The eye drops, developed by Entod Pharmaceuticals, will be available by prescription only, and can be used only after a thorough assessment by an eye specialist confirms that a child is suitable for the therapy. This move comes as childhood myopia continues to rise sharply in India, prompting concerns among ophthalmologists and public health experts alike.

Related: Asia’s myopia epidemic and the race to save our children’s vision 

While myopia—commonly known as near-sightedness—has long been manageable with glasses, contact lenses, or surgery, the newly approved eye drops represent a shift toward proactive management aimed at slowing its progression, rather than simply correcting the symptoms.

Medical experts involved in the Indian clinical trials say the timing of the approval is crucial. Dr. Mohita Sharma, who oversaw part of the Phase 3 trials, noted that the growing reliance on screens and extended near-work activities—such as reading or playing on tablets—is fueling a myopia epidemic among Indian children. She emphasized that such behavioral patterns are not only contributing to early onset but also to more rapid progression of the condition.

According to Dr. Sharma, unchecked myopia can lead to complications later in life, including a higher risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, and even vision loss. She believes this new treatment provides a vital tool to address these long-term risks by intervening early in the condition’s development.

The regulatory green light came after the drug successfully cleared advanced clinical trials in India. The data, reviewed through a stringent approval process, showed the drops were effective in slowing myopia progression in children without significant side effects.

Entod Pharmaceuticals, the Mumbai-based company behind the product, says the launch reflects a broader strategy to innovate within ophthalmology and to meet emerging needs in vision care. CEO Nikkhil K Masurkar pointed out that myopia in India has increased more than fivefold over the past 25 years. He noted that this surge is no longer a concern limited to urban populations, but one that is expanding rapidly across rural areas as well.

Projections for the future are even more alarming. Some studies estimate that by 2050, as much as 50 percent of India’s child population could be affected by myopia. This trend mirrors global patterns, particularly in East and Southeast Asia, where densely packed urban living and academic pressure have already driven childhood myopia rates to unprecedented levels.

What sets India apart now is its readiness to approve a targeted pharmaceutical response ahead of many wealthier nations. For Entod, it represents both a scientific and commercial milestone. For India’s healthcare system, it signals a shift toward preemptive paediatric interventions, rather than simply managing disease outcomes.

The treatment is expected to become available in the coming months, and while its long-term impact on myopia rates will take years to assess, doctors and policymakers alike are hailing the move as a necessary step forward.

The report indicates the ongoing challenges in managing rising medical costs while addressing growing demand for healthcare services, particularly in areas like mental health and advanced medical technologies.

According to the British-American insurance, brokerage and risk management firm, several factors are driving this sustained increase. These include:

Advancements in medical technology and pharmaceuticals are significantly contributing to rising healthcare expenses. About 69% of insurers globally identified new technologies as the primary factor behind cost increases, reflecting the pressure to develop more efficient and sustainable healthcare solutions.

Public healthcare systems worldwide are under strain due to limited resources and high demand. This has led many individuals to rely on private providers, further escalating costs. The issue is particularly acute in Europe, where 75% of insurers report that the decline in public healthcare systems is a major contributor to rising medical expenses.

Demand for healthcare remains high following the Covid-19 pandemic, with utilization levels continuing to climb. Mental health services are a key area of concern, with insurers predicting a 15% or higher increase in costs per person over the next three years. Claims for mental and behavioral disorders are also the fastest-growing category globally, especially in Europe, where 70% of insurers report significant increases.

Pharmacy costs are expected to grow, driven by advancements in pharmaceuticals. Nearly half of insurers anticipate moderate growth in this area, while 21% predict substantial increases of 15% or more. This trend is particularly evident in the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas, where advancements in pharmaceuticals are seen as a significant cost driver.

Behavioral factors among providers and employees also play a role in rising costs. Overuse or misuse of medical services, often resulting from excessive recommendations by practitioners, is a growing concern. Globally, 72% of insurers identified this issue as a major contributor to increased expenses, up from 59% in 2023.

The growing availability of telehealth and virtual care services has expanded access to healthcare but has also added to overall costs. In 2024, nearly half of insurers globally introduced new telehealth and wellbeing offerings, a significant increase from the previous year.

Cost trends vary across regions

Regionally, medical cost trends vary. In North America, the growth rate is projected to rise from 8.1% in 2024 to 8.7% in 2025. Asia Pacific is expected to see an increase from 11.9% to 12.3%, while the Middle East and Africa will likely experience the most significant growth, from 10.4% to 12.1%. In contrast, trends in Europe and Latin America have begun to cool but are expected to remain elevated in the long term.

Looking ahead, 64% of insurers globally anticipate higher medical costs over the next three years. This projection is even more pronounced in Asia Pacific, where 76% of insurers expect continued increases. Additionally, two-thirds of insurers predict rising demand for healthcare services, with Europe showing the strongest expectations for growth in demand.

The group cites research by the World Economic Forum indicating that rising concentrations of pharmaceuticals in waterways endanger human health and hinder the United Nations’ goal of securing clean water and sanitation for all by 2030.

Alpro Foundation’s Safe Medication Disposal Campaign has focused on raising awareness and encouraging Malaysians to dispose of medications responsibly. Since its launch, the campaign has reached over 300,000 students through collaborations with more than 600 schools, educating them on the importance of proper disposal practices. The Foundation has also installed safe medication disposal bins at all 280 Alpro Pharmacy outlets nationwide, providing accessible options for the public.

The Foundation plans to expand its efforts in 2025 with a two-year research collaboration and community education programs in partnership with Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). This initiative will disseminate safe medication disposal information through school talks and outreach events, targeting over 350,000 individuals, including students and corporate entities, as well as 250,000 families.

Additionally, the Foundation will construct a “Little Red House” outside its headquarters to serve as a landmark promoting safe medication disposal. This facility will allow the public to discard medications responsibly and access educational resources through a QR code.

Ostwin Paw, CEO of the Alpro Foundation, noted an increase in clinics returning unused medications and stressed the importance of education and advocacy in protecting Malaysia’s water sources.

A pill containing lycopene – a chemical found in tomato skin can cut the risk of strokes and reduce the progression of cancer, states study.

The pill, called Ateronon had previously been shown to help unclog blocked arteries, and which is thought to be one of the main health benefits of the Mediterranean diet, the Telegraph reported.

Now a further trial has shown the natural remedy also made patients’ blood vessels more efficient, boosted their blood flow and softened arteries which had hardened with age.

Researchers believe the pill may be able to limit the damage caused by heart disease, although further studies will be needed to determine whether the positive signals translate into fewer strokes and heart attacks.

It uses a lycopene compound which has been modified to become more easily absorbed by the blood than the natural version found in tomatoes.

Ian Wilkinson, director of Cambridge University’s clinical trials unit, said that the results are good news and potentially very significant, but needed more trials.

Peter Kirkpatrick, medical adviser to CamNutra, which has developed Ateronon, added that it was too early to come to any firm conclusions, but the results from this trial are far better than they could have hoped for.

Source: ANI

A report by Pfizer and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society has revealed the huge number of people buying prescription drugs online.

According to the report by pharmacists, 50% of customers are picking up drugs online and this is partly due to the huge number of websites coming up, offering such services to those which have access to internet.

Most of the time, people resort to buying drugs online without prescriptions due to the convenience it offers. Some of them pick up drugs online to avoid the embarrassment of meeting a doctor.

On the face of it, these websites appear legitimate and authorized but there are many sites which are illegal and the risk of fake drugs and harmful medicines looms large.

The report clearly says that the risk of buying counterfeit drugs online is very high as fake medicines look similar to the real drug and can even dupe the best of pharmacists. The best way is to buy medicines from an authorized pharmacy with a proper prescription.

Source-Medindia

The collaboration was announced at a signing ceremony attended by Dr Amr Abid, General Manager Cell Technologies, GE Healthcare Life Sciences and Lin Fang, Vice President of BGI, Ye Yin, Deputy President of BGI, and Yutao Du, Deputy President of BGI.

The collaborating parties are initially undertaking two ground-breaking projects.  Firstly, BGI is performing genome sequencing and epigenetic analysis on cardiomyocytes and hepatocytes supplied by GE Healthcare Life Sciences. The aim is to map out the genetic variation across an ethnically diverse range of stem cell lines and to examine the changes that occur during differentiation into specific cell types in order to increase the understanding of cell models used in drug development research.  Secondly, GE Healthcare is providing BGI with an IN Cell Analyzer 2000 system, a research tool for high content cellular imaging analysis. Training on the IN Cell Analyzer will be provided to BGI, enabling it to investigate gene function for a library of previously sequenced cell types by overexpressing or blocking the activity of single genes and observing the effect in selected populations of cells.

Dr Amr Abid, General Manager Cell Technologies, GE Healthcare Life Sciences, said, “As the pharmaceutical industry seeks to reduce the cost of drug development and to bring more effective, safer drugs to market, the availability of more biologically relevant and predictive cell models is becoming increasingly important.  Our long term vision is to help this process by developing a broad range of Cytiva™ stem-cell derived assays, to include cell types from a wide diversity of ethnic backgrounds.  This is a big challenge and we are delighted to be working with such a prestigious institute as the BGI, with its significant resources and world-class capabilities in genomics and epigenomics.   By working together, we  will advance our understanding of different stem cell lines,  which in turn may in the future help in the global drive to develop new, safer and more effective medicines.”

Yutao Du, Deputy President of BGI, said, “The importance of high-throughput sequencing has been increasing rapidly in the areas of healthcare, agriculture, environment, and others.  Genetic variation analysis of functional cells derived from embryonic stem cells may provide a promising cell model resource for drug development and cell therapy. We are grateful for this opportunity to join hands with an outstanding healthcare organization to push the boundaries of understanding in the field of stem cells. ”

Source: PharmaAsiaNews