| |MAY 20268TOP STORIESLIQUID BIOPSY TEST INDIA DEBUT SIGNALS NEW CANCER SHIFTAUROBINDO PHARMA GETS USFDA EIR FOR TELANGANA ORAL UNITSTAR HEALTH EXPANDS AFFORDABLE INSURANCE PLANS ACROSS SMALLER CITIESZYDUS BIOLOGICS PLANT GETS 7 USFDA OBSERVATIONS AFTER AUDITMOUNJARO BECOMES WORLD'S BEST-SELLING DRUG IN 2026A Liquid Biopsy Test could reshape how cancer is detected in India, where a large number of cases are still diagnosed at advanced stages. Limited access to routine screening, lack of awareness, and reliance on invasive procedures have long delayed early diagnosis, making treatment more difficult and outcomes less favorable for many patients.The arrival of the Liquid Biopsy Test offers a different path. Instead of surgical or tissue-based biopsies, this method uses a simple blood sample to detect tiny fragments of tumor DNA circulating in the bloodstream. This multi-cancer detection approach allows screening for several cancers at once, including lung, breast, colorectal, liver, and prostate cancers. By identifying the disease earlier, it aims to improve survival rates and reduce the burden of late-stage treatment. POAurobindo Pharma has received the Establishment Inspection Report (EIR) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for its Telangana-based oral solid dosage manufacturing unit, marking the successful closure of a key regulatory inspection. The development is seen as a positive step for the company's operations in the U.S. pharmaceutical market and is expected to strengthen Star Health is expanding its affordable health insurance plans across tier-2 and tier-3 cities as the company looks to tap into rising healthcare awareness in smaller towns. The insurer's latest move reflects the growing demand for low-cost health coverage in non-metro markets, where families are increasingly seeking financial protection against rising medical expenses and hospitalization costs.The company plans to introduce two new affordable insurance products during the current financial year to strengthen its presence in underserved regions. Managing Director and CEO Anand Roy said the expansion is part of a broader strategy to make health insurance more accessible to middle-income households outside major urban centres. POThe Zydus Biologics plant has received seven observations from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) after a recent inspection at the company's injectable manufacturing facility in Ahmedabad. The inspection was carried out between April 27 and May 5, 2026, at Unit 9 of the Zydus Biotech Park in Changodar, Gujarat.In a regulatory filing, Zydus Lifesciences said the inspection ended Mounjaro has officially overtaken Merck's Keytruda to become the world's best-selling drug, marking a major shift in the global pharmaceutical market. The blockbuster diabetes treatment from Eli Lilly & Co. generated USD 8.7 billion in sales during the first quarter of 2026, surpassing the USD 7.9 billion posted by Keytruda, the cancer therapy developed by Merck & Co..Keytruda had held the top spot since early 2023, when it replaced AbbVie's Humira as the world's highest-selling drug. But Lilly's rapid rise in the obesity and diabetes treatment market has changed the rankings faster than many expected. Lilly's dominance becomes even more clear when combining sales of Mounjaro and its weight-loss counterpart Zepbound, both powered by the active ingredient tirzepatide. Together, the two drugs generated USD 36.5 billion in 2025, well ahead of Keytruda's annual sales of USD 31.6 billion. POconfidence in its manufacturing and compliance standards.The inspection was carried out at the company's Unit-VII facility located at the Green Industrial Park in Polepally Village, Jedcherla Mandal, Telangana, from January 28 to February 10, 2026. At the end of the inspection, the USFDA had issued a Form 483 with nine observations related to manufacturing processes and quality practices. PO
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