BIOSIMILARS: OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES, AND THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES GOVERNING THEIR DEVELOPMENT AROUND THE GLOBE

Biologic drugs have revolutionized the treatment of many life-threatening and rare illnesses such as cancer and autoimmune diseases. Biologics are broadly referred as substances that are produced by living cells and are used in the treatment, prevention, or diagnosis of diseases. They include a wide range of substances, such as genetic material, antibodies, vaccines, or processes which act by influencing cellular processes that block disease or affect diseased cells. Biologics have become striking treatment options and the size of the market has grown hastily. It is expected that by 2023, most of the patents will expire in the European Union opening a large potential market. Keeping this in mind, the ability to launch substitutes to original biologics, also known as biosimilars, presents many opportunities to generic companies. The field of biosimilars seems to be “breaking” the traditional division between the creations of innovative NCE-based medicines by research-based companies, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, mapping of these medicines by the generic companies. The field of biosimilars so far presents some considerable challenges, namely, regulatory, safety, economic, and legal which are still being debated and discussed in different forums. In this article, we have tried to summarize the general principles and regulations governing the development of biosimilars by regulatory authorities such as the World Health Organization, European Medicines Agency, US Food and Drug Administration, and Health Canada. Furthermore, we have tried to throw some light on the opportunities, challenges, and current scenarios pertaining to biosimilars.

AN EXHAUSTIVE REVIEW ON EMERGING DRUG TARGETS OF TUBERCULOSIS WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON CELL WALL SYNTHESIS

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the top 10 causes of mortality and morbidity. Worldwide, yet, it has been over 60 years since a novel drug was introduced in market to treat the disease exclusively. Increased number of drug resistant TB cases has prompted the search for novel potent anti-TB drug. Mycobacterial cell wall has unique structure which provides integrity to the cell. The future development of new potent anti-TB drug targets is associated with the synthesis of various cell wall constituents; the structural and genetic information about mycobacterial cell wall envelope is now available. In the present review, we have focused on prospective drug targets that can be optimum triumph for successful drug candidate.

CONSCIOUSNESS AND PRECAUTIONARY HABIT RELATING TO COVID-19 INFECTIONS AMONG STUDENTS IN NWAFOR ORIZU COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, NSUGBE

Objective: Similar to outbreaks of many other infectious diseases, success in controlling the novel coronavirus infection requires a timely and accurate monitoring of the epidemic. The main objective of the present study is to assess consciousness and precautionary habit relating to COVID-19 infections among students. Methods: The descriptive survey research design method was used. The researcher formulated two research questions. A self-developed questionnaire was adopted for data collection. The sample size consists of students in Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe, selected using purposive random sampling technique, subsequently, thirty copies of the questionnaire were administered by the researcher. Mean and standard deviation were used to analyze the data. Results: The study showed among other findings that students are conscious about the possibility of the disease transmission by droplets when an infected person cough, sneezes, or speaks. These findings have the vantage of providing the researchers, government, students, policy makers, and government with adequate and correct baseline data on consciousness and precautionary habit relating to COVID-19 infections among students. Conclusion: Based on the research findings, it was concluded that the world has a long history of successful efforts to prevent or cure widespread infections. The main points in preventing the spread in society are hand hygiene, social distancing, and quarantine. With increased testing capacity, detecting more positive patients in the community will also enable the reduction of secondary cases with stricter quarantine rules.

FREQUENCY OF FUNGAL MYCOFLORA ON RICE

Introduction: Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the second best essential cereal crop of the world as well as of Pakistan. There are various fungal pathogens that attack on rice and cause various rice diseases. Methods: Therefore, the present experiments were done to isolated different fungi associated with seeds, stems, and leaves of commercially grown rice varieties and of mainly isolated species. Results: Several fungi, namely, Magnaporthe oryzae, Curvularia lunata, Helminthosporium oryzae, Fusarium moniliforme, Alternaria alternata, Nigrospora oryzae, and Aspergillus niger were isolated from seeds, stems, and affected leaves of rice. Conclusion: In our research, the frequency of fungal mycoflora on rice has been calculated and the maximum isolates of Fusarium spp. have been found.

ORPHAN DRUG POLICY

Pharmaceutical industry is crucial for mankind and contributes in some way in socio economic development of the society through jobs, community welfare, and supply chains. Indian pharmaceutical companies are one of the largest markets in the world, estimated 10% of global production and 2% of world market. The industry is has shown significant growth in infrastructure development, producing wide range of pharmaceutical products with new technical advancements. The country is famous for producing and providing pharmaceutical products at much cheaper prices than the US and EU. However, the country lacks in investment in research on rare disease or orphan drugs. This paper tries to highlight the ways in which the market in orphan drugs can grow in India with the help of international partners. Objective: The objective of the study was to look at existing orphan drug policies and how we can aim at making it more equitable in India. Methods: Research is completely based on secondary data from online journals and government data. The study is analytical in its approach and is descriptive in nature. Results: Pharmaceutical companies invest less in Orphan drugs as they do not mark an assured profit with present investment. Conclusions: To maintain the interest of Indian pharmaceutical companies it is suggested that, Indian companies should work in collaboration with countries which lead in orphan drug markets.

BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF MICROBES IN AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY: A REVIEW

Biotechnology is the most prominent and rapidly growing segment of the biological sciences that is making its diversified application in sustainable agriculture. Biofertilizers, biopesticides, bioherbicides, bioinsecticides, and many of the other fungal based and viral based insecticides, obtained using microorganisms, are some of the outcomes of biotechnology playing a key role in sustainable agriculture. Many of other important food products are also obtained by microbial fermentation. Different microbes are added to get the desired effect of food at the specific stages of food production process. Pharmaceutical microbiology includes the manufacturing of different pharmaceutical and medicinal products. This review article has a wide overview of microbes mainly used in agriculture, food industries, and pharmaceutical industries.