Pfizer concludes USD 43 billion acquisition of Seagen

New York: Pfizer Inc. has announced the successful completion of its acquisition of Seagen Inc., a global biotechnology company that discovers, develops and commercializes transformative cancer medicines. Pfizer completed its acquisition of all outstanding common stock of Seagen for $229 in cash per share, for a total enterprise value of approximately $43 billion.

“Cancer remains a leading cause of death, and one in three people in the U.S. will receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. With one of the largest investments in Pfizer’s history, we are going all in on cancer with the goal of delivering breakthroughs that drastically improve the lives of people with cancer,” said Dr. Albert Bourla, Pfizer Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “With Seagen’s proprietary, world-leading Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) technology, together with the scale and strength of Pfizer’s capabilities and expertise, we are poised to change the cancer treatment paradigm. We believe Oncology will be a significant growth driver for Pfizer and contribute meaningfully to the achievement of our near- and long-term financial goals.”

With the addition of Seagen’s four in-line medicines, ADCETRIS (brentuximab vedotin), PADCEV (enfortumab vedotin), TIVDAK (tisotumab vedotin) and TUKYSA (tucatinib), Pfizer’s industry-leading Oncology portfolio now includes over 25 approved medicines and biosimilars across more than 40 indications, including nine medicines that are either blockbuster or have the potential to be blockbuster.

With the addition of Seagen, Pfizer’s Oncology pipeline has doubled in size with 60 programs spanning multiple modalities, including ADCs, small molecules, bispecifics and other immunotherapies. Moving forward, Pfizer will leverage its leading protein engineering and medicinal chemistry capabilities to advance Seagen’s ADC technology, unlocking potential novel combinations and next-generation biologics.

“This is a great day for Pfizer, and, more importantly, for people living with cancer, as we bring together the game-changing science and top talent of Seagen and Pfizer to form a leading Oncology organization,” said Chris Boshoff, Chief Oncology Officer and Executive Vice President, Pfizer. “Driven by science and a passion for improving and extending patients’ lives, together, we will work with urgency towards our common purpose to deliver transformative cancer medicines and bring new hope to people living with cancer everywhere.”

As previously disclosed, to address U.S. Federal Trade Commission concerns, Pfizer has chosen to irrevocably donate the rights of royalties from sales of Bavencio (avelumab) in the U.S. to the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). This unrestricted donation will support AACR in its mission to prevent and cure cancer through research, education, communication, collaboration, science policy, and funding for cancer research.

Guggenheim Securities, LLC served as Pfizer’s financial advisor and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP served as Pfizer’s legal advisors. Centerview Partners LLC served as Seagen’s financial advisor and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP served as Seagen’s legal advisor. MTS Health Partners also provided financial advice to Seagen.

Read also: Pfizer gains unconditional EU antitrust nod for proposed USD 43 billion Seagen acquisition

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AstraZeneca India, Roche Diagnostics India collaborate to improve diagnostic testing for breast cancer

Bengaluru: AstraZeneca Pharma India Ltd. has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Roche Diagnostics India to improve diagnostics for breast cancer patients with a key focus to streamlining HER2 diagnostics with newer advancements in the field.

Breast cancer, globally the most prevalent cancer among women, takes a critical turn when transitioning to metastatic stages, accounting for 30% of post-diagnosis cases and constituting a primary cause of breast cancer-related fatalities. Vital to patient care is the reassessment of biomarkers, specifically HER2, guiding crucial treatment decisions. The 15% to 20% of cases identified as HER2 positive present opportunities for targeted therapies, with advancements in HER2 testing continually optimizing its clinical application since the 1980s.

In 2020, it was estimated that breast cancer claims nearly 700,000 lives worldwide each year and that there would be over 2.2 million new cases. Approximately half of all patients with breast cancer (mBC) express low levels of HER2. These patients with HER2 low status may now be eligible for a targeted treatment, which could significantly improve their outcomes.

Dr. Anil Kukreja, Vice President – Medical Affairs and Regulatory, AstraZeneca India, “AstraZeneca’s ambition is to be the leading company in breast cancer and contribute to the elimination of breast cancer as a cause of death. We are therefore, actively partnering with key stakeholders to put breast cancer at the forefront, to help improve standards of care. Our collaboration with Roche Diagnostics is a pivotal step, focusing on improving patient outcomes with emphasis on patient-centricity. We believe this strategic partnership contributes significantly towards creating an integrated healthcare ecosystem that strongly benefits the overall patient experience.”

The initiative is focussed on advancements in HER2 testing standardisation and reporting. As per the partnership, comprehensive training initiatives for pathologists and medical oncologists will be imparted. Training modules designed for oncologists will cover advances in HER-2 testing and HER-2 low interpretations.

Dr Rishubh Gupta, MD, Roche Diagnostics India and Neighbouring Markets shared, “Targeting and treating HER2-low breast cancer, which represents at least 55 percent of breast cancers globally, has been a challenge to the medical and scientific community. Earlier, metastatic breast cancer patients with a low level of HER2 status were considered to be part of the HER2-negative population and had no HER2-targeted treatment options. With this partnership, we bring hope to such patients and lead the way in HER2 diagnostics that supports the identification of patients who may benefit from HER2-targeted therapies.”

“This strategic alliance aligns with AstraZeneca’s commitment to advancing patient-centric healthcare solutions and Roche Diagnostics’ dedication to pioneering diagnostic innovation. The collaboration aims to address existing diagnostic challenges, reduce turnaround times, and elevate the overall patient experience, reinforcing the pivotal role of diagnostics in shaping effective treatment strategies for metastatic breast cancer patients in India,” the release stated.

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SGPGI lucknow to start tele-ICU service from 2024

Lucknow: The Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) here will start its tele-ICU service from January 2024.

Director Prof R.K. Dhiman said that this would enable the institute to run 10 ICU beds, each through the hub and spoke model.

The step has been taken in wake of shortage of ICU beds at SGPGI so that their institute-like care can be provided to patients in these mentee medical colleges.

Also Read:Doctors at SGPGIMS ensure successful pregnancy, delivery in paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria patient

The director informed that the institute has been ranked as the third best among government medical education and patient care centres, but stressed on the need to strive for the top slot.

He also informed that the institute was working for the NAAC and NIRF accreditations besides promoting a culture of research.

He said that the next calendar year will see a number of new initiatives taking shape.

Listing out some of them, he said: “Five new departments have been approved for us – hepatology, medical oncology, infectious diseases, head and neck surgery and paediatric endocrinology, besides, the advanced paediatric centre and advanced diabetes centres are also in the pipeline.”

Stating that the institute had scaled significant heights in robotic surgery, he informed that they were in the process of procuring a gamma knife that can treat several cancerous and benign lesions.

He urged the government to help the institute on the count besides stressing on the need for a public health centre and department of clinical pharmacology so that awareness activities and clinical trials may be carried out.

Also Read:Lucknow SGPGI to get centre for metabolic bone diseases

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Foreign medical graduates in Himachal Pradesh await internship allotment

Solan: Despite clearing the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) in July of this year, Foreign Medical Graduates in the state are facing delays in the internship allotment process.

The state has eight medical colleges located in Shimla, Tanda, Hamirpur, Nahan, Mandi, Chamba, Bilaspur, and Solan and the FMGs are eagerly waiting to join the mandatory internship programme which is a must for practising in India.

FMGs in the state are facing delays even though some states like Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Jharkhand have already initiated their counselling schedules, with the process expected to conclude by the end of the month.

Also read- More Than 400 FMGs In Tamil Nadu Waiting To Join Internship, Urge Health Ministry To Expedite Allotment Process

The graduates argue that since they have already passed the screening test, they have proven their worth and should be allowed to avail internship opportunities as soon as possible.

“As per the NMC existing policy, 7.5 per cent of seats are reserved for foreign medical graduates and as per the guidelines, they will be asked to apply when the internship starts in January,” Dr Vinod Kashyap, Registrar of State Medical Council told The Tribune

Some states, such as Gujarat and Jharkhand, have released seat matrices and started the internship process for FMGs in November. However, FMGs in this particular state are still awaiting similar opportunities.

The FMGs in the state have not received any response from the State Medical Council, adding to the uncertainty and frustration among the graduates.

An FMG, Ajay Thakur, who recently met Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Shandil here last week, told the daily, “I received my scorecard and passing certificate last month and am awaiting internship allocation in the medical colleges of the state.”

The graduates further added, “Some states such as Delhi were implementing policies that exclude students from other states from availing internships there. This has left the students hailing from the state with limited options but to seek internships from the medical colleges in the state.”

Recently, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has stated that Foreign Medical Graduates (FMG) who had a break in their final year and returned to India due to the Covid pandemic or the Russia-Ukraine war and have finished their coursework online, will be required to complete a mandatory one-year clinical clerkship. Afterwards, they will be eligible for the Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) or clinical medical rotatory internship.

Medical Dialogues team recently reported that the Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) has released several Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to various issues concerning Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs). 

Also read- NMC Releases FAQs Related To Issues Faced By Foreign Medical Graduates, Check Details

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Indian docs support WHO ban on vapes, call on govt to take action

New Delhi: A day after the World Health Organization (WHO) urged governments to treat e-cigarettes akin to tobacco and impose a ban on all flavours, health experts in India have called on the government to take immediate action.

The plea is coupled with an appeal to the nation’s youth to renounce smoking in all its forms.

While e-cigarettes, commonly known as vapes, have been considered by some as a potential tool in mitigating the adverse health effects associated with traditional smoking, the WHO contends that “urgent measures” are required to control the growing use of vapes.

Also Read:WHO calls for ban on flavoured vapes, treating e-cigarettes the same as tobacco

In India, a concerning trend has emerged with more 13-15-year-olds using vapes than adults, pointing to the aggressive marketing strategies employed to lure the younger demographic.

“Like other WHO countries, 13-15-year-olds and even adults are using vapes in India. Aggressive marketing of vapes has attracted the younger population more towards it. There are enough studies and sufficient evidence that vapes also create health problems affecting the lungs. It might help tobacco smokers quit, but they are harmful to health and could drive nicotine addiction among non-smokers, especially children and young people,” Dr. Col. Vijay Dutta, Internal Medicine & Pulmonologist, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC), New Delhi, told IANS.

The experts emphasise that vapes cannot serve as a viable substitute for tobacco smoking.

The annual death toll of over 8.67 million attributed to tobacco use underscores the urgency of addressing this public health crisis.

“We cannot endorse the industry’s claim that vapes pose significantly lower health risks than tobacco. Youngsters are falling into the trap of using e-cigarettes early on and may become addicted to nicotine. Stringent measures are imperative, and a blanket ban could be the most effective solution. This includes bans on all flavouring agents, such as menthol, and applying tobacco control measures to vapes,” Dr. Soumya Mukherjee, Consultant, BMT, Haematology & Haemato Oncology at Narayana Hospital, Howrah told IANS.

The WHO said that while the long-term health risks of vapes remain unclear, they generate substances known to cause cancer, pose risks to heart and lung health, and could impact brain development in young people.

In India, where tobacco use is a leading risk factor for premature deaths, the urgency to address this issue is underscored by the experts who assert that tobacco use is among the unhealthy behaviours responsible for a preventable burden of cancers, strokes, and heart diseases.

“Nicotine and vaping products can have serious negative effects on the health of children and adolescents. Inhalation of nicotine through vaping can harm developing brains, impacting memory, attention, and impulse control. Nicotine is highly addictive, and early exposure increases the risk of lifelong addiction,” Dr Nehal Shah, Consultant Paediatrician, SRCC Hospital, Mumbai, told IANS.

Dr Shah said it is crucial to educate youth about the risks associated with nicotine and vaping, promoting awareness to prevent the initiation of these harmful habits and safeguard the well-being of future generations. Any kind of smoking is highly discouraged in kids and actions must be taken to quit smoking.

Also Read:Marijuana, cigarette smokers at increased risk of emphysema

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PGIMER to hold Round 1 Counselling For INI CET January 2024 Session On 19th December, details

Chandigarh: The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER) has announced the 1st round of counselling schedule for admission to INI CET (MD/MS) courses for the January 2024 session. Merit merit-wise list of sponsored candidates has also been released.

The 1st physical counseling/seat allotment for admission to the above-mentioned courses will be held on 19th December 2023 (Tuesday) at 11:00 AM in the Bhargava Auditorium, PGIMER, Chandigarh. The counselling will be held for the candidates who applied under the sponsored category for admission to MD/MS courses at PGIMER, Chandigarh and qualified for the INI-CET (January 2024) conducted by AIIMS New Delhi.

All the qualified and eligible candidates are directed to submit the required documents, which are mentioned against their names in Annexure-I, through email, i.e. mdmspgi@gmail.com or in person at Room No. 307, Training Branch, Kairon Block, PGIMER, Chandigarh by 18.12.2023.

Also Read:AIIMS Announces Schedule For Fee Payment, Release Of Admit Card For Professional UG Exams, details

They are also required to produce one set photocopy of all the documents, i.e. 10th class certificate, MBBS Degree, Internship Certificate, State Medical Council/National Medical Commission Registration Certificate and original Sponsorship Certificate & NOC from their respective employers at the time of counseling, failing which they will not be considered for admission.

Candidates are requested to be seated in the auditorium by 10:45 AM sharp on 19th December 2023.

Merit-wise list of sponsored candidates has also been released. The list includes RLNO, RANK, NAME, GENDER, SPONSORING AUTHORITY, SUBJECT, and DEFICENCY/PENDING DOCUMENTS. The detailed list is enclosed in the notice below.

INI-CET is administered by the Examination Section, AIIMS New Delhi, in consultation with nodal officers from all INIs. AIIMS, New Delhi, is the sole authority for the conduct of all aspects related to the Combined Entrance Test, such as application, conduct of exam, declaration of results, and Seat Allocation, as its responsibility is limited to these aspects of INI-CET only.

To view the notices, click on the links below –

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/inicetsponsoredpgidatav3-1512202315dec2023163231-228005.pdf

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/notice-regarding-counselling-of-sponsored15dec2023162457-228006.pdf

Also Read:ICMR Invites Applications For ICMR-IITKGP MedTech Biodesign CLiMB Fellowship Program

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Too much to expect from a doctor to remain on the bedside of a patient throughout in the hospital: HC comes to rescue of gynaecologist, doctors, nurses

Reiterating that doctors cannot be held negligence merely because things went wrong, the High Court of Himachal Pradesh recently set aside an order by the lower court to pay Rs 2.6 lakh compensation to the family of a patient who died while giving birth to a child at Zonal Hospital, Hamirpur.

Although the daughter of the deceased alleged that her mother had died due to the gross negligence of the doctors and nurses of the hospital, the HC bench exonerated them from such allegations.

For more details, check out the link given below:

Too Much To Expect From A Doctor To Remain On The Bedside Of A Patient Throughout In The Hospital: HC Comes To Rescue Of Gynaecologist, Doctors, Nurses

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Vaginal exam without written consent: Stanley Medical College MD Radio suspended on allegations of sexual harassment by patient

Chennai: Based on a complaint of sexual harassment by a patient, a postgraduate radiodiagnosis medico in Stanley Medical College and Hospital, was “suspended until completion inquiry” on Friday.

While treating the patient, who had a history of displaced intra-uterine device, the doctor allegedly conducted a vaginal examination for further diagnosis. However, preliminary inquiries revealed that the doctor had allegedly failed to obtain written consent before examining the said patient. 

After the patient and her family members complained to the management saying that “the doctor touched her inappropriately” during examination, and demanded immediate action, a six-member team comprising the medical college vice president, hospital superintendent and four professors conducted a preliminary inquiry on Friday.

Although the lady assistant professor, who was present in the ward when the doctor examined the patient, informed the committee that he did not touch her with malicious intent, but only for the sake of diagnosis, the committee opined that examining the private parts of the patient without obtaining a written consent was a violation of the medical code. Based on the committee’s recommendation, the doctor was suspended.

Also Read: 2nd year PG Anaesthesia commits suicide, accuses professor of harassment, 2 doctors of senior toxicity in Suicide note

As per the latest media report by the Times of India, the patient was admitted on Wednesday with “acute gastroenteritis and dehydration”. Thereafter, she was referred to the radiology department for an abdomen and pelvis scan the following day. A postgraduate student of radiodiagnosis, along with another medico, conducted the scan under the supervision of assistant professor Dr. Usha.

Based on the clinical findings and the “vague history of displaced intra-uterine device”, a vaginal examination was conducted for further diagnosis. The daily adds that the patient had also complained of pain in breasts as she had not breastfed her child for two days. 

Referring to this, the Dean of the institute, Dr, Balaji mentioned, “**** had expressed the retained milk with a syringe. He may have done good to relieve her of the pain but did not take a written consent from her.”

He further mentioned that the management received complaints from the patient and her family alleging that the doctor touched her inappropriately while examining her. Further, the family members insisted on immediate action against the concerned doctor.

A preliminary inquiry was conducted on Friday by a six-member panel from the medical college. Dr. Balaji mentioned, “The team found that the doctor failed to take written consent from the patient that he was going to examine her genital area. He claimed that he had done that after oral consent. The lady assistant professor, who was present in the ward when the doctor examined the patient, has told the committee that he did not touch her with malicious intent but was only trying to make a diagnosis. Yet, the inquiry committee said not taking the patient’s written consent while examining her private parts and before doing a medical procedure was a violation of the medical code.”

Consequently, the committee’s recommendation was placed before the college council. The members of the council felt that the charges could have been averted if the doctor had followed the ethical code and therefore, they recommended to suspend the said doctor. “Based on the council’s decision the doctor has been placed under suspension,” said Dr. Balaji.

This decision by the medical college management was justified by the Directorate of Medical Education, the apex body regulating the government medical colleges in Tamil Nadu.

Commenting on the matter, Director of Medical Education Dr. J Sangumani told TOI, “We agreed to the decision of the college council. Further inquiries will be conducted.”

Also Read: Bihar Shocker: 4 Medical College Doctors Booked for Allegedly Demanding Sexual Favours for Better Marks

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Cipla expands patient reach to remotest towns by furthering investment in GoApptiv

Cipla Limited has announced that it has agreed to further invest Rs 42 crore (approx.) in digital tech company GoApptiv Private Limited.

This development will further expand Cipla’s presence across the healthcare continuum, especially to the underserved population by enabling greater access to lifesaving treatments.

For more details, check out the link given below:

Cipla To Further Invest Rs 42 Crore In GoApptiv

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Promise of MD Radiology seat at Medical College in Pune, MBBS grad, businessman father duped of Rs 82 lakh

Mumbai: A case of cheating and forgery has been registered against four accused for allegedly duping a Kandivali-based businessman and his MBBS graduate son of Rs 82 lakh. They promised to secure his son’s admission to the MD course in radiology at BJ Government Medical College in Pune.

The accused persons have been booked under sections 406 (punishment for criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code and are yet to face action as the police are investigating for more evidence in connection with the case. They are identified as Anil Tambat, Abhijeet Patil, Sandeep Waghmare and Bhushan Patil.

The complainant handed over a sum of Rs 1.36 crore to the gang of accused individuals who deceived him and failed to secure a seat for his son. Despite managing to retrieve Rs 54 lakh from the total amount, the complainant was not given the remaining money. This prompted him to seek assistance from the police and pursue legal action.

Also read- Promise Of MBBS Seat At Sion Medical College, Fraudsters Dupe Man Of Rs 11 Lakh

The history of the incident goes back to 2022, however, no police complaint was filed at that time. The case came to light after the victim decided to take action against the accused.

According to the police, the complainant was introduced to Sandeep Waghmare through a common friend in 2022. 

In 2022, the victim’s father got acquainted with one Sandeep who claimed to have contacts through whom he could secure admission for an MD course via NRI quota. He demanded Rs 2 lakh. But the victim’s father refused to part with such a large sum. Subsequently, he called the victim to Aurangabad with promises of securing admission at a medical college there for MD (radiology). At Aurangabad, Sandeep introduced the victim to two other men, Anil and Abhijeet, who adviced him to get his NEET scored reevaluated. The accused shared an email address and the victim sent an email on it requesting reevaluation, reports TOI.

The Indian Express adds that the complainant agreed to move forward with their instructions. The complainant’s son had cleared MBBS in 2019 and secured 199 points in NEET for admission to pursue a master’s degree but was unable to secure a seat in any prestigious medical college through the management quota. On July 10, the complainant’s son received an email confirming admission to BJ Medical College Pune. One Tambat then instructed the father-son duo to submit documents to Waghmare in Pune and demanded Rs 1.7 crore for his services, adds the daily.

According to the reports, the complainant’s son received a fake NEFT payment acknowledgement showing payment towards college fees, the dean’s letter, ID card etc. Over the next three months, the complainant paid a total of Rs 1.36 crore to Tambat, Patil, Waghmare, and Bhushan Patil. 

According to a police officer, the complainant discovered that Tambat was a fraudulent person who tricks people by making false promises of securing admissions. The complainant became aware of this during a conversation with a friend, who disclosed that his own son had also paid a substantial amount to Tambat for college admission. However, the friend managed to convince Tambat to refund the entire sum successfully.

Later, discovering Tambat’s fraudulent activities, the complainant confronted him, leading to Tambat admitting to the forgery and returning Rs 54 lakh. However, Tambat refused to refund the remaining amount, prompting the complainant to approach the police.

An investigation into the case is underway. 

Also read- MBBS Admission Racket Busted: 4 Held For Duping Aspirants For Six Months, Probe On

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