Japan launches new, cheaper rocket
Japan
successfully launched a new rocket Saturday that it hopes will be a cheaper and
more efficient way of sending satellites into space.
The
three-stage Epsilon lifted off from a space centre on Japan’s southern main
island of Kyushu, following a two-week postponement. An earlier launch last
month was aborted 19 seconds before a planned liftoff due to a computer glitch.
About an
hour after the liftoff, its payload the SPRINT—A, the first space telescope
designed to observe other planets was successfully put into orbit, said Mari
Harada, a spokeswoman at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA.
The
liftoff was broadcast live on television networks, with footage showing a
white, pencil-shaped rocket shot into the sky from the launch pad after
spurting gray smoke and orange flash.
The
agency declared it was a success.
“It was
so thrilled that I was almost speechless,” JAXA President Naoki Okumura told a
televised news conference. “The challenge we had to face makes the excitement
even greater.”
The
Epsilon is the first new rocket design for Japan since the H2A was introduced
in 2001. The H2A remains Japan’s primary rocket but officials hope the Epsilon
will lead to improvements in the more costly H2A program. Japan hopes to be
more competitive in the international rocket—launching business.
Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe said the success of a genuinely homemade rocket was a fruit
of Japan’s expertise and technology in space development.
“It
demonstrates Japanese space technology is highly reliable,” he said in a
statement. He added that the success would lead to a self-sustainable space
transportation system, further space utilization and to help Japan’s economic
growth.
JAXA said
the Epsilon costs about 3.8 billion yen ($40 million), one-third the cost of
the H2A. The rocket is about 24 m (80 feet) tall, half the size of the H2A, and
can be assembled and readied for launch in just one week, one-sixth of the time
required for the H2A.
The
Epsilon rocket, which uses a solid-fuel propellant, is meant to expand the
scope of space missions Japan hopes to perform. It also streamlines the launch
process.
JAXA says
the rocket’s extensive use of computer technology means monitoring work that
once required a full-staff control room can be done essentially on a single
laptop.
Compulsory licensing required for Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.’s anti-cancer drug Dasatinib
An expert
committee on compulsory licensing recommended to the Department of Industrial
Policy and Promotion (DIPP) to issue a compulsory licence for the manufacture
of Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.’s anti-cancer drug Dasatinib. This drug is used in
the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia.
Dasatinib became the second drug recommended by the DIPP for compulsory licence. In March 2012, India issued its first compulsory licence to Natco Pharma Ltd. for the manufacture of Bayer AG’s Nexavar anti-cancer drug.
The Health Ministry approached DIPP in January 2013 for compulsory licences of three anti cancer drugs namely Roche Holding AG’s breast cancer treatment Herceptin (Trastuzumab) , Bristol mayers Squibb’s lekeamia medicine Sprycle (Dasatinib) and Ixempora (Ixabepilone).
The proposal was made by the health ministry to the DIPP to make the cancer drug cheaper. Now a month’s dose cost is 1.6 lakh rupees.
According to Section 85 of the Indian Patents Act, 1970 a compulsory licence for manufacture of a patented pharmaceutical product can be issued, if the drug is considered unaffordable by the Government.
Role of Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) of The World Trade Organization’s (WTO) agreement allows a country to issue a compulsory licence without the consent of the innovator, if it is in public interest.
About Dasatinib
It is anti cancer drug. This drug is manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (BMS). If compulsory licence is issued on dasatinib, the cost of the drug comes down to 8000 rupees from 1.6 lakh rupees for one month dose.
About Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia
Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) is a type cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. In CML the bone marrow produces too many white cells called Granulocytes. These cells sometimes called blasts or lekaemic blasts gradually crowd the bone marrow, interfering with normal blood cell production. They also spill out of the bone marrow and circulate around the body in the bloodstream. Because they are not fully mature, they are unable to work properly to fight infections. Over time, a shortage of red cells and platelets can cause anaemia, bleeding and/or bruising.
CML usually develops gradually, during the early stages of disease, and progresses slowly over weeks or months. It has three phases: the chronic phase, the accelerated phase and the blast phase. These phases are distinguished by the number of blast cells (immature white cells) in the blood and bone marrow, and the severity of symptoms.
Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion
The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion was established in 1995 and has been reconstituted in the year 2000 with the merger of the Department of Industrial Development. It comes under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Government of India.
Dasatinib became the second drug recommended by the DIPP for compulsory licence. In March 2012, India issued its first compulsory licence to Natco Pharma Ltd. for the manufacture of Bayer AG’s Nexavar anti-cancer drug.
The Health Ministry approached DIPP in January 2013 for compulsory licences of three anti cancer drugs namely Roche Holding AG’s breast cancer treatment Herceptin (Trastuzumab) , Bristol mayers Squibb’s lekeamia medicine Sprycle (Dasatinib) and Ixempora (Ixabepilone).
The proposal was made by the health ministry to the DIPP to make the cancer drug cheaper. Now a month’s dose cost is 1.6 lakh rupees.
According to Section 85 of the Indian Patents Act, 1970 a compulsory licence for manufacture of a patented pharmaceutical product can be issued, if the drug is considered unaffordable by the Government.
Role of Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) of The World Trade Organization’s (WTO) agreement allows a country to issue a compulsory licence without the consent of the innovator, if it is in public interest.
About Dasatinib
It is anti cancer drug. This drug is manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (BMS). If compulsory licence is issued on dasatinib, the cost of the drug comes down to 8000 rupees from 1.6 lakh rupees for one month dose.
About Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia
Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) is a type cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. In CML the bone marrow produces too many white cells called Granulocytes. These cells sometimes called blasts or lekaemic blasts gradually crowd the bone marrow, interfering with normal blood cell production. They also spill out of the bone marrow and circulate around the body in the bloodstream. Because they are not fully mature, they are unable to work properly to fight infections. Over time, a shortage of red cells and platelets can cause anaemia, bleeding and/or bruising.
CML usually develops gradually, during the early stages of disease, and progresses slowly over weeks or months. It has three phases: the chronic phase, the accelerated phase and the blast phase. These phases are distinguished by the number of blast cells (immature white cells) in the blood and bone marrow, and the severity of symptoms.
Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion
The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion was established in 1995 and has been reconstituted in the year 2000 with the merger of the Department of Industrial Development. It comes under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Government of India.
The role
and functions:
•
Formulation and implementation of industrial policy and strategies for
industrial development in conformity with the development needs and national
objectives.
• Monitoring the industrial growth, in general, and performance of industries specifically assigned to it, in particular, including advice on all industrial and technical matters.
• Formulation of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Policy and promotion, approval and facilitation of FDI.
• Encouragement to foreign technology collaborations at enterprise level and formulating policy parameters for the same.
• Formulation of policies relating to Intellectual Property Rights in the fields of Patents, Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications of Goods and administration of regulations and rules .
• Administration of Industries (Development & Regulation) Act, 1951.
• Promoting industrial development of industrially backward areas and the North Eastern Region including International Co-operation for industrial partnerships.
• Promotion of productivity, quality and technical cooperation.
• Monitoring the industrial growth, in general, and performance of industries specifically assigned to it, in particular, including advice on all industrial and technical matters.
• Formulation of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Policy and promotion, approval and facilitation of FDI.
• Encouragement to foreign technology collaborations at enterprise level and formulating policy parameters for the same.
• Formulation of policies relating to Intellectual Property Rights in the fields of Patents, Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications of Goods and administration of regulations and rules .
• Administration of Industries (Development & Regulation) Act, 1951.
• Promoting industrial development of industrially backward areas and the North Eastern Region including International Co-operation for industrial partnerships.
• Promotion of productivity, quality and technical cooperation.
Biocon signed a Pact with CytoSorbents for Sepsis Treatment Therapy
Biotechnology
major Biocon on 13 September 2013 inked a pact with CytoSorbents Corporation,
under which the Bangalore-based firm will have the exclusive commercialization
rights for CytoSorb, a novel therapy for the treatment of sepsis, in India and
some emerging markets.
The
partnership with CytoSorbents will enable Biotechnology to address the huge
unmet need of sepsis management in India and emerging markets. CytoSorb is a
first-in-class therapy that can provide an effective solution to physicians to
treat critically ill patients suffering from sepsis.
CytoSorbents
expects sales of CytoSorb to benefit from Biocon's strong regional sales and
distribution network across India
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