To explore the pharmacological mechanism of action using digital twin

With the advent of medical technology and science, the number of animals used in research has increased. For decades, the use of animals in research and product testing has been a point of conflict. Experts and pharmaceutical manufacturers are harming animals worldwide during laboratory research. Animals have also played a significant role in the advancement of science; animal testing has enabled the discovery of various novel drugs. The misery, suffering, and deaths of animals are not worth the potential human benefits. As a result, animals must not be exploited in research to assess the drug mechanism of action (MOA). Apart from the ethical concern, animal testing has a few more downsides, including the requirement for skilled labor, lengthy processes, and cost. Because it is critical to investigate adverse effects and toxicities in the development of potentially viable drugs. Assessment of each target will consume the range of resources as well as disturb living nature. As the digital twin works in an autonomous virtual world without influencing the physical structure and biological system. Our proposed framework suggests that the digital twin is a great reliable model of the physical system that will be beneficial in assessing the possible MOA prior to time without harming animals. The study describes the creation of a digital twin to combine the information and knowledge obtained by studying the different drug targets and diseases. Mechanism of Action using Digital twin (MOA-DT) will enable the experts to use an innovative approach without physical testing to save animals, time, and resources. DT reflects and simulates the actual drug and its relationships with its target, however presenting a more accurate depiction of the drug, which leads to maximize efficacy and decrease the toxicity of a drug. In conclusion, it has been shown that drug discovery and development can be safe, effective, and economical in no time through the combination of the digital and physical models of a pharmaceutical as compared to experimental animals.

ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC AWARENESS OF GENERICS AND THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARD DOMESTIC PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS AND REPRODUCED DRUGS/ GENERICS

Цель исследования - определить уровень информированности среди населения как по вопросам генериков, так и о фармацевтической промышленности Казахстана. Анкета была разработана с применением системного подхода к её структуре и с соответствующими вопросами, проведён метод онлайн опроса и осуществлена обработка анкет представителей разных сфер деятельности, результаты анкетирования приведены в сравнительном аспекте с использованием диаграмм. При составлении вопросов особое внимание было уделено к вопросам касающихся предпочтений потребителей при выборе страны- производителя, а также их отношение к воспроизведенным препаратам. В публикации затрагивается тема пользы производства генериков по мнению потребителей, а также их личный опыт использования воспроизведенных препаратов. Вопросы были сгруппированы по трем блокам для более структурированного описания ответов: вводные вопросы; опыт применения; Отечественные производители. При формировании вопросов анкеты был соблюден принцип однозначности и краткости The purpose of the study was to determine the level of awareness among the population on both generics and the pharmaceutical industry in Kazakhstan. The questionnaire was developed using a systematic approach to its structure and with appropriate questions, an online survey method was conducted and questionnaires were processed by representatives of different areas of activity, the results of the survey are given in a comparative aspect with the use of charts. During the preparation of the questions, special attention was paid to the questions concerning the consumers' preferences when choosing the country of manufacture, as well as their attitude towards reproductions. The publication addresses the topic of the benefits of generic production in the opinion of consumers, as well as their personal experience of using reproduced drugs. The questions were grouped into three blocks for a more structured description of the answers: introductory questions; experience of use; and Domestic manufacturers. The principle of unambiguity and brevity was respected in the formation of the questions of the questionnaire.

Pharmaceutical Lozenges: Recent Trends and Developments with an Update on Research and Patents

Pharmaceutical oral dosage forms are tremendously preferred by both consumers as well as pharmaceutical manufacturers owing to the plethora of benefits they offer. Lozenges (LZs) are one of the dosage forms that provide a palatable means of drug administration and have great importance with respect to their pharmaceutical applications. LZs offer additional benefits to pediatric and geriatric patients, along with people having associated problems with the gastro-intestinal tract. Dysphagia is a common problem faced by all age groups, which gives rise to the need for LZs. Moreover, the foremost merit presented by the medicated LZs includes its augmented retention time in the oral cavity that results in an enhanced bioavailability for buccal or upper gastro-intestinal disorders. Further, LZs can also be used to bypass the first-pass effect. The present review covers various aspects of LZs such as formulation, manufacturing techniques, evaluation parameters, marketed products, patents, and a compilation of research work that has been done on lozenges as a delivery system.

A Review on the Continually Occurring Mutations in COVID-19

The emerging pandemic situation has created unease and dismay at every level, from governing bodies to population and from pharmaceutical manufacturers to front-line servers. Everyone is scarified by the death-dealing and ruinous effects of COVID-19. The encouraging and positive news about vaccine development and successful trials of vaccine proved to be remedial, but another dilemma arises in the form of mutation of the deadly virus. Question marks are arising about the lethality of mutated strain, lack of management and protective measures by the governing bodies, and ambiguities are aroused about the effectiveness of vaccines against them. After an all-inclusive and particularized study and genomic examination of the virus, the researchers have put forward the details that Coronavirus Mutation is Worrying but Not Terrifying. The upshot is that it is required to screen, but at present, their mark suggests that the new strain in the UK is more transmissible but neither severe nor resistant.

Active search about latex in injectable drugs for patient’s safety in medical therapy

Objectives: To classify injectable drugs used in a general hospital inventory according to latex presence or absence in vials with rubber stoppers, antibiotics, and electrolytes bags. Methods: The information about latex content has been collected from medicine industries, after identification of authorized manufacturers in Brazil, through the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) medicine search database. Medicines have been grouped per pharmaceutical manufacturers, and data were collected through telephone or e-mail. Only written information from pharmaceutical companies were considered. Results: Among 161 medicines used in the hospital packaged in vials with rubber stoppers, antibiotics, and electrolytes bags, 123 (76.4%) medicine-related responses were received, covering 540 (82.2%) different presentations. For this, from 87 contacts, 70 (80.5%) companies responded and 65 (74.7%) provided information related to the presence or absence of the allergen. Among the medicine list, 8 (6.5%) were identified as containing latex (in 12 different presentations – 2.2%) and 101 medications (82.1%) in 507 presentations (93.9%) do not contain latex. The manufacturers responded that the medicine was latex-free, but could not confirm for raw materials (6 medicines – 4.9% - in 6 different presentations – 1.1%) and that they were unable to ensure there was no contact with latex during manipulation (4 medicines – 3.3% - in 8 different presentations – 1.5%). For 4 medicines (3.3%) in 7 different presentations (1.3%), the companies were inconclusive, as they could not confirm whether they were latex-free or not. Conclusion: Although latex is a known allergen, information about the presence of latex components in pharmaceutical packaging and package inserts needs improvement, since the active search identified 161 medicines packaged in vials with rubber stoppers, antibiotics, and electrolytes bags that failed to depict this information. The results of this survey endorse the Importance of displaying this information on medicines label or packaging in order to ensure healthcare professionals easy access and prompt consultation.

Pharmaceutical manufacturers ranking by sales profit for 2020

The amount of sales profit is one of the indicators of the manufacturer’s business performance. This is the financial result from the main activity of the manufacturer, which can be carried out in any form registered in its charter (and not prohibited by law). The product sales profit is defined as the difference between the proceeds from sales (without value added tax and excise taxes) and the costs of production and sales included in the product costs.

Bacterial mutagenicity test data: collection by the task force of the Japan pharmaceutical manufacturers association

Background Ames test is used worldwide for detecting the bacterial mutagenicity of chemicals. In silico analyses of bacterial mutagenicity have recently gained acceptance by regulatory agencies; however, current in silico models for prediction remain to be improved. The Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (JPMA) organized a task force in 2017 in which eight Japanese pharmaceutical companies had participated. The purpose of this task force was to disclose a piece of pharmaceutical companies’ proprietary Ames test data. Results Ames test data for 99 chemicals of various chemical classes were collected for disclosure in this study. These chemicals are related to the manufacturing process of pharmaceutical drugs, including reagents, synthetic intermediates, and drug substances. The structure-activity (mutagenicity) relationships are discussed in relation to structural alerts for each chemical class. In addition, in silico analyses of these chemicals were conducted using a knowledge-based model of Derek Nexus (Derek) and a statistics-based model (GT1_BMUT module) of CASE Ultra. To calculate the effectiveness of these models, 89 chemicals for Derek and 54 chemicals for CASE Ultra were selected; major exclusions were the salt form of four chemicals that were tested both in the salt and free forms for both models, and 35 chemicals called “known” positives or negatives for CASE Ultra. For Derek, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 65% (15/23), 71% (47/66), and 70% (62/89), respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 50% (6/12), 60% (25/42), and 57% (31/54) for CASE Ultra, respectively. The ratio of overall disagreement between the CASE Ultra “known” positives/negatives and the actual test results was 11% (4/35). In this study, 19 out of 28 mutagens (68%) were detected with TA100 and/or TA98, and 9 out of 28 mutagens (32%) were detected with either TA1535, TA1537, WP2uvrA, or their combination. Conclusion The Ames test data presented here will help avoid duplicated Ames testing in some cases, support duplicate testing in other cases, improve in silico models, and enhance our understanding of the mechanisms of mutagenesis.

Why Nigeria Must Strengthen its Local Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Capacity

With over 115 registered pharmaceutical manufacturers, Nigeria still depends on other countries for the supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients and excipients. Significant attention has not been paid to the local production of raw materials, pharmaceutical dosage formulations, or processing equipment, which has resulted in a decline in the country's pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity. Owing to the overall importance of the pharmaceutical industry, it is, therefore, essential to pay close attention to developmental issues affecting this sector. In this commentary, we explore why Nigeria must boost its local pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY IN POLAND IN THE CONTEXT OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION: CONCLUSIONS FOR UKRAINE

In the short term, the measures of the Polish government in the process of European integration proved to be ineffective and did not allow to achieve the goal set by 2002: to strengthen the competitiveness of pharmaceutical companies. The implementation of EU standards and regulations, the adoption of the law on forms of support for innovation have created the basis for the government (co-financed by EU funds) to support research and development and innovation projects and launch the sectoral program InnoNeuroPharm, which, together with tax incentives for research and development and other activities politicians, gave positive impetus to business. With the accession to the EU, Polish pharmaceutical manufacturers have improved their economic results, but still lag far behind German manufacturers, in terms of both technological level and innovation activity, as well as in terms of productivity and wages. The development of the industry is hampered by a number of obstacles: lack of a clear strategy and lack of coordination between concerned authorities; lack of incentives to attract investment; human factor and “industrial corruption”. In the process of European integration, Poland quickly managed to introduce top-down formal institutions, but the transformation of informal institutions continues today. One of the factors that caused falling behind and weak competitiveness of Ukrainian medicines is that European integration processes are aimed primarily at harmonizing the legislative and regulatory framework for pharmaceuticals production, rather than building the potential for endogenous development of the industry. It is noted that only the introduction of a purposeful comprehensive state policy of building "technological champions" in pharmaceuticals based on endogenous innovations can “convert” European integration processes into competitive Ukrainian products and bring them to European markets. It is substantiated that without mental and value changes, transformation of informal institutions and improvement of framework conditions for innovations, the country's benefits from European integration for the development of Ukrainian pharmaceuticals will be limited and unable to reduce the technological and economic gap with European industry leaders.

THE STATE OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY IN THE KINGDOM OF MOROCCO

IThe purpose of the article was to study the main characteristics of the pharmaceutical industry in Morocco. As materials were studied the official websites of pharmaceutical manufacturers in Morocco, policy documents of industrial pharmaceutical associations, specialized pharmaceutical press of Morocco, educational resources of Morocco and France. As a result, it was found that the pharmaceutical industries of Morocco and Russia are already interacting with each other: BIOCAD supplies high-tech drugs and production technologies to Morocco, Morocco has placed an order with R-Pharm for the purchase of a vaccine against COVID-19, produced under the license of AstraZeneca, and also ordered a million doses of Sputnik V vaccine. Morocco is one of the fastest growing countries in the Middle East and Africa with an economy of $119 billion, a population of 37 million,andtotalhealthspendingof5.5%ofGDP.Expendituresforhealthcarearequitehigh-53.6%oftotalfamilyexpenditures. 31.7% of total health care expenditure is spent on drug purchases. The pharmaceutical industry in Morocco began to develop in 1960 after the end of the French protector and the introduction of the obligation to localize drugs sold in Morocco by foreign pharmaceutical companies. The pharmaceutical industry in Morocco is represented by 51 factories, which cover 2/3 of the country’s drug needs. Mostly generics are produced, 10% of production is exported. The volume of the issue is $1.68 billion (2nd place in Africa). The products are of high quality and certified according to European standards. Morocco is endeavoring to transform its pharmaceutical industry into a strategic asset for influencing African countries through the creation of an «African House of Medicines» based in Morocco, which is the manufacturing and logistics center for medicines in Africa. The main documents regulating the pharmaceutical industry are: Law No. 17-04 of 2006. “Code of Medicines and Pharmacy” and Order of the Minister of Health No. 902-08 5654 of 2008. “Requirements for the premises of pharmaceutical organizations.” Thus, we conclude that the Kingdom is a regional leader with ambitious plans and a large backlog that needs new technologies, markets for pharmaceutical products, a large number of qualified personnel, high-tech drugs at affordable prices. The intensification of cooperation between Russia and Morocco will help both countries to gain a foothold in the rapidly growing pharmaceutical market in Africa.