Sohini Das, Sundar Sethuraman

Stories by Sohini Das, Sundar Sethuraman

India could get 4th Covid vaccine as Zydus Cadila set to seek nod for ZyCoV-D

India could get 4th Covid vaccine as Zydus Cadila set to seek nod for ZyCoV-D

Rediff.com   14 Jun 2021

This could also be India's first vaccine for children aged 12 years and above as the company has conducted trials on the age group. The decision, however, lies with the regulator, reports Sohini Das

FAQ: Is it safe to take antibody cocktail for Covid-19?

FAQ: Is it safe to take antibody cocktail for Covid-19?

Rediff.com   10 Jun 2021

According to medical practitioners, the treatment is especially useful in controlling disease among those who have not received the vaccine or got only one shot and also the high-risk contacts of a patient.

Two-month IPO drought set to end with Shyam Metalics Rs 909-cr offer

Two-month IPO drought set to end with Shyam Metalics Rs 909-cr offer

Rediff.com   9 Jun 2021

Shyam Metalics and Energy (SMEL) will end the over two-month drought in the initial public offering (IPO) market. The steelmaker will launch its Rs 909-crore offering soon. SMEL has pruned its IPO size from Rs 1,107 crore, with the promoters deciding to offload shares worth Rs 252 crore as against Rs 452 crore planned earlier. The company has priced its IPO between Rs 303 to 306 per share.

Study comparing Covishield, Covaxin has limitations: Bharat Biotech

Study comparing Covishield, Covaxin has limitations: Bharat Biotech

Rediff.com   9 Jun 2021

Raches Ella, project lead, Covid-19 vaccines at Bharat Biotech said in a series of tweets that he was 'surprised' that media and researchers were drawing conclusions based on non-peer reviewed work.

Indian equity markets join elite list; record new all-time highs

Indian equity markets join elite list; record new all-time highs

Rediff.com   8 Jun 2021

Domestic equity markets are in elite company. In May, Indian markets joined select developed markets (DMs) such as the US, UK and Germany to record new all-time highs. Among emerging markets (EMs), Brazil is the other market to have logged new highs this month. Asian peers such as South Korea, Taiwan and New Zealand are currently between 2 per cent and 10 per cent below their previous highs made earlier this year. The domestic markets were among the worst-performing major global markets in April amid a lethal second-wave of covid-19 infections.

COVID-19 Vaccine: 4 months from lab to jab

COVID-19 Vaccine: 4 months from lab to jab

Rediff.com   8 Jun 2021

'Almost 70 per cent production time of a vaccine is dedicated to quality control, which is done through several hundred tests.'

Covishield produced more antibodies than Covaxin: Study

Covishield produced more antibodies than Covaxin: Study

Rediff.com   7 Jun 2021

The study by a group of doctors showed that after two shots of the vaccines, 98 per cent recipients of Covishield showed antibody response, while the same was 80 per cent among Covaxin recipients. Sohini Das and Ruchika Chitravanshi report.

Biological E inks deal with Canadian firm for mRNA Covid vaccine

Biological E inks deal with Canadian firm for mRNA Covid vaccine

Rediff.com   2 Jun 2021

Providence will sell up to 30 mn doses of its mRNA vaccine to Biological E. It would also provide the necessary technology transfer to make the vaccine in India, with a minimum production capacity of 600 mn doses in 2022 and targets capacity of 1 bn doses, reports Sohini Das.

Bharat Biotech to make 900 million Covaxin vaccines

Bharat Biotech to make 900 million Covaxin vaccines

Rediff.com   1 Jun 2021

500 million doses per annum from its two sites in Hyderabad and 200 million doses each from its Ankleshwar and Kolar facilities.

DRDO's Covid drug: Benefits. Concerns

DRDO's Covid drug: Benefits. Concerns

Rediff.com   31 May 2021

Commercial launch and supply to major government and private hospitals is expected in mid-June.

IPO market set to boom, 4 cos to raise Rs 4,000 crores

IPO market set to boom, 4 cos to raise Rs 4,000 crores

Rediff.com   25 May 2021

While the recent volatility in the secondary markets is a concern, experts believe the sentiment towards IPOs is still buoyant.

M-cap of BSE-listed companies at record $3 trillion

M-cap of BSE-listed companies at record $3 trillion

Rediff.com   25 May 2021

The country's dash to a $3-trillion market cap is more a case of teamwork, than a few members doing most of the heavy lifting. Sample this: The share of top 100 companies to India's total market cap (BSE-listed companies' m-cap) is 67.3 per cent currently, less than what it has been when the nation hit previous milestones, such as $1 trillion, $1.5 trillion in 2007 or $2.5 trillion more recently in December 2020. In 2007, when India's m-cap topped the $1-trillion mark for the first time, the top 100 companies accounted for three-fourths of the total m-cap; at $1.5 trillion, the share was almost 80 per cent.

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

Small-caps off to the best start in four years; surge more than 25%

Small-caps off to the best start in four years; surge more than 25%

Rediff.com   18 May 2021

Companies in the small-cap universe are having a dream run - the Nifty Smallcap 100 index has shot up more than 25 per cent on a year-to-date basis, even as the benchmark Nifty is up 7 per cent. This is the best start for the index since 2017 when the Nifty Smallcap 100 index surged 32.3 per cent between January 1 and May 10. However, in terms of outperformance to the Nifty, this year's performance is the best in more than a decade. A combination of sectoral tailwinds and lack of institutional selling pressure has helped small companies escape from the correction triggered by the second wave of Covid-19.

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.

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.

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.