| |SEPTEMBER 20268TOP STORIESNOVARTIS BETS RS 1,250 CRORE ON PFIZER'S MINIPRESS BRAND IN INDIAPSYCHEDELIC DRUG SHOWS POTENTIAL BEYOND MENTAL HEALTHCENTRE'S HPV DRIVE UNDER WATCH AS PIL SEEKS SUPREME COURT INTERVENTIONWHY INDIA NEEDS GLOBAL REGULATORY STANDARDS TO ATTRACT PHARMANADDA PUSHES ADVANCED DIAGNOSTICS AT SAFDARJUNG HOSPITALNovartis India has approved a Rs 1,250 crore deal to acquire Pfizer's Minipress and Minipress trademarks in India. The deal also includes certain related intellectual property rights. The company's board approved the transaction on September 7, 2026. Novartis India also signed an asset purchase agreement with Pfizer Inc. and Pfizer Products Inc. The deal gives Novartis control of an established brand used in hypertension treatment and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The transaction covers the Minipress and Minipress trademarks registered in India. It also includes certain related intellectual property rights. POA psychedelic drug may find a new role beyond mental health as researchers explore whether psilocybin can prevent nerve damage caused by chemotherapy. Scientists at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that the compound protected sensory nerves and preserved touch sensation in mice exposed to chemotherapy. The findings could open a new direction for supportive cancer care, where preventing treatment-related nerve injury remains an important challenge. Researchers now plan to test the approach in people, creating a potential bridge between psychedelic medicine, neuroscience and oncology. POThe Centre's HPV vaccination drive comes under close watch as public interest litigation seeks Supreme Court intervention over informed consent, safety protocols, and accountability. A petition filed by the Universal Health Organization challenges the government-backed human papillomavirus vaccination program, arguing that it violates the constitutional rights of parents and minor children.The PIL demands immediate suspension of the school-based component until authorities put a legally compliant consent framework in place. With the matter expected to reach the Supreme Court this week, the case brings into focus the balance between public health goals and individual rights in India's major cervical cancer prevention effort. POIndia's pharma industry is looking beyond generics, but regulatory standards could determine how quickly it attracts global investment in innovation. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has called for greater alignment with developed markets to make India more attractive for research, clinical trials, and new drug development. Speaking at the Bharat Health Global Expo 2026, Goyal said India needs an open regulatory system that encourages companies to invest in clinical trials, R&D, patenting, and new product launches. He also urged regulators to study rules followed by developed countries and move toward greater regulatory convergence. PONadda pushes advanced diagnostics at Safdarjung Hospital with the inauguration of new specialized facilities. Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda has opened a Centre for Advanced Bladder Diagnostics and PET-CT and SPECT-CT services at VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi. The additions aim to strengthen specialized diagnostic capacity at an affordable cost and support both patient care and postgraduate training. The bladder center introduces an approach attempted for the first time in India. Together, the new services are expected to benefit thousands of patients each year. PO
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