
Hope for Sickle Cell Anaemia patients
The Hindu
Panel approves marketing of ‘hydroxyurea’ for SCA treatment
A committee of experts constituted by the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) on Thursday critically evaluated a proposal of the ‘CSIR-Sickle Cell Anaemia (CSIR-SCA) Mission’ and approved the marketing of ‘hydroxyurea’ for SCA treatment, subject to post-marketing surveillance.
Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA) is a common genetic disorder among Indians affecting the red blood cells. It is transmitted by parents carrying a defective ‘beta globin’ gene. Close to 0.4% of the population suffer from this disease while 10% are carriers who lead to birth of new SCA patients.
The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) with the help of pharma major ‘Cipla’, one of the manufacturers of hydroxyurea, and with active support of the Indian Institute Of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), has approached the Drugs Controller General of India for hydroxyurea approval for SCA treatment, said an official release.

‘Instead of accusing Gen-Z of lacking skills or discipline, we need to ask what drives them’ Premium
At a recent event held in the city, Cambridge University Press & Assessment launched an advisory panel comprising leaders from top global corporations, aiming to bridge the employability gap in India and better align academic output with industry needs. A whitepaper released at the event highlighted the growing importance of communication skills, the need for stronger collaboration between industry and universities, and strategies to bridge the persistent skill gap.

Under the NBS, newborns are screened for communication disorders before they are discharged from the hospital. For this, AIISH has collaborated with several hospitals to conduct screening which is performed to detect hearing impairment and other developmental disabilities that can affect speech and language development. The screening has been helping in early intervention for those identified with the disorders, as any delay in the identification poses risk and affects successful management of children with hearing loss, according to AIISH.