Latest news with #IndianPharmaceuticalAlliance
News18
07-07-2025
- Health
- News18
If Vaccines Hadn't Saved Us From Covid-19, We Wouldn't Be Here To Question Heart Attacks
Last Updated: There is no conclusive proof that Covid vaccines directly caused a spike in heart attacks but we can't ignore that Covid-19 itself has left behind a legacy of cardiovascular damage The rise in heart-related complications and sudden deaths post-Covid-19 has triggered several debates, especially around the role of vaccines. Social media amplifies claims—often anecdotal, rarely scientific—linking Covid-19 vaccines to cardiac issues. But here's a fundamental question: If these vaccines hadn't been developed in record time, would we have even lived long enough to speculate on their side effects? The latest debate was triggered by a post on the social media platform X, where Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wrote on July 1: 'In the past month alone, in just one district of Hassan, more than twenty people have died due to heart attacks. The government is taking this matter very seriously… It cannot be denied that the hasty approval and distribution of the Covid vaccine to the public could also be a reason for these deaths, as several studies worldwide have recently indicated that COVID vaccines could be a cause for the increasing number of heart attacks…" In response, what we saw throughout last week was a coordinated and deliberate effort from the Centre, leading medical institutions, and vaccine manufacturers to rebuild and reinforce public confidence in Covid-19 vaccines. Siddaramaiah's claim was strongly rebutted, not only by government-run institutions but also by top pharmaceutical executives, researchers, and well-known doctors. Sample this: The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA)—the lobby of domestic pharmaceutical companies representing Sun Pharma, Glenmark, Lupin, Cipla and many others—issued a strong statement supporting Covid-19 vaccines. Industry leaders like Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw of Biocon and Samir Mehta of Torrent Pharma also publicly backed vaccine safety and dismissed the unfounded claims. Top doctors from AIIMS and scientists at ICMR have taken to public platforms to bust myths and explain the science, stressing that panic must not replace facts. The Serum Institute of India (SII)—manufacturer of India's poster boy vaccine Covishield—also reaffirmed that Covid-19 vaccines are safe, scientifically validated, and critical in saving lives. Given that over 170 crore doses of Covishield have been administered out of the 200+ crore total vaccine doses in India, this clarification is not just welcome but vital. These clarifications were essential in addressing the growing public anxiety around sudden cardiac deaths, particularly among younger people. While these incidents are tragic and deserve a detailed investigation, the Union government has made it unequivocally clear: these deaths should not be automatically linked to Covid-19 vaccination. Let's understand this scientifically. As of today, there is no conclusive evidence that Covid-19 vaccines directly caused a spike in heart attacks or sudden cardiac arrests in India. However, we must not ignore a crucial truth: Covid-19 itself has left behind a legacy of cardiovascular damage. The virus is known to inflame blood vessels and affect heart muscle tissue. A 2022 study in Nature Medicine found a 63 per cent higher risk of heart attack in patients within a year of Covid infection. Multiple global studies, including those published in respected medical journals such as The Lancet and the New England Journal of Medicine, have shown that the risk of myocarditis and other heart complications is higher after a Covid-19 infection than after vaccination. A study conducted by the Indian Journal of Medical Research—a peer-reviewed publication supported by ICMR—concluded that Covid-19 vaccination was not associated with an increased risk of unexplained sudden death among young adults. On the contrary, the study documented that vaccination reduced the risk of unexplained sudden death in this age group. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) have reiterated that adverse events following immunisation (AEFIs) remain extremely rare. India's official AEFI data shows less than 0.01 per cent serious reactions among the more than 2.2 billion doses administered. Add to this another critical factor: Indians are more genetically susceptible to heart diseases than Western populations. According to a Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia study published in February 2023, the cardiovascular burden in India is higher than the global average. The age-standardised death rate globally is 233 deaths per 1,00,000, while for India it is 282 per 1,00,000. Yet, unfounded narratives continue to gain traction—some fuelled by misinformation, others by genuine grief seeking answers in a complex post-pandemic landscape. What the available evidence shows is that vaccines, by reducing the severity and spread of the virus, likely played a role in limiting long-term cardiovascular consequences. They weren't just about immediate survival—they bought us time and prevented the invisible wave of complications that continues to unfold. Even if science someday finds a small causal link between certain vaccines and rare cardiac events, we must remember: public health is about trade-offs. During a pandemic, decisions must be made under pressure, aiming to save as many lives as possible. Vaccines were not perfect and they were never claimed to be. What they were, and remain, is effective and life-saving on a population scale. It's also essential to acknowledge the wider ecosystem of risk: lockdown-induced sedentary lifestyles, elevated stress, mental health challenges, and delayed chronic care. And also, the genetic structure of Indians, which is vulnerable to metabolic resistance, hence, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases develop relatively easily. These all contribute to rising cardiac cases—and must be part of the conversation. Blaming vaccines alone oversimplifies a deeply layered issue. top videos View all In short, this is not a defence of pharmaceutical companies or vaccine makers who profited heavily during the pandemic, nor is it a dismissal of the real grief of those who lost loved ones. This is a call for nuance. We need to look at the full picture, not just one side of the story. Let's continue investigating, let's strengthen pharmacovigilance and monitoring across India. Remember, we are alive to debate the side effects because the vaccines worked. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : AIIMS COVID-19 vaccine covishield health matters Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw news18 specials Serum Institute of India Siddaramaiah Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 07, 2025, 10:00 IST News india If Vaccines Hadn't Saved Us From Covid-19, We Wouldn't Be Here To Question Heart Attacks
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
COVID-19 vaccines well-documented, rigorously tested as per regulatory processes: IPA
The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) refuted claims linking COVID-19 vaccines to heart attack deaths, emphasizing their rigorous testing and crucial role in combating the pandemic. IPA Secretary General Sudarshan Jain highlighted the Indian pharmaceutical industry's knowledge-driven nature and its significant contribution to global vaccine production, accounting for 60% of the world's supply. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads New Delhi: Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance on Thursday asserted that COVID-19 vaccines have been well-documented and rigorously tested according to regulatory standards, playing a crucial role in combating the naming Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah , who linked COVID-19 vaccines with a spate of heart attack deaths in the state's Hassan district, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) said, "Misinformation and distortion of facts endanger public health and undermine the trust built on science and patient care globally"."During the COVID pandemic, vaccines played a crucial role, and India consistently supplied medicines and vaccines across the world. These vaccines have been well documented and rigorously tested as per regulatory processes," IPA Secretary General Sudarshan Jain said in a asserted that the Indian pharmaceutical industry is a knowledge-driven sector and plays a vital role in global health."India accounts for 60 per cent of global vaccine production ," he statement comes in the wake of Siddaramaiah suggesting that the recent heart attack deaths in Hassan district may be linked to the vaccination drive. He had also claimed the vaccines were 'hastily' in the day, Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw had also opposed Siddaramaiah's remarks, saying such claims are "factually incorrect" and "misleading".
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Navigating tariffs and diplomacy: the future of India-US pharmaceutical trade
India and the US are on the verge of a trade agreement that will transform commerce between the two largest democracies in the world. The next few weeks of June and July 2025 will be pivotal for their trade relationship as negotiations enter advanced stages. The goal is to take annual bilateral trade between the two nations to $500 billion by 2030 from the current $190 billion. Both sides are aiming to sign an interim agreement by early July, before US President Donald Trump resumes sweeping global reciprocal tariffs following a 90-day pause. The trade deal between India and the US is not just about tariffs, but as much about geopolitics and maintaining strategic diplomatic ties amid global uncertainty influenced by the Trump administration's radical policies. If successful, India will become the first country to sign a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) of such with the US during President Trump's second term in the White House. The pharmaceutical sector is at the cornerstone of the BTA. The US is India's largest trading partner and the largest export market for Indian-manufactured pharmaceuticals, accounting for 31.35% of India's total pharmaceutical exports. Generic drug products account for the majority of this percentage, such that almost half (47%) of all generics used in the US are imported from India. India imposes a 10% tariff on US pharma imports, while the US does not currently charge any reciprocal duties. The US initially exempted pharmaceuticals from a broader tariff on most imports, providing a temporary reprieve for companies in India. This may change amid President Trump's push to encapsulate pharmaceuticals under its reciprocal tariff policy, for which a 26% levy was announced by the US for Indian imports. The threat of sector-specific duties has weighed heavily on the global pharmaceutical industry, but specifically for India and its generic drug sector. GlobalData has been closely monitoring and analysing the Trump administration's new trade policies, with a specific focus on the impact of future potential pharmaceutical tariffs. As part of the BTA negotiations and in light of the tariff threat, India's pharmaceutical industry has proposed several bold measures to overcome these barriers. Some of these include: • Tariff exemptions for pharmaceuticals • Greater access to technology transfer for research and development • Intellectual property legislation reforms for innovative originator medicines • Relaxed export restrictions • Targeted incentives to promote US manufacturing • Low-cost generic drug supply Several reports indicate that India has made substantial tariff offers and market access concessions to avoid punitive US tariffs. More specifically, the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance, an organisation representing the country's largest pharmaceutical companies, has urged the government to reduce import tariffs from the current 10% to zero for pharmaceutical imports from the US. The question now is whether India can secure similar terms for its pharmaceutical industry in return, given the close ties between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump and the critical nature of India's generic drug exports to the US healthcare system. However, there is a consensus that the US may not offer full parity in terms of export control easing, but instead that specific drug categories could possibly be exempted. America's concern over India's intellectual property rights (IPR) has prompted the Indian government to consider reforms of its IP and patent laws. India has proposed strengthening its IPR and its Patents Act to end 'evergreening' by US pharmaceutical companies. India has long resisted foreign pressure to revise its patent laws, despite being part of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights agreement. On the more negative side for pharma, India is suggesting reducing the patent exclusivity period for innovative drugs from the current 20-year term to expedite the availability of generics in the country. Since India is already a late-launch market for innovative therapies, the reduction of patent exclusivity periods will further delay their entry and market access. Amid President Donald Trump's stated desire to sharply reduce drug prices on the US market, India has also proposed to supply generic medicines at between 20% and 25% of the current reference branded prices, for three years after originator patent expiry. Following the three years, India will introduce an additional 10% to 15% cost reduction for these products over seven years. Generic products already enter the market at a lower price than the originator, so India is effectively offering a financial incentive that the US could accept, given its reliance on Indian-manufactured generics. It comes amid efforts by Trump to control drug prices through an Executive Order that aims to reduce prescription drug prices by up to 80% under the Most Favored Nation rule, which is essentially international reference pricing (IRP). Aside from tariff exemptions, India is also seeking greater access to critical advanced technologies on par with other countries such as Australia, the UK and Japan, to boost its technological infrastructure and innovation in pharma. The US has already made such concessions for certain allies as part of strategic agreements like the AUKUS (Australia/UK/US) partnership. However, concerns over IPR in India mean that the US would be reluctant towards this provision, instead offering alternative exemptions such as technology transfers for trusted partner programmes or project-specific licences for select Indian companies. One example is the recent launch of the India-US TRUST (Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology) initiative, a BTA that aims to catalyse government-to-government, academia and private sector collaboration in key sectors such as biotechnology. Technology transfer for manufacturing purposes in India will be difficult if Trump imposes import duties on pharmaceuticals. As such, the Indian delegation has proposed increasing US manufacturing by Indian pharma companies of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and the final stages of drug processing. More specifically, India is seeking targeted incentives for its pharma firms willing to establish API and formulation facilities in the US. The Trump administration's push for domestic pharmaceutical production has already resulted in a surge of investments from global pharma companies, as well as India-based companies aiming to enhance their US manufacturing and research and development capabilities. Since India is one of the top generic manufacturers globally and exporters to the US, this proposal is likely to be considered. "Navigating tariffs and diplomacy: the future of India-US pharmaceutical trade" was originally created and published by Pharmaceutical Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Pharma body opposes entry curbs on medical representatives, seeks rethink
New Delhi: The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA), IPA, a lobby group which represents large domestic pharmaceutical companies, has raised concerns over the government's recent mandate that restricts the entry of medical representatives (MRs) into hospitals run by the Central government. The IPA has argued against the new order saying it disrupts the essential interface between pharma companies and healthcare providers and has far-reaching implications for public health, innovation, healthcare delivery , and patient care. It has urged the health ministry to have a balanced, structured, and transparent engagement model, allocating days and time for interaction. In a representation to the health ministry and department of pharmaceutical (DoP), IPA has said the diktat will impact of growth of pharmaceutical sector and result in job losses of medical representatives. "The pharmaceutical sector is knowledge driven with significant rapid advancements. Industry interactions with doctors are fundamental for knowledge development and facilitating better patient care. MRs play pivotal role for knowledge dissemination. Live Events "Guidelines have been laid between medical practitioner and industry interactions in Uniform Code of Marketing Practices and these interactions can be structured in hospital settings by allocating days and time for interactions," said Sudarshan Jain, secretary general, IPA. As ET reported last week, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has instructed all central government hospitals not to permit medical representatives in the hospital premises. Raising concerns, the IPA said that their engagement with doctors ensures timely dissemination of product-related information, covering latest advancements and access of medicines to patients. It also helps during Introduction of new therapies like complex generics and novel biologics. They also play a pivotal role in sharing clinical trial data and global research developments, supporting evidence-based practice. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Indian Express
14-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Will Trump's drug price order hit Indian generics? Here's what you need to know
While it still isn't clear how US President Donald Trump's new executive order on reducing prices of prescription drugs by 30 per cent to 80 per cent will play out, Indian pharmaceutical manufacturers say it is unlikely to hurt the market for Indian generics in the country. Trump said he would introduce a 'most favoured nation' (MFN) policy whereby pharma majors would have to bring down drug prices for American patients in line 'with comparably developed nations'. This, the Indian manufacturers say, will affect the patented drugs manufactured by big pharmaceutical giants. 'A friend of mine, a businessman… seriously overweight and he takes the fat shot drug. And, he called me up… and said president can I ask you a question? … I am in London and I just paid USD 88 and in New York I pay USD 1,300. What … is going on?' said Trump while announcing the measure. What does the executive order say? The executive order says that it will address 'global freeloading' and promises 'additional aggressive action' if manufacturers fail to offer the most-favoured-nation lowest prices to American patients. 'The inflated prices in the United States fuel global innovation while foreign health systems get a free ride…Americans will no longer be forced to pay almost three times more for the exact same medicines, often made in the exact same factories. As the largest purchaser of pharmaceuticals, Americans should get the best deal,' the executive order said. It says that the most-favoured-nation price targets will be communicated to the pharmaceutical manufacturers within 30 days. If that does not happen, the executive order adds, a plan would be made to impose it. Additionally, the executive order says that the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall facilitate direct-to-consumer purchasing programmes for pharmaceutical manufacturers who sell their products to American patients at the most-favoured-nation price. 'Most Indian companies sell products in the US through established distributors. They do not have distribution channels that will take the product to the nearby drug store,' said an expert from the pharmaceutical sector, on condition of anonymity. Will the move affect Indian manufacturers? It is unlikely. Almost all drugs sold by Indian manufacturers in the US are off-patent generics. 'The sale of these products is highly competitive and the prices offered are likely low anyway. It seems that the prices of only those drugs that are still under patent will be affected,' said Viranchi Shah from the Indian Drug Manufacturers Association. Sudarshan Jain, secretary-general, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance, said: 'The generics industry is unlikely to be impacted as it operates on razor-thin margins. In the US, the generics industry represents 90 per cent of prescription volumes while accounting for only 13 per cent of the market value. Further details on implementation mechanisms will bring more clarity.' While there may be certain patented products that may be exported from India — through licensing agreements with global companies — it is a very small proportion of drugs exported from India. Importantly, the focus is on cutting costs after manufacturing in the supply chain. Hence, it will not affect any precursor compounds that India may be manufacturing, experts say. How much does India export to the United States? Nearly 47 per cent of all generics prescribed in the US are manufactured here. More than half of the prescriptions of five of the ten most common therapy areas — hypertension, mental health, medicines to control lipids, medicines for nervous system disorders, and anti-ulcer drugs — were supplied by India, according to data from IQVIA. The US is also the biggest importer of Indian drugs, accounting for 31.3 per cent of total Indian pharmaceutical export by value in 2024. India exported pharmaceuticals worth $ 8.7 billion to the US. Anonna Dutt is a Principal Correspondent who writes primarily on health at the Indian Express. She reports on myriad topics ranging from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension to the problems with pervasive infectious conditions. She reported on the government's management of the Covid-19 pandemic and closely followed the vaccination programme. Her stories have resulted in the city government investing in high-end tests for the poor and acknowledging errors in their official reports. Dutt also takes a keen interest in the country's space programme and has written on key missions like Chandrayaan 2 and 3, Aditya L1, and Gaganyaan. She was among the first batch of eleven media fellows with RBM Partnership to End Malaria. She was also selected to participate in the short-term programme on early childhood reporting at Columbia University's Dart Centre. Dutt has a Bachelor's Degree from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune and a PG Diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. She started her reporting career with the Hindustan Times. When not at work, she tries to appease the Duolingo owl with her French skills and sometimes takes to the dance floor. ... Read More
