Megha Manchanda &Amp; Sohini Das

Stories by Megha Manchanda &Amp; Sohini Das

Mystery fever in wake of falling Covid cases raises alarm

Mystery fever in wake of falling Covid cases raises alarm

Rediff.com   20 Sep 2021

The sudden spike in cases of fever in India has claimed over 100 lives in five states, including UP, MP, Bihar, Haryana, and West Bengal. In UP, Firozabad and Mathura alone have reported 72 cases.

Explained: What USFDA full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine means

Explained: What USFDA full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine means

Rediff.com   17 Sep 2021

Pfizer can show the FDA approval to the Indian regulator and present a case that based on whatever data submitted, the US regulator has granted a full marketing nod, says Sohini Das.

Covid Vaccine: Syringe manufacturers are ramping up

Covid Vaccine: Syringe manufacturers are ramping up

Rediff.com   15 Sep 2021

The Centre is looking to procure around 1 billion syringes between September and December to support the COVID-19 vaccination drive.

Gennova's mRNA vaccine to come in powder form, stay stable at 2-8C

Gennova's mRNA vaccine to come in powder form, stay stable at 2-8C

Rediff.com   14 Sep 2021

Gennova has also got permission for phase-2 and 3 clinical trials for its lyophilised mRNA vaccine for injection from the subject expert committee advising the Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation, reports Sohini Das.

Govt developing multi-variant Covid-19 vaccine

Govt developing multi-variant Covid-19 vaccine

Rediff.com   14 Sep 2021

Government institutions and pharma industry are examining if a 'cocktail' approach to making a multi-variant Covid-19 vaccine works against multiple strains of the ever-mutating virus, reports Sohini Das.

Focus on hospitals as India braces for Covid third wave

Focus on hospitals as India braces for Covid third wave

Rediff.com   1 Sep 2021

The health system is trying to ensure that it isn't caught by surprise -- the way it was last time. So, hectic preparations are on.

Pharma majors shift focus to inhalants, nasal spray for Covid

Pharma majors shift focus to inhalants, nasal spray for Covid

Rediff.com   30 Aug 2021

While Lupin is working on a Remdesivir powder for inhalation, Glenmark has tied up with a Canadian Biotech firm for nitric oxide nasal spray that reduces Sars-CoV-2 viral load and thus transmission.

Fee for Bharat Series-registered vehicles can be paid in tranches

Fee for Bharat Series-registered vehicles can be paid in tranches

Rediff.com   30 Aug 2021

The owner can pay registration fee for two years and the other amount in instalments in later years, in multiples of two.

India's internet user base touches 825 million, bulk of it wireless

India's internet user base touches 825 million, bulk of it wireless

Rediff.com   28 Aug 2021

The subscriber base is made up of 778.09 million broadband internet users and 47.21 million narrowband internet users.

Gennova's mRNA Covid vaccine gets nod for Phase 2-3 trials

Gennova's mRNA Covid vaccine gets nod for Phase 2-3 trials

Rediff.com   25 Aug 2021

If things go according to plan, the vaccine would be available in the market by the end of this year.

More bad news: Vodafone Idea may get notice for licence fee delay

More bad news: Vodafone Idea may get notice for licence fee delay

Rediff.com   20 Aug 2021

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is in the process of issuing a show-cause notice to Vodafone Idea (Vi) for delaying the payment of licence fee. Companies pay 8 per cent of their adjusted gross revenue as licence fee. This also includes a universal service obligation levy. The fee is collected from each of the 22 telecom circles in the country on a quarterly basis.

Novovax Covid vaccine likely to get nod in India ahead of US

Novovax Covid vaccine likely to get nod in India ahead of US

Rediff.com   18 Aug 2021

Adar Poonawalla said he was hopeful that Covovax, the Novavax vaccine made by SII, will be launched around October this year for adults and for children by the first quarter of next year, depending on DCGI approvals.

Despite nod foreign Covid vaccines likely to be delayed over indemnity clause

Despite nod foreign Covid vaccines likely to be delayed over indemnity clause

Rediff.com   11 Aug 2021

India is not keen to 'bow down' to demands related to indemnity against legal liabilities in case any vaccine recipient develops severe adverse reactions post inoculation.

Meeting 1.35 bn vax dose target in Aug-Dec a long haul

Meeting 1.35 bn vax dose target in Aug-Dec a long haul

Rediff.com   6 Aug 2021

While Covishield supplies would meet the target of 500 mn doses between August and December, it looks like Covaxin would miss the target of 400 mn unless the partner sites of Bharat Biotech ramp up very rapidly, reports Sohini Das.

AstraZeneca finds small clot risk after 1st Covid shot

AstraZeneca finds small clot risk after 1st Covid shot

Rediff.com   29 Jul 2021

But no extra risk after second dose, shows study led and funded by drug maker, reports Sohini Das.

Russia reaches out to Kerala for Sputnik V plant

Russia reaches out to Kerala for Sputnik V plant

Rediff.com   29 Jul 2021

The government may look at areas around Thonnakkal, in Thiruvananthapuram district, for the facility. If successful, this would be one of the few sites of Sputnik V owned by Russian firms outside that country. Shine Jacob and Sohini Das report.

3rd wave: Govt creating 30-day stock of key Covid medicines

3rd wave: Govt creating 30-day stock of key Covid medicines

Rediff.com   26 Jul 2021

'The Centre is planning to procure five million vials of Remdesivir ahead of the third wave. What's better is that this time, the government is paying us in advance,' said a senior executive of a Mumbai-based pharma player which makes Remdesivir. Sohini Das reports.

Cash-strapped Vodafone Idea gets nod for FDI up to Rs 15,000 crore

Cash-strapped Vodafone Idea gets nod for FDI up to Rs 15,000 crore

Rediff.com   23 Jul 2021

Cash-strapped telco Vodafone Idea's proposal for investment of up to Rs 15,000 crore through foreign direct investment (FDI) has been approved by the Union government, according to officials. A top-level group, comprising representatives from the ministries of home affairs, external affairs, finance and commerce and industry, took the decision. The nod, which is an enabling provision, would help the financially-stressed company raise funds to pay up some of its dues linked to adjusted gross revenue (AGR), reduce debts and use the money for operational expenses.

Airtel hikes tariffs, family postpaid plan spiked for new customers

Airtel hikes tariffs, family postpaid plan spiked for new customers

Rediff.com   23 Jul 2021

Bharti Airtel on Thursday announced new postpaid plans and discontinued some previous ones. "In the post-pandemic world, an abundance of high-speed data is increasingly becoming a key need for customers as work from home and online education is the new normal. "In this context, Airtel has further simplified its postpaid plans to offer industry-leading data benefits backed by a 5G-ready network and superior digital-first customer care. "The plans also come with a range of exclusive benefits such as bundled content and business productivity tools," Airtel said in a press release.

Navy's reluctance to vacate spectrum may delay 5G auction

Navy's reluctance to vacate spectrum may delay 5G auction

Rediff.com   21 Jul 2021

The Indian Navy has expressed reservations in vacating 100 Mhz of the spectrum, proposed to be sold in the tender expected next year, sources said. This could delay the Centre's plans to proceed with the 5G auctions in 2022. A department of telecom (DoT) official said, "The Indian Navy is showing reluctance in vacating the spectrum from the 3.3 GHz-3.4 GHz band that it is using. "Unless there is some traction with them on this issue, we can't seek consultation from TRAI." The 3300 MHz-3600 MHz (or 3.3GHz-3.6GHz) will be auctioned for the first time in the proposed 5G auctions, likely next year.