Sohini Das And Arnab Dutta

Stories by Sohini Das And Arnab Dutta

How govt plans to distribute Covid-19 vaccine

How govt plans to distribute Covid-19 vaccine

Rediff.com   13 Aug 2020

The procurement and distribution will be centralised though the government is yet to take a call on the initial number of doses that will be procured.

Work from home drives laptop sales amid Covid-19 lockdown

Work from home drives laptop sales amid Covid-19 lockdown

Rediff.com   12 Aug 2020

From market leader HP and premium player Apple to China's Lenovo and Asus, all major brands in the market are witnessing rapid surge in the demand for notebooks.

After showing signs of recovery, pharma sales dip in July

After showing signs of recovery, pharma sales dip in July

Rediff.com   11 Aug 2020

Growth has been under pressure since the lockdowns related to Covid-19 started and fresh prescription generations slowed.

Import ban on TVs: Chinese majors face double whammy

Import ban on TVs: Chinese majors face double whammy

Rediff.com   10 Aug 2020

The steep rise in prices of key components, coupled with a ban on the import of finished sets, is expected to hit prominent Chinese brands, such as OnePlus, Xiaomi, TCL, and Realme.

Serum Institute to provide Covid vaccine at Rs 250 a dose

Serum Institute to provide Covid vaccine at Rs 250 a dose

Rediff.com   8 Aug 2020

Serum Institute of India plans to make 300 million doses of AZD1222 by December, and will begin phase-2 trials soon. It has also tied up with Novavax for development and commercialisation of its candidate.

Meet Adar Poonawala, India's COVID-19 vaccine man

Meet Adar Poonawala, India's COVID-19 vaccine man

Rediff.com   6 Aug 2020

Serum Institute is investing $200 million to create capacities for the COVID-19 vaccine. Sohini Das profiles its 39-year-old CEO.

At Rs 35 a pill, Sun Pharma's FluGuard is the cheapest favipiravir drug

At Rs 35 a pill, Sun Pharma's FluGuard is the cheapest favipiravir drug

Rediff.com   5 Aug 2020

Favipiravir is the only oral anti-viral treatment approved in India for potential treatment of patients with mild to moderate Covid-19 disease.

Smartphone biz in India: It's advantage Samsung for now

Smartphone biz in India: It's advantage Samsung for now

Rediff.com   4 Aug 2020

Streamlining its delivery network and shifting focus back to the mass segment - at a time when competitors were struggling to restore normalcy in operations due to the pandemi - aided the firm's revival.

Dr Reddy's to launch Covid drugs remdesivir and favipiravir in August

Dr Reddy's to launch Covid drugs remdesivir and favipiravir in August

Rediff.com   30 Jul 2020

Apart from favipiravir and remdesivir, its key Covid-19 products, DRL has already launched nutraceutical products and hand sanitisers during the pandemic.

Covid-19: Testing times for plasma banks

Covid-19: Testing times for plasma banks

Rediff.com   30 Jul 2020

While the process of extracting plasma itself is simple, doctors say that it is the screening of donors, testing and filling up of numerous forms that takes time.

'We will price Covid vaccine below Rs 1,000'

'We will price Covid vaccine below Rs 1,000'

Rediff.com   29 Jul 2020

Pune's Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine maker by volume, is placing its bets on the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine candidate AZD1222 with CEO Adar Poonawalla stating he would start manufacturing at personal risk.

COVID-19: Lessons to be learnt from Delhi, Mumbai

COVID-19: Lessons to be learnt from Delhi, Mumbai

Rediff.com   27 Jul 2020

The two cities finally got their act together by ramping up the testing capacity and implementing stricter quarantine norms.

Unlock 2.0: States urged to ease shopping hour curbs

Unlock 2.0: States urged to ease shopping hour curbs

Rediff.com   21 Jul 2020

The demands from retailers are fourfold: One, allow kiranas, general trade stores, supermarkets, hypermarkets, and wholesalers to operate every day of the week till 9 pm. Two, ensure uniform and regular opening of all categories of retail. Three, hassle-free movement of goods and employees, and four, lift bans on malls in states like Maharashtra.

Glenmark's favipiravir under fire for 'misguided' claims of Covid-19 drug

Glenmark's favipiravir under fire for 'misguided' claims of Covid-19 drug

Rediff.com   20 Jul 2020

The Drug Controller General of India has sent a letter to the Glenmark seeking clarifications on pricing as well as claims of therapeutic efficacy. While Glenmark has claimed this drug is effective in comorbid conditions like diabetes, hypertension, according to protocol summary (of clinical trials) the trial was not designed to access the Fabiflu in comorbid conditions.

Covaxin launch now depends on clinical sites' deadline

Covaxin launch now depends on clinical sites' deadline

Rediff.com   9 Jul 2020

There are 12 sites across India, including private and public hospitals, conducting Phase 1 and 2 human clinical trials for Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. Based on an earlier letter by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to the 12 sites, volunteer recruitments for the clinical trials were to begin by July 7. At least three sites are yet to kick-start the process.

Every 3rd tablet in the US market is from India

Every 3rd tablet in the US market is from India

Rediff.com   9 Jul 2020

India lost its competitive advantage as China gave fiscal benefits to its local manufacturers. Besides, recent policy flip-flops have, however, dented India's image as the 'pharmacy of the world'.

All mobiles, TVs sold in India have a China connection

All mobiles, TVs sold in India have a China connection

Rediff.com   3 Jul 2020

It was expected that supplies from China will be back to normal by end-June as their factories are now operating at nearly 90 per cent of normal capacity. But the recent issue with shipments has placed an obstacle that manufacturers can't bypass.

Customs to clear pharma raw materials from China

Customs to clear pharma raw materials from China

Rediff.com   1 Jul 2020

Apart from them, consignments of 11 top importers, including LG, Samsung, Toyota, Honda, and Siemens, will also be allowed entry, relieving them of the 100 per cent inspection rule.

18 phone launches run into Boycott China campaign

18 phone launches run into Boycott China campaign

Rediff.com   26 Jun 2020

The smartphone category as a whole was expected to spend around Rs 1,000 crore on marketing and promotional activities over the next six months, even as India unlocks gradually, said media industry experts. This spending is expected to come down, as firms temper their launches.

Chinese firms in India gear up for more boycott calls

Chinese firms in India gear up for more boycott calls

Rediff.com   25 Jun 2020

People in the know said that from social and digital media campaign teams to communications specialists -- all hands were on deck, and every possible post or campaign with the potential to intensify the crisis, was being tracked.