Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw says that venture capital firms have, with their risk-averse approach, "failed" the biotech sector in India. The executive draws attention to how "bold" venture funds that backed mRNA technology a decade ago were reaping gains today.

Serum to hold 15% in Biocon arm Biocon Biologics as part of a broad alliance that expects to leverage the partners' strengths and resources in vaccines and biologics. Pursuing opportunities based on the hot mRNA technology platform appears firmly on the table.

Serum to hold 15% in Biocon arm Biocon Biologics as part of a broad alliance that expects to leverage the partners' strengths and resources in vaccines and biologics. Pursuing opportunities based on the hot mRNA technology platform appears firmly on the table.

Ex-WHO executive and co-chair of the Asia Pacific Immunization Coalition, Tikki Pangestu, outlined at a recent briefing why he believes herd immunity for COVID-19 will not be achievable against the backdrop of the global spread of the highly contagious Delta variant. Facets of vaccine hesitancy and the complexity of vaccine manufacturing were among the other issues discussed by experts.

The availability later this month of Hetero's biosimilar tocilizumab, ostensibly a less pricey product, could place India in a relatively better situation to cope with any demand spurt should another wave of COVID-19 strike. Innovator product Actemra is expected to be in short supply, going by current trends, given the unprecedented worldwide demand.

Anthos Therapeutics’ CEO and ex-head of global commercial operations at Novartis Pharma, John Glasspool, says there’s no "automatic premise" that the large promotional launch model is broken. He also outlines how teleconsultation is taking medicine back to its roots and "where it can be" as well, with patients less likely to get white coat syndrome.