As scientists across the world are scrambling to find ways to deal with COVID-19, a scientist from Hyderabad has reported that there are two potential compounds that can act as anti-virals to impair the virus.
The scientist, Arun K Shanker of Hyderabad-based Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), who works on computational genome analysis and in vivo validation of genes, told The New Indian Express that he started off his research by studying genome sequence of the COVID-19 virus available at the NCBI repository and conducted a whole genome analysis to see if there were matches with any other known genomic sequence.
They observed that two particular non-structured proteins of COVID-19 virus matched with non-structured proteins from the earlier version of Coronavirus that had affected humans — Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus also known as SARS CoV.
The scientist, along with his team of two other scientists, conducted the tests using computer models to detect functional similarities of the two non-structured proteins found in COVID-19 and SARS CoV by conducting tests called ‘homology modelling’, which involves developing a 3D model of proteins. While one non-structured protein was 96 per cent similar in both cases, the other one was 82 per cent similar. Dr Shanker argues that both these non-structured proteins have been studied earlier and found to have been the target of antiviral treatment for SARS CoV.
These proteins were found to bind with two separate compounds, Aza-Peptide Epoxide (APE) and GRL0617, that inhibited the ability of the virus to replicate, impairing the virus completely.
Moreover, it was also found that the site where the two compounds APE and GRL0617 bound to the SARS CoV virus, was the same as that in the COVID-19 virus. This, Dr Shanker said, shows that the two compounds can be used as anti-virals against the COVID-19.

Source : newindianexpress

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The central government will soon launch Integrated Validation of Exports of Drugs from India and its Authentication (iVEDA) portal for drug authentication and tracking and tracing of the drug supply.
iVEDA portal developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) will replace Drugs Authentication and Verification Application (DAVA) portal which has hit technical glitches hampering manufacturers and exporters from uploading data on barcode on secondary and tertiary packs of drugs meant for export and maintenance of parent-child relationship between them.
Taking serious note of this, Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) had postponed the date for implementation of track and trace system for export of drug formulations with respect to maintaining the parent-child relationship in secondary and tertiary packaging levels and its uploading on the central portal till March 31, 2020. However, the requirement of bar-coding on secondary and tertiary packaging continues as per earlier notifications.
Having taken cognizance of the issues and concerns raised by the pharma industry with regards to trace and track and with specific reference to data upload issues on DAVA portal, the department of commerce constituted an expert committee. The recommendations arrived after series of consultations with the all the stakeholders led to the decision of developing a new web portal for validation and authentication of drugs export from India.
With the iVEDA portal being rolled out by third week of March, 2020, the manufacturers and exporters are required to upload data on barcode on secondary and tertiary packaging of drugs meant for export on the portal. Maintaining parent-child relationship between secondary and tertiary packaging is an optional.
The manufacturer uploading data on the central portal must have manufacturer code and product code allotted by GS1 India. The manufacturer can get CDAC codes in case he has not yet subscribed to get codes from GS1 or any other agencies. The manufacturer must have Digital Signature Certificate of Class-II or Class-III issued by any Certifying Authority (CA) in India.
The responsibility of the correctness, completeness and ensuring timely upload of data on the central portal shall be with the manufacturer. However, the manufacturer may extend the responsibility to anyone next to it in its supply chain i.e. wholesalers/ distributors/ retailers etc. in its supply chain.
The online system is envisaged to help manufacturers and merchant exporters to generate and utilise tertiary and secondary level coded data in a user-friendly manner. It has the provision to upload product and production data.
The test run workshop on iVEDA portal was held by Pharmexcil in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh on February 10, February 11, March 3, March 5 respectively. The workshop was attended by manufacturer-exporters, merchant exporters, contract manufacturer exporters etc. The objective of the workshop was to provide industry hands-on experience and get their feedback to make the portal more robust, and industry friendly.
The industry has appreciated the portal.
Said Nipun Jain, Chairman, SME Panel, Pharmexcil, “The portal is industry friendly. With this portal, the challenges faced the industry while uploading data on the central portal have been resolved. The trial run of iVEDA will help industry well-versed with the portal before its launch.”
Said Uday Bhaskar, direector general of Pharmexcil, “We wanted to make the portal industry friendly and simplified and in this process, we are designing the programme of the portal with CDAC. We have taken all concerns of the industry including merchant exporters into the consideration.”
“The exporters who were earlier working with GS1 code are not required to change the entire system. They can continue with data uploading on the portal with minor changes. Those who did not have GS1 code can also upload data,” he added.

Source : pharmabizcom

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About the workshop: Hyderabad is home to many pharmaceutical companies that excel in manufacturing of generic drugs. It is fast emerging as major Biologics hub in the country, with over 275 companies located in the genome valley alone. Hyderabad is also home to many research institutions besides over a dozen incubators including 7 BioNESTs engaged in pharma, biologics, medical devices and allied areas. A significant number of these companies are engaged in R&D activities and developing new products. At one stage or other, they would have to approach the CDSCO for regulatory guidance for approval of their novel and new products. Indeed, many of the start-ups have limited understanding of the regulatory requirements.
To fill this gap and create an awareness among the relevant community, TIE-U, UoH in association with FABA and with gracious support from CDSCO, New Delhi is organising a one-day workshop on Regulatory Issues on 21st March, 2020. The workshop attempts to update recent changes in Regulatory issues, besides providing an opportunity to seek clarifications. It is open to institutions, industry as well as budding enterprises.
About The Organizers:
Located near Gachibowli, the University of Hyderabad is one of the leading institutions of higher education in India and is widely known for its excellence in research., The University has over 400 faculty and over 5000 students organized in 12 Schools of study. The University offers close to 150 different programmes of study ranging from doctoral studies to Masters level degrees, as well as a range of post graduate diplomas.
Technology, Industry liaison and Entrepreneurship Unit, (TIE-U) of university of Hyderabad is mandated to coordinate with the industry for transfer of inhouse developed IP and technology to industry, besides creating an entrepreneurial eco-system on the campus. It operates three incubation centres on the campus through an arm called ‘Association for Scientific Pursuits in Innovative Research Enterprises’ (ASPIRE), a section 8 not for profit company.
Federation of Asian Biotech Associations (FABA) is a non-profit, non-government registered organization under the Indian Societies Act, formed in the year 2005 with the objective of creating a common platform for development of biotechnology across the globe particularly in the Asian countries. For more information on FABA please visit website at: https://www.biofaba.org/
Registration: Link for registration https://forms.gle/SioE8nt4sp9Qi8bi8
Registration fee: Academics: Rs. 1500/- Industry: Rs. 2500/-
Payment: NEFT/RTGS/Cheque/DD on the name of ASPIRE BIONEST payable at Hyderabad.
Account Number: 180401001458, ICICI Bank, Financial District Branch, IFSC code ICIC0001804
Last date for submitting the online application: 18th March 2020
For any Enquiries Contact: aspire@uohyd.ac.in, uohbionest@uohyd.ac.in, 040-29881897/98

Tentative Program

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