Topic
Pharmaceuticals
FDA Panel Endorses Unproven Peptides, Opening Door for Compounding Pharmacy Manufacturing
An FDA advisory panel voted 8-6 to recommend reclassifying three unproven peptides—BPC-157, KPV, and TB-500—allowing compounding pharmacies to produce them. A fourth peptide, MOTs-C, received a 7-5 vote in favor. The decision could reshape pharmaceutical manufacturing supply chains, as China and India are major suppliers of these peptides.
Trade Trump's Generic Drug Tariffs Explained: What It Means for Indian Pharma Before the 200% Storm
US President Donald Trump unveiled a phased tariff plan for imported generic medicines: duty-free for two years from August 1, then 100% for one year, followed by 200%. For Indian drugmakers, the plan offers temporary relief but signals a long-term shift. India's pharma exports to the US account for 34% of total pharma exports, worth $30.47 billion in 2024-25. Leading companies with US manufacturing operations may have greater flexibility.
Trade Trump's Phased Tariff Plan on Generic Drugs: 0% for Two Years, Then Up to 200%
President Donald Trump announced a phased tariff plan on imported generic medicines, with zero tariffs for two years from August 1, 2026, followed by 100% for one year and 200% thereafter. The move targets India, which exported $9.7 billion in pharmaceuticals to the US in 2025, accounting for 38% of its total pharma exports. Indian generics supply 47% of US prescriptions and saved the US healthcare system $219 billion in 2022.
Trade Trump Announces 0% Tariff on Generic Medicines for Two Years; 200% Thereafter
President Trump has announced a 0% tariff on generic medicines for two years, followed by a 200% tariff thereafter, according to Business-Today. The report, dated July 22, 2026, provides no further details on scope, effective date, or enforcement bodies.
Manufacturing Ozempic-maker Novo Nordisk sues Eli Lilly for false advertising over weight-loss drug claims
Novo Nordisk has sued Eli Lilly, alleging false advertising in Eli Lilly's campaigns that compare weight-loss and diabetes drugs. Novo claims Eli Lilly intentionally used outdated studies and omitted higher-dose options to create a misleading impression of superiority. The lawsuit seeks to pull the ads and run corrective advertising.
Peptide Manufacturing Capacity Investments Surge Ahead of FDA Reclassification Decision
Telehealth companies and compounding pharmacies are investing in peptide manufacturing capacity ahead of a pivotal FDA reclassification meeting on July 23-24. Hims & Hers Health purchased a peptide manufacturing facility in February 2025, while Olympia Pharmaceuticals has spent heavily on formula development. Testing investments exceed $100,000 per product.
Logistics Pharma Volume Growth Crosses 3% in June, First Time in Two Years Signals Logistics Demand Uptick
Pharmaceutical retail volume growth crossed 3% in June, the first time in 24 months, according to Pharmarack. The growth outlook for 2026 has been revised upwards from 8-9% to over 11%, driven by cardiac, chronic, and anti-cancer therapies. This demand-led growth implies increased logistics requirements for pharma shipments across India.
TNAU patents high-yield eco-friendly cadambine extraction method from Kadamba tree
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) has secured a patent for a novel method to isolate and quantify cadambine from the Kadamba tree. The process delivers a 93-94% recovery yield while significantly reducing solvent consumption, waste generation, and processing time.
Trade NITI Aayog Proposes Pharma Chapter in Future FTAs, Urges India to Move Up Value Chain
NITI Aayog’s eighth Trade Watch Quarterly report proposes a dedicated pharmaceuticals chapter in future free trade agreements to help India move up the value chain. The report calls for greater regulatory transparency, stronger industry-academia tech transfer, and shared environmental compliance infrastructure. It highlights India's 65% dependence on China for critical APIs and notes India supplies 50% of Africa's, 40% of the US', and 25% of the UK's generic drug needs.
Trade Government proposes simplified drug import rules to boost pharma R&D
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has proposed amendments to the Drugs Rules, 1945, to simplify import of drugs for examination, test or analysis via an acknowledgement-based system, exempting small quantities for non-clinical testing from prior licensing. The move follows a similar domestic reform in January 2026 and aims to boost pharmaceutical R&D and ease of doing business. A draft notification has been placed for stakeholder consultation.
Business Weight-loss jabs reshape UK shopping habits, cutting grocery spending by £780m
New research reveals that more than two million UK users of weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro are significantly altering their spending patterns. Households with GLP-1 users spend an average of £418 less on groceries annually, contributing to a £780m national decline. The shift extends to product choices, with reduced purchases of chocolate, pastries and alcohol, and increased spending on protein-rich foods, mouthwash and hair dyes – the latter to counter common side effects. Retailers and food manufacturers are adapting product sizes and marketing strategies.
Manufacturing Wegovy Weight Loss Pill Now Available Privately in UK Pharmacies, Offers Needle-Free Alternative
The once-a-day Wegovy weight loss pill, containing semaglutide, is now available to buy privately from High Street and online pharmacies in the UK. It offers an alternative to the injection, with similar effectiveness, but requires strict dosing guidelines including fasting before each dose. Key differences and eligibility criteria are outlined.
Manufacturing WHO-Led PARTNERS Trial Begins Patient Enrolment for Bundibugyo Virus Disease Treatments
The PARTNERS clinical trial, sponsored by WHO, has opened patient enrolment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to evaluate antiviral therapies MBP134 and remdesivir for Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD). The trial aims to identify the first effective treatments for BVD, which has affected over 1,400 people in the current outbreak.
Manufacturing UPL warns of strict legal action against patent-infringing lookalikes of herbicides
UPL has warned of strict legal action against entities infringing its patents, after enforcement raids in May and June at manufacturing units in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab. The company identified lookalike versions of its herbicides Triskele and Trishuk sold at lower prices, and urged farmers to verify product authenticity.
Manufacturing Just About Anyone Can Sell GLP-1s Online Now: Turnkey Telehealth Sparks Market Flood
The rise of turnkey telehealth services is enabling companies with no medical background—from search platforms like JustAnswer to dating apps like Grindr—to sell GLP-1 drugs online. Infrastructure firms handle software, clinician networks, and compliance, allowing new entrants to launch in as little as three hours. The trend is accelerating rapidly, with one provider reporting a minimum of one new brand launch per day.
Manufacturing Semaglutide therapy market faces Rs 100 crore excess stock after initial rush
The Indian semaglutide therapy market is facing an excess stock of approximately Rs 100 crore, with stockists holding 50-60 days of inventory after a sharp slowdown in May sales. The market had surged following patent expiry in March but growth slowed drastically, leading to a halt in fresh procurement from pharmaceutical companies.
Manufacturing Promising Ebola Vaccine Has Sat on the Shelf for 15 Years Despite Outbreak
Virologist Thomas Geisbert developed a promising vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain of ebola in 2011, but it has never been tested in humans or deployed. Despite a current outbreak that has infected hundreds and killed around 200, the vaccine remains on the shelf due to lack of funding and commercial interest, according to a WIRED report.
Human Genetic Evidence Found to Be Strongly Associated with Drug Approval in Observational Study of 26,278 Target-Disease Pairs
A new observational study analyzing 26,278 target-disease pairs from Open Targets and ChEMBL found that drug targets with human genetic evidence are 3.25 times more likely to receive approval. The enrichment replicated in post-2015 approvals. Feature ablation revealed that literature mining dominates predictive performance, but the classifier has limited practical value. The study catalogs 1,433 genetically supported Phase 1/2 pairs for hypothesis generation.
Manufacturing Haleon to invest Rs 2,000 crore in first manufacturing plant in India and South Asia
Haleon, the UK consumer health firm formerly part of GSK, will invest about Rs 2,000 crore (£175 million) to build its first manufacturing facility in India and South Asia. The greenfield plant in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh, is expected to come up over the next two to three years, supporting local production of brands like Sensodyne, Crocin and Eno as the company reduces reliance on contract manufacturers.
Trade Electronics, pharma and engineering goods lead India's FTA dividend as export engine shifts gears
Yes Securities has developed an FTA Opportunity Score to assess India's recent free trade agreements. Electronics emerged as the strongest sector with a score of 1.32, followed by pharmaceuticals at 0.66 and engineering goods at 0.50, with Monte Carlo simulations confirming positive outcomes for all three.
Trade India Seeks Tariff Parity for Drug Exports to US
India is negotiating with the US for tariff parity on patented drug exports, challenging a 100% duty imposed in April. The tariffs could impact India's CRDMO sector, which is growing rapidly.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces GLP-1 Online Scams Entangle Unsuspecting Patients, Triggering Supply Chain and R
A WIRED investigation into online telehealth provider FitRx/Zealthy reveals a pattern of deceptive billing and shipment of unwanted GLP-1 drugs like tirzepatide. Customers face denied refunds due to 'supply chain and privacy' policies, despite FDA and FTC oversight. The case highlights risks in the booming online weight-loss drug market projected to reach $150 billion.
Regulations & Compliance Price Caps Imposed on 30 Medicines
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