Samie Modak, Shivani Shinde, Sohini Das

Stories by Samie Modak, Shivani Shinde, Sohini Das

Self-use Covid-19 testing kits to be available at stores for Rs 250

Self-use Covid-19 testing kits to be available at stores for Rs 250

Rediff.com   21 May 2021

Pune's Mylab Discovery Solutions' CoviSelf, which gives results in 15 minutes, gets ICMR nod

Covid: HCL Tech to HUL, corporate India extends a helping hand

Covid: HCL Tech to HUL, corporate India extends a helping hand

Rediff.com   17 May 2021

From helping their employees infected with the Covid-19 virus to vaccinating them or supporting the families of those who might have succumbed to the infection, several companies in India are trying to do their bit in this difficult time. Some have even widened their support net to include all stakeholders as well as an extended community. To the families of the employees it lost to Covid-19, Noida-headquartered IT services and consulting company HCL Technologies is, for instance, paying salary for a year, medical insurance for three years and extending support for their children's education for five years.

Cipla ready to partner in Covid vaccine distribution

Cipla ready to partner in Covid vaccine distribution

Rediff.com   17 May 2021

However, Cipla was very clear it does not want to get into vaccine manufacturing.

Rs 1-trillion m-cap club now has 42 members with 13 new entrants

Rs 1-trillion m-cap club now has 42 members with 13 new entrants

Rediff.com   17 May 2021

Thirteen companies have joined the Rs 1-trillion-plus market capitalisation club this year, so far. This even as the benchmark Sensex has gained less than 3 per cent on a year-to-date basis, underscoring the bullish undercurrent in the broader market. The trend shows a harsh second wave of Covid-19, subsequent lockdowns, and hit to the economic activity has made little dent into India Inc or shareholders' wealth. At the start of the year, there were 29 companies with a market value of more than Rs 1 trillion.

Covaxin output scaled up to 500 million jabs a year: Bharat Biotech

Covaxin output scaled up to 500 million jabs a year: Bharat Biotech

Rediff.com   17 May 2021

This apart, to further increase capacities, Bharat Biotech has partnered with Indian Immunologicals (IIL) to manufacture the drug substance for Covaxin. The technology transfer process is underway and IIL has the 'capabilities and expertise' to manufacture the inactivated viral vaccines at commercial scale.

Govt hopeful of vaccinating adult population by December

Govt hopeful of vaccinating adult population by December

Rediff.com   15 May 2021

India expects 2.16 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines between August and December, including the jabs that are currently in clinical trials, reports Sohini Das

Private hospitals may import Covid vaccines

Private hospitals may import Covid vaccines

Rediff.com   15 May 2021

Apollo Hospitals and Fortis Healthcare are open to importing vaccines.

Cognizant sees a high 21% staff attrition in JFM quarter

Cognizant sees a high 21% staff attrition in JFM quarter

Rediff.com   14 May 2021

Although the number of resignations came down at Cognizant in April and continued to slow in May, the impact of attrition would play out in the second quarter also because of the longer notice period in India.

Prices of key Covid bulk drugs shoot up as demand rises

Prices of key Covid bulk drugs shoot up as demand rises

Rediff.com   12 May 2021

The API of Paracetamol, a fever and pain medication, has grown 25 per cent from Rs 450-480 per kg in December 2020 to Rs 580-600 per kg in April. When compared to the pre-Covid prices of December 2019, the surge is much steeper -- around 140 per cent, reports Sohini Das.

With Covid surge, FabiFlu becomes most sold drug in India

With Covid surge, FabiFlu becomes most sold drug in India

Rediff.com   11 May 2021

Drugs that are used to treat Covid or used by people as immunity boosters have seen a jump in sales and, in turn, rankings.

COVID-19 second wave: Delays in RT-PCR tests

COVID-19 second wave: Delays in RT-PCR tests

Rediff.com   9 May 2021

While there is a shortage of testing kits, manpower and capacities, India does not have other scalable testing options.

'No preparedness planning, no accountability, no action plan'

'No preparedness planning, no accountability, no action plan'

Rediff.com   8 May 2021

'This government did not have any plan for safety stocks of essential medicines.'

Pharma industry posts 51.5% growth in April sales

Pharma industry posts 51.5% growth in April sales

Rediff.com   8 May 2021

When compared to the domestic sales of April 2019, the growth is around 37 per cent. However, compared to the previous month (March), the growth is 18.4 per cent.

Remdesivir black-market thrives as Covid cases rise

Remdesivir black-market thrives as Covid cases rise

Rediff.com   6 May 2021

Artificial shortages and brazen hawking of the drug on the streets at 15 times the normal price rule the day as the official machinery tries desperately to stamp out the parallel market, reports Sohini Das

Gujarat gets lion's share of Covid vaccines

Gujarat gets lion's share of Covid vaccines

Rediff.com   4 May 2021

Delhi, which has been one of the worst affected states, accounted for less than two per cent of total vaccinations in the 18-44 age-group.

Change in tax structure prompted India Inc to favour buybacks again in FY21

Change in tax structure prompted India Inc to favour buybacks again in FY21

Rediff.com   3 May 2021

In 2020-21, Indian firms offered to buy back shares worth Rs 39,295 crore, or 97% more than Rs 19,972 cr proposed in the previous financial year.

$1-bn outflows: FPIs turn wary of India on worsening Covid virus crisis

$1-bn outflows: FPIs turn wary of India on worsening Covid virus crisis

Rediff.com   30 Apr 2021

Covid-19, US yields, dollar to weigh on equity flows in the near term.

Covid vaccine: Too early to say if booster dose needed

Covid vaccine: Too early to say if booster dose needed

Rediff.com   30 Apr 2021

Initial data has shown immunity triggered by the two mRNA vaccines -- Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna -- lasts for at least six months

Wipro, Tata Steel may dislodge ONGC from BSE Sensex

Wipro, Tata Steel may dislodge ONGC from BSE Sensex

Rediff.com   29 Apr 2021

The 30-share bluechip index is rebalanced on a semi-annual basis with next rejig slated for June 18.

Onsite demand may pick up for IT firms in US, UK

Onsite demand may pick up for IT firms in US, UK

Rediff.com   29 Apr 2021

To be able to manage any such uptick, Indian IT services players are hiring more locals, and relying on hybrid work models.