Current Affairs - Science

QDENGA, developed by Takeda, became India's first approved dengue vaccine after receiving authorisation from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). The live attenuated vaccine provides protection against all four dengue virus serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4) and is approved for individuals aged 4 to 60 years without requiring pre-vaccination screening. Administered in two doses, the vaccine demonstrated high efficacy in global clinical trials involving over 28,000 participants. It has already been approved in 43 countries, prequalified by the World Health Organisation (WHO), and is expected to significantly strengthen India's efforts to prevent dengue infections and related hospitalisations.

Lipfendra (enlicitide) became the world's first once-daily oral PCSK9 inhibitor after receiving approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 16, 2026. Developed by Merck, the medicine works by blocking the PCSK9 protein, allowing more LDL receptors in the liver to remove bad cholesterol from the bloodstream. Clinical trials showed that it reduced LDL cholesterol levels by 56% to 60%. It is intended for adults with hypercholesterolemia, including familial hypercholesterolemia, and is used alongside statins and a healthy diet to achieve better cholesterol control.

AIIMS Nagpur serves as the technical Centre of Excellence for the prevention and management of childhood Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) under a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Maharashtra. The institution plays a key role in strengthening research, capacity building, and healthcare initiatives related to childhood NCDs. It also collaborated with UNICEF India and PIB Western Zone to conduct a media workshop aimed at raising awareness about childhood obesity, diabetes, mental health disorders, and the importance of evidence-based reporting using official health data sources.

Awiqli, developed by Novo Nordisk, is the world's first once-weekly basal insulin introduced in India for the treatment of adult diabetes. The medicine is designed to reduce the burden of daily insulin injections by requiring only one injection every week, reducing the annual number of injections from 365 to 52. It is administered through a pre-filled pen device and works by binding to the blood protein albumin, which creates a reservoir that releases insulin steadily over seven days. This helps maintain stable blood glucose levels and improves treatment convenience. Awiqli can be used by eligible patients with Type 2 diabetes either alone or with other medicines, while patients with Type 1 diabetes must use it together with short-acting insulin during mealtimes.

Pluvicto is India's first regulatory-approved radioligand therapy for advanced prostate cancer, launched by Novartis Healthcare Pvt Ltd. Known scientifically as lutetium-177 vipivotide tetraxetan, the therapy is specifically designed for patients with PSMA-positive metastatic prostate cancer. It combines a targeting molecule with the radioactive isotope Lutetium-177, enabling radiation to be delivered directly to cancer cells while minimising damage to healthy tissues. The treatment works by binding to Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) proteins found on prostate cancer cells. This innovative therapy represents a significant advancement in precision oncology and targeted cancer treatment in India.