearly change in WPI with the base year 2011–12 for the calendar year 2023 over the equivalent period in 2022 was (+) 0.00551%.

As a result, the Authority permitted the WPI increase @ (+) 0.00551% for the scheduled medications during its meeting on March 20, 2024.

For instance, the WPI for a certain medicine in 2022 may have been ₹100, but in 2023 it might have been ₹100.00551. Accordingly, the same medication would cost you ₹100.01103 in 2024.

The ministry added that as of now, the price caps for 923 medications are in place.

The current ceiling pricing for 782 medications will not alter based on the previously stated WPI factor of (+) 0.00551%; they will stay in place until March 31, 2025.

There will be a meagre rise of ₹0.01 for 54 medications with limit prices between ₹90 and ₹261. The statement said that the corporations may or may not take advantage of this rise, given how small the permitted price increase is. The WPI-based medication ceiling price will essentially remain unchanged in FY 2024–2025.

The updated pricing details are accessible on the NPPA website, www.nppaindia.nic.in, and will take effect on April 1st, 2024.

However, the ministry further stated that a manufacturer can set the pricing in the case of non-scheduled formulation.

It is important to note that by DPCO, 2013, Paragraph 20, no producer of non-scheduled formulation may raise the MRP by more than 10% within 12 months.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Elon Musk opens up about drug use, says investors would want him to ‘keep taking it’

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has spoken about his use of psychedelic drugs like ketamine and stated that it has helped him lead the company. Musk has come under scrutiny after reports about his alleged drug use and its potential impact on the companies owned by him. A few board members at Tesla and SpaceX have had concerns over his use of drugs, which they believe could have major consequences for his health and the business empire he looks after, reports said.

According to CNN, Musk has now addressed the use of ketamine in an interview with journalist Don Lemon.

“There are times when I have sort of a… negative chemical state in my brain, like depression I guess, or depression that’s not linked to any negative news, and ketamine is helpful for getting one out of the negative frame of mind,” Musk said.

Musk noted that he has a prescription for the drug from “an actual, real doctor”. He shared that he uses a small amount once every other week

The 52-year-old denied that he overused the medication as prescribed to him. If you use too much ketamine, you can’t really get work done, he said.

“I have a lot of work, I’m typically putting in 16-hour days … so I don’t really have a situation where I can be not mentally acute for an extended period of time,” he stated.

During the interview, Musk further claimed that he was ‘almost always’ sober late-night or sometimes early morning, posting sessions on social media site X.

He said that he does not drink and is unaware of ‘smoking pot’.

Musk has previously discussed his prescription usage of ketamine on X. Ketamine is mainly used as an anaesthetic in hospitals, but it is also being explored as a possible treatment for depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.

The Tesla CEO believes his depression is genetic and does not feel that his ketamine use will have any impact on his companies or their government contracts.

“From a standpoint of Wall Street, what matters is execution… Are you building value for investors? Tesla is worth about as much as the rest of the car industry combined … so from an investor standpoint if there is something I’m taking, I should keep taking it,” he stated.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

India forms committee to revise medicine and medical device pricing

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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In a move to establish a new code for setting the prices and availability of essential medicines and medical devices in the country, the Department of Pharmaceuticals ordered the formation of a high-level committee on March 12.

According to a copy of the orders reviewed by CNBC-TV18, the committee is named “Committee for Reforms in Pricing Framework for Drugs and Medical Devices.”

It will consist of three core members: the Secretary of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, the Chairman of the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, and the Senior Economic Adviser of the Department of Pharmaceuticals.

The committee is also open to having two Special Invitees from the industry: the Secretary General of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance and the Chief Executive Officer of the Indian Drugs Manufacturer’s Association, along with any other special invitee.

The terms of reference of the committee include institutional reforms within the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), how to balance the price and availability of essential medicines while providing incentives to the industry to sustain growth and exports, how to design a price moderation framework for medical devices while providing incentives to the industry to sustain growth and minimise imports, and how to design a price moderation framework for emerging and precision therapies to facilitate their timely reach to needy patients, all to be included in a draft of the new Drugs and Medical Devices (Control) order, as stated in the order.

The government has given three months to the committee to submit its report.

However, critics argue that the composition of the committee favours the industry and that the committee might not be able to devise a fair pricing mechanism.

Malini Aisola, Co-Convenor of Aidan, highlights several concerning aspects regarding the current committee setup. “It is important to note that two industry associations have been given the status of special invitees to the committee, which is problematic. All stakeholders should have an equal opportunity and access to engage with the committee. It risks delegitimising the committee because of its bias towards the pharma industry. No specific rationale has been given for the Terms of Reference (TOR).”

“There is, for example, a point about restructuring the NPPA but we are unaware of the motivation for this. Two TORs emphasise the balance of price regulation with industry incentives which gives a misleading picture that the current market-based regulations are effective or extensive, neither of which is true. The TOR is about a total redrafting of the DPCO,” Aisola said.

She also mentioned that the NPPA is still primarily dependent on a proprietary database, Pharmatrac, for setting prices. “What is lesser known is that the database is controlled and owned by top Indian pharma companies. All of these taken together indicate a rising influence of the industry in policymaking. On the eve of elections, the government appears to be undermining an already weak regulation and instead of reiterating commitment towards improving access to essential health products and privileging the industry,” she added.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Weight loss drugs — we are just getting started

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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When it comes to healthcare, one of the biggest stories of the year has been of weight loss drugs — Ozempic and Wegovy. The blockbuster drugs, most recently described by Oprah Winfrey as a ‘gift’ propelled the 100-year-old Danish pharma company Novo Nordisk’s market cap to more than Denmark’s domestic economy.

And while these drugs, also endorsed by the long-running weight loss program, Weight Watchers, might have been the biggest news stories of the year, they seem to be just getting started.

A few things we can expect in 2024 from these drugs could include wider prescriptions, as reports indicate that drugs such as Wegovy could cut the risks of cardiovascular incidents and strokes. Also, the drugs could be embraced by more doctors as a way to tackle wider medical conditions such as weight gain from psychiatric conditions and even menopause.

Next year is also likely to bring more clarity on the drugs being studied for other conditions, from addiction to kidney disease, and maybe more details on risks such as what happens when one stops taking the drugs. Is it a lifelong prescription, and maybe there are other side effects.

A few other monitorables will be competition, as Eli Lilly’s drug Zepbound, approved in 2023, which is rivaling the effects of bariatric surgery could pick up pace. Not to mention progress on the pill version of the drugs and, lastly, an increase in manufacturing to tackle the supply shortages due to burgeoning demand.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Govt cannot fix or revise price of non-scheduled drugs, says Delhi HC

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Delhi High Court said the government can only ‘monitor’ the minimum retail price (MRP) of non-scheduled formulations under drugs (price control) order. The court said the government can neither fix nor revise the price of the drug.

The court said that in case there is an increase in the MRP beyond this limit then it is manufacturer’s liability to deposit the overcharged amount along with interest from the date of transgression, and reduction of the MRP of the non-scheduled formulation to the level of 10% of MRP for the next 12 months.

On November 13, India’s drug pricing authority — the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) brought 33 fixed-dose combination drugs under its price regulation. A notification released by the regulator said drug manufacturers are allowed to charge Goods and Services Tax (GST) only if they have made the payment or it is payable to the government on the retail price mentioned.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow