Hyderabad: Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd., a global pharmaceutical
company, has announced the launch of Versavo (bevacizumab) in the United Kingdom (UK).

Dr Reddy’s
Versavo is a (bevacizumab) biosimilar of Avastin and indicated for the treatment of several types of
cancers, including metastatic colorectal cancer, advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer,
recurrent glioblastoma, metastatic renal cell carcinoma, advanced cervical cancer, ovarian cancer and
metastatic breast cancer.

Bevacizumab is the first antiangiogenic therapy proven to slow metastatic disease progression in patients with cancer. It is a humanized recombinant antibody that targets human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), leading to deterred angiogenesis and tumor growth.

Versavo is the first Dr. Reddy’s biosimilar product to be approved and launched in the UK. It is available
in strengths of 100mg and 400mg single use vials.

Dr Reddy’s launched Versavo in India in 2019. Subsequently, Versavo was introduced in other
markets such as Thailand, Ukraine, Nepal, and Jamaica under the same brand name. In Colombia, the
product was launched under the brand name Persivia.

Dr Jayanth Sridhar, Global Head of Biologics at Dr Reddy’s, said, “The launch of Versavo in a
highly regulated market underscores our capability for global clinical development of high-quality
biosimilar products. Versavo is a potential treatment option for patients with different types of cancers.
This launch reinforces our commitment to bring more biosimilar and other critical biological products to
meet the unmet needs of patients, and strengthens our focus on oncology.”

Established in 1984, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd. is a global
pharmaceutical company headquartered in Hyderabad, India. Dr Reddys offers a portfolio of products and services
including APIs, generics, branded generics, biosimilars and OTC. Its major therapeutic areas of focus are gastrointestinal,
cardiovascular, diabetology, oncology, pain management and dermatology. Dr Reddys major markets include – USA, India, Russia & CIS
countries, China, Brazil and Europe. 

Read also: Dr. Reddy's gets CDSCO panel Nod To market Omeprazole Delayed-release orally disintegrating tablets

SCREENING TESTS can help find cancer at an early stage, before symptoms appear. When abnormal tissue or cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat or cure. By the time symptoms appear, the cancer may have grown and spread and this can make...

This research was conducted across multiple Canadian rheumatology clinics and enrolled a total of 102 adults with active PsA. They were prescribed apremilast between July 2018 and March 2020 and were followed for 12 months with visits recommended every four months to monitor the progress. The primary outcome measure focused on achieving remission or low disease activity defined by a Clinical Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis (cDAPSA) score of 13 or less. 

The results from this study revealed significant improvements in various markers of disease activity despite 44.1% of the patients discontinuing this study within 12 months. Importantly, 63.7%, 67.2%, and 53.8% of patients achieved cDAPSA remission or low disease activity at 4 months, 8 months, and 12 months, respectively.

The patients who continued the study expressed reduced joint inflammation, pain and psoriasis symptoms. Improvement in treatment satisfaction and patient-reported outcomes, including physical and mental well-being, were obvious over the 12-month period. Safety data indicated that apremilast was well-tolerated, with diarrhea, nausea, and migraine being the most common adverse events leading to discontinuation. 

This study expressed positive outcomes of apremilast in real-world settings, by providing patients with effective relief from PsA symptoms and enhancing their overall quality of life. Overall, these findings contribute to the growing body of evidence that support the clinical effectiveness of apremilast in PsA management.

Reference:

Chandran, V., Bessette, L., Thorne, C., Sheriff, M., Rahman, P., Gladman, D. D., Anwar, S., Jelley, J., Gaudreau, A.-J., Chohan, M., & Sampalis, J. S. (2024). Use of Apremilast to Achieve Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment Goals and Satisfaction at 1 Year in the Canadian Real-World APPRAISE Study. In Rheumatology and Therapy (Vol. 11, Issue 2, pp. 443–455). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40744-024-00641-w

Santo Domingo.- The Ministry of Public Health (MSP) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) jointly announced the establishment of a toxicological center in the country on Monday. The primary objective of this center is to provide specialized assistance and management for cases of poisoning.

According to a statement released by Public Health, the center will offer information, guidance, and specialized care for diagnosing and treating cases of poisoning. Additionally, it will conduct toxicological laboratory tests, develop programs for poisoning prevention and toxicovigilance, promote research on poisoning prevention and management, and manage mass poisonings by alerting health authorities for prompt decision-making and effective health responses in incidents involving chemical substances.

To initiate this initiative, an inter-institutional commission was formed by the Ministry of Public Health in collaboration with PAHO advisors. This commission analyzed the feasibility of implementing the center.

Health Minister Víctor Atallah met with PAHO representative Alba María Ropero to validate specific details for the immediate commencement of installation work. As part of the preparation process, visits were conducted to pre-selected institutions to assess their physical, technological, and personnel capabilities. This assessment aimed to develop a roadmap and define the stages for the center’s development.

Minister Atallah described the establishment of a poison center as an unprecedented milestone for the country. He emphasized the necessity of having tools to mitigate health damage resulting from various causes, including improper handling of chemicals and food.

Ropero Álvarez underscored the significance of the initiative in reducing poisoning incidents. He noted that toxicological centers have been established across Latin America and the Caribbean to address similar situations of exposure to chemical substances. While a previous attempt was made in the Dominican Republic in 2009, Ropero Álvarez expressed confidence that the current endeavor would succeed.

Belgium.- As part of the International Women’s Day commemoration activities, the Dominican Embassy in Belgium and Luxembourg organized two special discussions on mental health tailored for the Dominican diaspora in these regions. These sessions were led by renowned Dominican psychiatrist and therapist, Alexandra Híchez.

Both events, held over the weekend of March 16-17, at the Beford Hotel in Brussels and the Hotel Royal in Luxembourg, focused on addressing the mental health challenges and concerns faced by the Dominican diaspora. The aim was to raise awareness about the importance of mental well-being for Dominican migrants residing in Brussels and Luxembourg, providing them with a platform to share their experiences and reflections on the topic.

During her presentations, Dr. Híchez provided valuable insights and practical advice to enhance emotional and psychological well-being, especially in the context of migration. She also discussed significant topics such as women’s empowerment and their importance in contemporary society, along with other psychosocial risk factors.

The events commenced with welcoming remarks from Ambassador Iván Ogando Lora, who expressed gratitude to all participants and Dr. Híchez for her enthusiastic commitment to conducting these discussions. Ambassador Ogando Lora emphasized the significance of addressing mental health issues within migrant communities, particularly among women, whose migration and adaptation to a new country often entail significant emotional and psychological challenges.

He underscored that these discussions are part of the ongoing commitment of the mission to support the hardworking Dominican community in Belgium and Luxembourg, particularly in crucial areas like mental health, which contribute to strengthening unity and solidarity.

These activities were made possible with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic (MIREX) and Air Europa. Special acknowledgment is extended to Mrs. Gloria Paniagua, Veridania Mercedes, and Mórela Segura of the Bedford Hotel for their cooperation in facilitating the events.

“Estamos trabajando de buena fe con Oxford para alcanzar un nuevo acuerdo justo”, decía la carta, continuando con la frase tranquilizadora: “Sus médicos seguirán siendo parte de la red y debería mantener sus citas con sus proveedores”.

En los meses siguientes, llegaron una avalancha de comunicaciones sobre la disputa tanto del hospital como de la aseguradora. Pasaban de “tienes que preocuparte” a “no tienes que preocuparte'”, contó Feldman.

A fines de febrero, finalmente cayó la bomba: desde el 1 de marzo, el Mount Sinai ya no estaría en la red de la aseguradora de Feldman.

“De repente tuve que cambiar todos mis médicos, gran estrés”, dijo Feldman. Eso incluía no solo a un querido médico de atención primaria, sino también a un ginecólogo, un ortopedista y un fisioterapeuta.

Uno de los aspectos más injustos del seguro médico, en un sistema que a menudo parece diseñado para la frustración, es este: los pacientes solo pueden cambiar de seguro durante los períodos de inscripción abierta al final del año o cuando experimentan “eventos de vida” que califican para una inscripción especial, como un divorcio o un cambio de trabajo.

Pero los contratos de las aseguradoras con médicos, hospitales y farmacéuticas (o sus intermediarios, los llamados administradores de beneficios farmacéuticos) pueden cambiar abruptamente de la noche a la mañana.

Esto es particularmente irritante para los pacientes porque, ya sea que tengan cobertura a través de un empleador o compren un seguro en el mercado, generalmente eligen un plan en función de si cubre a sus médicos y hospitales preferidos, o a un medicamento costoso que necesitan.

Resulta que esa cobertura particular podría desaparecer en cualquier momento durante el término de la póliza.

Los consumidores están en riesgo, según un informe reciente de la Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, en la creciente guerra de precios entre grandes sistemas hospitalarios y mega aseguradoras en un mercado despiadado.

Estas disputas de contratos están aumentando rápidamente, el sitio web Becker’s Hospital Review cita 21 enfrentamientos entre aseguradoras y proveedores en el tercer trimestre de 2023, un aumento del 91% comparado con el mismo período el año anterior.

Por ejemplo, en septiembre pasado, los médicos de Baptist Health en Kentucky cortaron abruptamente la relación con los pacientes inscritos en los planes de Medicare Advantage de Humana, y los médicos de Vanderbilt Health en Tennessee rompieron los contratos lo hicieron con varios planes de Humana, en abril.

En ambos casos los pacientes desesperados tuvieron que buscar frenéticamente nuevos médicos dentro de la red en otros sistemas hospitalarios.

Y expertos predicen más cancelaciones de contratos en un mercado cruel. (las cancelaciones que ocurren dentro del período de inscripción, generalmente entre noviembre y enero por lo menos permite que los pacientes abandonados busquen un nuevo plan que cubra sus médicos y medicamentos).

“La respuesta humana correcta es que esto es horrible”, dijo Allison Hoffman, profesora de derecho de la Universidad de Pennsylvania, incluso si la práctica, por ahora, es “probablemente legal”.

Hoffman dijo que encontró una cláusula “enterrada” en la página 32 de su propio plan médico, de 60 páginas, que sugería que los contratos entre proveedores y aseguradoras pueden cambiar en cualquier momento.

Los reguladores estatales y federales tienen la autoridad para regular las redes de aseguradoras y podrían poner fin a la práctica, dijo Hoffman. Pero hasta ahora “no ha habido regulación federal sobre la continuidad de la cobertura”, especialmente sobre cómo definirla. Sospecha que el aparente aumento en disputas de contratos entre aseguradoras y proveedores se deriva de las regulaciones sobre la transparencia de los precios hospitalarios, que entraron en vigencia en 2022 y han permitido a los hospitales comparar tasas de reembolso entre sí.

De hecho, el Mount Sinai dijo que exigía un mejor reembolso de UnitedHealthcare porque descubrió que estaba recibiendo pagos considerablemente más bajos que otras “instituciones similares”.

Muchas aseguradoras dicen que continuarán pagando por un período después de que termine un contrato —en general de entre 60 a 90 días— o para completar un “episodio de atención” particular, como un embarazo.

Pero, por ejemplo, con el cáncer, ¿eso significaría una ronda de quimioterapia o el curso completo de un tratamiento, que podría durar muchos años? ¿Es continuidad de cobertura si un paciente debe cambiar de oncólogo en medio de una terapia, o si tiene que dejar a un terapeuta eficaz?

Erin Moses, que trabaja para una pequeña organización sin fines de lucro, encontró a un nuevo terapeuta que le gustó después que ella y su esposo se mudaron a la Costa Central de California en febrero del año pasado. En septiembre, recibió una factura de la práctica que decía que había terminado su contrato con Anthem porque la aseguradora era lenta con sus reembolsos. Esto la dejó con una factura de $814.

“No es que no pudiéramos pagarlo, pero mi esposo y yo estamos tratando de ahorrar para una casa, y eso es mucho dinero”, dijo.

A menudo, a los pacientes los toma desprevenidos, sin saber qué hacer. Cuando Laura Alley se cayó de una escalera en septiembre de 2020 y necesitó cirugía para reparar su pelvis quebrada, el hospital y el cirujano estaban en la red.

Alley escribió al proyecto “Bill of the Month” de KFF Health News y NPR y dijo: “Lo que no podía saber de ninguna manera era que el grupo que proporcionaba la anestesia estaba en disputa con el proveedor de seguros de nuestra firma, y que desde el 30 de julio de 2020, ya no estaban en la red”.

Se sintió “como un títere”, dijo. “Mientras trabajo para recuperarme de una lesión traumática, estoy atrapada en medio de una disputa entre una enorme compañía de seguros y un gran grupo de médicos”.

Alley es dueña de una pequeña firma de arquitectura con su esposo, y terminaron pagando “casi $10,000” por servicios de anestesia fuera de la red. (Este tipo de factura fuera de la red para el paciente ahora estaría prohibido por el No Surprises Act, vigente desde 2022).

Nada de esto será noticia para Feldman, la paciente del Mount Sinai que fue una inocente espectadora en la disputa del sistema hospitalario con Oxford Health Plans. Los padres de Feldman la llamaron recientemente, diciendo que recibieron una carta de su aseguradora, Anthem, diciendo que el 1 de mayo podría terminar su contrato con el Hospital NewYork-Presbyterian, en donde la madrastra de Feldman recibe tratamiento por un cáncer de mama.

Es malo para la salud —y para la cordura— de los pacientes que las promesas percibidas de atención en sus planes de seguro puedan desaparecer repentinamente a mitad de año. Y los reguladores pueden hacer algo al respecto: obligar a los proveedores y aseguradoras a mantener sus contratos entre sí durante todo el término de las pólizas de los pacientes, para que ninguno quedé atrapado en una guerra con la que no tienen nada que ver.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.

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Most of us have cravings for foods, ideally to be consumed immediately. That should be greasy, salty, sweet, spicy, crunchy, or crispy, but we are left with nothing to eat. We should always try to eat nutritious food to stop our food cravings or to fulfil the urge for food cravings. We must know the cause of the cravings.

The cravings are caused by various factors that may include nutritional deficiencies, hormonal fluctuations, emotional states, environmental cues, or blood sugar fluctuations.

Sometimes, the body craves certain foods because they lack specific nutrients or due to changes in hormones due to the menstrual cycle or pregnancy, which can lead to cravings. Anxiety, frustration, sorrow and even joy can cause food cravings. Low blood sugar levels can result in cravings for sugary foods or carbohydrates.

A question arises about how we can deal with these cravings. Food cravings require focusing on balance, nutrient-dense foods, and mindful eating. Your meal should always contain a variety of protein sources, good fats, fiber-rich carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables.

This equilibrium lessens the chance of cravings by helping to maintain blood sugar levels and prolonging feelings of satisfaction. To deal with food cravings, mindful eating with healthy snacks and adequate sleep might help to stay stress-free and hydrated, leading to reduced cravings.

While it is obvious that some foods might make us want more, it is less if food can become an addiction, just like drugs and alcohol. So, we should always keep an eye on what we intake or crave.

When we don’t follow a good diet, this can lead to stress, less sleep, and laziness. You run the danger of overeating if you put off eating because you are busy or distracted. Eating later will just make you more hungry. So always try to eat healthy food on time.

Try to be hydrated and drink plenty of water throughout the day. Sometimes, dehydration is confused with hunger. Intake of water or herbal teas might also help reduce unwanted cravings. Whenever you are craving junk food, try to avoid it or replace it with fruits or something healthy. Fruits not only keep you healthy but also increase protein and fibre in your body.

You should always pay attention to your hunger and fullness cues and practice mindful eating by focusing on enjoying your food. Avoid distractions while eating to prevent thoughtless overeating.

Include healthy fats in your meals, like watermelon, bananas, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, etc. Healthy fats provide satiety and contribute to overall satisfaction with meals. You should prioritize fibre in your meals. Meats, poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, and dairy products are great sources of rich protein that help you control your appetite and cravings by promoting a feeling of fullness.

Food cravings are common and can be hard to ignore, leading to consuming excessive amounts of calories, poor nutrients and junk food like cake, ice cream, etc. You should avoid unhealthy food and go for something healthy and nutritious that gives you energy and keeps you healthy to control your food cravings.

Food cravings are normal, but if you find yourself more engaged with your cravings than regular ones, then it can be harmful, and you must consult with the doctor.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are of the author and not of Medical Dialogues. The Editorial/Content team of Medical Dialogues has not contributed to the writing/editing/packaging of this article.

The Vector Control Unit of the Ministry of Health and Wellness will take the fight against mosquito-borne illnesses to three parishes this week – St Lucy, St Peter, and St James.

The team will fog districts in St Lucy on Monday, March 18, including Crab Hill No. 2, Content, Long Gap, Coles Cave Road, Grape Hall, Archers Bay, and Salmond.

The following day, Tuesday, March 19, they will return to that parish and visit Durham, Mount View Road, Rock Hall Road, Jemmotts, Mount Gay, Alexandra, Josey Hill, Nestfield, and Pickerings.

The Unit will then take its mosquito eradication efforts to St Peter, on Wednesday, March 20, when Graveyard, Date Tree Hill, Boscobel, Collins, Diamond Corner, Moore Hill, Castle, Gays, and surrounding areas will be sprayed.

On Thursday, March 21, and Friday, March 22, the parish of St James will be targeted. On Thursday, the team will go into Upper Mount Standfast, Weston, Taylor Gap, Fox Club Road, Reid Gap, Pineapple Avenue, Prescod Road, Husband Road, The Garden, and Store House Road.

The fogging exercise for the week will conclude on Friday, in the following communities: Store House Road, Haynes View Close, Patanne Gardens, Willow Heights Drive, Pavilion Grove, Glitter Bay Terrace, Ince Walk, Mango Drive, Heron Court, Trent’s Tenantry, and Jamestown Park.

Fogging takes place from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. daily. Householders are reminded to open their windows and doors to allow the spray to enter. Children should not be allowed to play in the fog.

Members of the public are advised that the completion of scheduled fogging activities may be affected by events beyond the Unit’s control. In such circumstances, the Unit will return to communities affected in the soonest possible time.

(BGIS)

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It is part of the second phase of the Ministry’s Build Them Out, Starve Them Out, Kill Them Out, rat reduction campaign. The partnership will see businesses adopt signs and garbage bins that would encourage members of the public to refrain from littering.

The bins are being placed along the south coast. The campaign also involves correcting the businesses’ garbage disposal methods to help “starve out” the rats.

Senior Environmental Health Officer at the Randal Phillips Polyclinic in Oistins, Trevor Taylor, explained that health officials discovered some deficiencies in the way businesses were storing garbage, which encouraged the proliferation of rats because these businesses became a food source.

“We engaged the business owners along the coast on how they should store garbage appropriately in bins and garbage houses and have it removed at appropriate times. We also found there was a lot of litter around the boardwalk coming from persons using that area,” Taylor stated.

He added: “It is not only about rats but about the outlook for Barbados as a clean destination and protecting the marine environment. I like spearfishing and the amount of litter you find in the sea is amazing. It is not just for businesses to get involved; it is for everybody. Just take your garbage and place it in bins.”

The Senior Environmental Health Officer said one aspect of the campaign, which started in August, last year, is to ‘rat proof’ the garbage bins, which is the “build out” component. However, he pointed out that this was still a work in progress.

Taylor noted that the bins health inspectors are aiming to have placed along the south coast will have a key, so business owners can open and lock the bins, when necessary, to keep out rodents. In the meantime, health inspectors continue to bait along the south coast, the “kill them out” phase of the campaign.

So far, he said two well-known businesses, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pirates Inn, have partnered with the Ministry to combat littering and rodents on the south coast, with a number of hotels expressing an interest in coming on board.

Businesses interested in partnering with the Ministry of Health and Wellness in its rodent reduction campaign may contact Taylor at the Randal Philips Polyclinic at telephone number 536-4314.

SOURCE: BGIS

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