Biotechnology

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Ministry of Ayush and Department of Biotechnology, Government of India for mutual collaboration to explore the possibility of cooperation, convergence and synergy to bring out the expertise under one platform towards evidence based biotechnological interventions in Ayush sector. Secretary, Ministry of Ayush Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha and Secretary, Department of Biotechnology Dr. Rajesh S Gokhale were present on this occasion along with other official of both the ministries. Through this association it is expected that traditional healthcare and biotechnology together would enable tremendous possibilities to undertake innovative and path-breaking research, which can be used for the exploration of various fundamental principles of Ayush systems. There is a need of multi-pronged and technological ways for the exploration and application of this ancient scientific system of health care into the public health care domain. Biotechnological R & D and Ayush Interventions will improve quality of life as well as life span (Vayahsthaapana Rasayana) and bring down the associated morbidity pertaining to chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, cachexia, pain management and infectious diseases for example Tuberculosis. On this occasion, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha said that MoU between Ministry of Ayush and DBT is expected to pave way for coordinated researches in Ayush sector and the huge untapped potential of Ayush health care system may be utilized for the community benefit. Addressing the gathering, Dr. Rajesh S Gokhale said that this Inter Ministerial cooperation between Ministry of Ayush and DBT is expected to generate knowledge and new means of intervention strategies for difficult to treat diseases. This joint R&D effort ranging from fundamental science to validation and thereafter product development, will significantly help in the growth of the Indian contributions to this important sector, not only nationally but internationally as well. Emphasis would be given to mechanistic studies of Ayurveda Therapeutics using animal models of disease and other advanced analytical methods along with data analytical tools. Read More► MoU Inked to Explore Biotechnological Interventions in Ayush Sector

New York- Monoclonal antibody therapy, once hailed as 100 per cent effective in stopping Covid-19 in its tracks, has been defeated by the new super mutant Omicron variant of the coronavirus, according to an international study involving researchers from the US, Japan, and Switzerland. Monoclonal antibodies are proteins designed to attach to a specific target, in this case the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, which the virus uses to enter human cells. Several studies have shown that monoclonal antibody therapy can stop Covid infection's progression to ICU admissions and death. The cocktail therapy shot to fame after it was used to treat then US President Donald Trump last October. It was also approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in November last year, and even by the Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) for use in India in May, 2021. A team of researchers analysed the efficacy of monoclonal antibody treatments from major pharma companies. The findings, posted on preprint server biorxiv, and not peer-reviewed yet, revealed that the therapy developed by pharma giants like Regeneron, Lilly, and Celltrion "completely lost neutralising activity" when faced with Omicron. However, monoclonal antibody treatments by AstraZeneca and Vir Biotechnology were "minimally affected" or in other words, "retained partial activity". The recent emergence of the highly-transmissible B.1.1.529 Omicron variant is especially concerning because of the number of mutations - more than 30 in the spike protein. "Our results suggest that several, but not all, of the antibody products in clinical use will lose efficacy against the B.1.1.529 Omicron variant and related strains," wrote corresponding author Michael S. Diamond, from the Washington University's school of Medicine, in the study. "Our experiments show a marked loss of inhibitory activity by several of the most highly neutralising monoclonal antibodies that are in advanced clinical development or have emergency use approval," he added. The researchers evaluated antibodies that correspond to monotherapy or combination therapy that have shown pre- and post-exposure success in clinical trials and patients infected with historical SARS-CoV-2 isolates. The study is in tandem with preliminary studies showing that several clinically used antibodies lose neutralising activity against Omicron's spike-expressing recombinant lentiviral or vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-based pseudoviruses, the researchers said. Moreover, they noted that although monoclonal antibody treatments by AstraZeneca and Vir Biotechnology "in clinical use may retain benefit, validation experiments in vivo are needed to support this conclusion and inform clinical decisions". The study also noted several limitations such as the experiments focused on the impact of the extensive sequence changes in the B.1.1.529 spike protein on monoclonal antibodies neutralisation in cell culture. Despite observing differences in neutralising activity with certain monoclonal antibodies, it remains to be determined how this finding translates into effects on clinical protection against Omicron. (Agency) Read More► Covid-19 Virus Harms Human Immune System: Israeli Research