Akums launches generic formulation to treat migraine Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd., a contract manufacturing pharmaceutical company, on Friday announced that it has launched the Lasmiditan tablet which is prescribed to treat migraine. This medication has received approvals from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). It is the generic formulation of Eli Lilly’s REYVOW which is indicated for treatment of acute migraine. In a 2019 report, it was revealed that headache disorders, including both migraines and tension-type headaches, have emerged as the most prevalent neurological conditions in India, affecting an astonishing 488 million individuals. The International Headache Society (IHS) outlines criteria for diagnosing migraine, including specific characteristics and associated symptoms observed in at least five attacks. Two main subtypes, migraine without aura and migraine with aura, present distinct features, with the latter involving focal neurological symptoms preceding or accompanying the headache. “Migraine poses a significant global impact. According to a 2019 report, headache disorders, encompassing migraine and tension-type headaches, emerged as the most widespread neurological conditions in India, impacting a staggering 488 million individuals. Despite this substantial prevalence and the resulting disability, migraine awareness among patients remains inadequate. Compounded by frequent misdiagnosis as other headache disorders, these factors contribute to an increased burden associated with migraine. In light of this, Akums aims to provide a solution for managing this condition with the introduction of the Lasmiditan tablet,” Sanjeev Jain, Joint Managing Director, Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd., said.
Logistics, good or bad, are driven by the states and the commerce ministry has a LEADS (Logistics Ease Across Different States) report, based on perceptions. The 2023 version was released in December. Since states are heterogenous, in the reporting, they are divided into four groups—coastal, landlocked, north-east, and UTs. States that do well are called achievers. Nomenclature matters. Thus, states that are middling aren’t called average. They are called fast movers. States that are sub-par are called aspirers. Let me highlight coastal states, since 75% of export cargo is estimated to originate from them. Among coastal states, ones that do well are Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. The ones that lag are Goa, Odisha, and West Bengal. While India’s logistics performance may have improved over time, that’s not true of every state. Some have slipped. Most states have a state-level logistics policy, including Goa and Odisha. West Bengal, bottom of the pecking order in the coastal category, doesn’t have one. To quote from LEADS 2023, “Looking ahead, the State (West Bengal) could benefit from formulating a State Logistics Master Plan and State Logistics Policy to drive efficiency improvements and facilitate investments within the logistics sector and undertake consultation with the logistics stakeholders for educating and informing them about the initiatives State is undertaking for the development and improvement of logistics sector.”
Logistics has been talked about for a long time and India has also focused on improving performance. We are now getting some precise data on measurement and quantification. That helps.
Bibek Debroy, chairman, EAC-PM. Views are personal.