#6: Knee surgery goes AI, lateral flow tests get smarter & pharma goes global!

This week in healthcare: India’s first AI-powered knee surgery robot is here, lateral flow tests are diagnosing strokes, and MIT’s latest breakthrough turns skin cells into neurons! Meanwhile, Indian pharma is making big moves—Syngene buys its first US biologics facility, Sun Pharma expands in oncology, and Policybazaar bets big on healthcare. Plus, Trump’s proposed tariffs could shake up US drug prices. Stay ahead with the latest in healthcare!

• 🦿 Step aside, old-school surgery—India’s first AI-powered knee replacement robot, Misso, is here to revolutionise orthopaedics! Inaugurated by PM Modi at the Namo Hospital in Silvassa, this homegrown tech promises precision, speedier recoveries, and improved patient outcomes, marking a significant advancement in Indian healthcare. (eHealth)

• 🚀 Lateral flow tests (LFTs) are evolving beyond COVID-19 detection, now being used for stroke diagnosis, sepsis detection, and monitoring vitamin D, cholesterol, and iron levels. With expanded applications, LFTs are proving to be a gamechanger for rapid, on-site testing. (Guardian)

• 🧠 MIT engineers have cracked a way to turn skin cells into neurons—no stem cells needed! Tested in mice with high success, this breakthrough could open new doors for treating spinal cord injuries and diseases like ALS. (MIT)

• 👵 Imagine tracking your aging process with a simple saliva test! Bayer and Hurdle's new discovery, InflammAge, makes it possible to monitor inflammation and predict health risks to track aging without the hassle of blood tests. (Bayer)

• 🚦 India’s pharma exports hit a roadblock! The Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) is pushing back against a new rule requiring extra approvals for drug exports, warning it could choke the industry, stifle innovation, and even drive trade underground. (ET)

• 🚨 Under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, AI-driven monitoring has flagged 356,000 bogus claims worth ₹643 crore, leading to penalties of ₹122 crore for 1,504 hospitals and the suspension of 549 facilities. Looks like some hospitals just got discharged… permanently! (BS)

• 📉 Indian pharmaceutical companies are set to launch generic versions of Empagliflozin, a key diabetes medication, at prices 85-90% lower than the original, following the drug's patent expiry on March 11. This move aims to make diabetes treatment more affordable and accessible to over 100 million diabetics in India. (TOI)

• 💉 India: The Vaccination Station of the World! Producing 60% of global vaccines, India is injecting itself into the spotlight, with Thiruvananthapuram and Pune leading the charge. Research, development, and distribution? India’s got a prescription for global health! (ET)

• 📊 Are Indian generic drugs under fire? A recent study claims that U.S.-sold Indian generics (2009–2018) had a 54% higher risk of serious side effects than local brands. But the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance isn’t having it—they’re calling out the study’s methods and pushing back on the findings! (ET)

🇮🇳 India

• 🏏  The Director-General of Health Services has bowled a googly at the IPL, urging a ban on all tobacco and alcohol ads during matches, citing a 'social and moral obligation' to promote public health. (TOI)

• 📝 The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) just dropped Patent Mitra—your new BFF in the patent world! This initiative is here to guide biomedical trailblazers through the tricky patent filing maze, making it easier to turn big ideas into game-changing innovations. (MD)

🌏️ Global

• 🩸 A new WHO study reveals that haemorrhage and hypertensive disorders like preeclampsia caused nearly 130,000 maternal deaths in 2020, stressing the urgent need for better pregnancy care worldwide! (NM)

• 🇺🇸 Trump’s tariff talk on Indian generic drugs could drive up medication costs in the US, disrupt supply chains, and worsen drug shortages, as India supplies nearly 50% of America's medicines. (BBC)

🇮🇳 India

• 🌍 India’s Syngene International, offering end-to-end drug discovery, development, and manufacturing on a single platform, has acquired its first U.S. biologics facility from Emergent Manufacturing Operations Baltimore for $36.5 million. This strategic move strengthens India's push to expand global biotech capabilities and reduce reliance on China. (Reuters)

• 💊 Sun Pharma is boosting their oncology portfolio! With a $355 million acquisition of Checkpoint Therapeutics, they’re bringing UNLOXCYT, the only FDA-approved anti-PD-L1 treatment for advanced skin cancer (cSCC), to more patients worldwide. (ET)

• 🚀 Zydus, the Indian pharma giant is making bold moves, acquiring an 85.6% stake in France's Amplitude Surgical for €256.8 million. Talk about making the cut in the global medtech market! (Mint)

• 💰️ Policybazaar’s parent, PB Fintech, is injecting ₹696 crore into its healthcare arm, PB Healthcare Services, to supercharge growth! Launched in Jan 2025, the subsidiary will use the funds to expand operations, boost branding, and roll out innovative healthcare solutions. (eHealth)

• 🤝 India’s healthcare and pharma sector is on a deal-making spree! Between 2022 and 2024, 594 M&A and PE deals worth over $30 billion reshaped the industry—driven by hospital mergers, cutting-edge tech, and rising investor confidence in specialised care. (BW)

• 🤖 India's diabetes care devices market is set to grow at a steady 4% CAGR through 2033, fueled by AI-powered innovations like smarter glucose prediction and automated insulin delivery. With tech taking the reins, managing diabetes is getting easier, faster, and more accurate! (EH)