Latest news with #Deeksha
Deccan Herald
30-05-2025
- Health
- Deccan Herald
Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Debilitating and costly
Fifteen years ago, Rashmi Sampath noticed that her seven-month-old daughter Deeksha couldn't independently sit and stand. After multiple specialist visits, tests and treatment options explored over one and a half years, Deeksha was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a progressive neurodegenerative disease leading to gradual muscle wasting. 'We did a DNA test, and that is how we learnt about SMA. Had we known to recognise signs earlier, maybe the treatment could have been started earlier,' said Rashmi. In 2021, Deeksha, on a wheelchair since she was eight years old, started taking Risdiplam, an orally administered drug for SMA, which costs about Rs 6.2 lakh per bottle. Had her medication costs not been covered under a compassionate access program by Roche Pharma, it would have been difficult for her family to afford her treatment. .Generic drugs can bring hope for SMA patients'.Keerthana, another child with SMA, also had treatment delays, impacting her progress. Her parents, H Nagashree and Kishore, both government employees, have to spend Rs 50-75 lakh annually for the treatment of the two-year-old. 'We are getting three bottles free for the cost of two, but it is still quite expensive for us. She needs 4.4 mg of the oral solution every day. We need two bottles of 60 mg a month, since one bottle lasts about 18 days. We buy two at once and pay about Rs 12.4 lakh and get three more free with them', said Kishore. 'After a year, only two bottles will be given for free. These costs will increase when Keerthana's weight increases and the dosage will go up,' said Nagashree, who lamented that they had not yet received any government support so far. .The Delhi High Court's March 2025 order allowing Hyderabad-based Natco Pharma to develop a generic version of Risdiplam and rejecting the plea of patent holder Swiss pharma major F Hoffmann-La Roche Limited for an injunction has brought hope for over two lakh SMA patients. Roche has now appealed to the Supreme Court. If Natco is successful, it can offer Risdiplam for an estimated cost of Rs 15,900 per 60 mg bottle However, doctors, families of patients and activists argued that this might not be enough. They urged the government to step in and talk with the manufacturer and bulk buy the medicine to reduce the annual costs of the families of SMA patients. .'If a family has a strong background of SMA cases, we suggest parents undergo genetic testing and counselling to rule out the possibility of SMA. Even if nobody in the family has disease manifestations at all, but we suspect SMA in the baby, we do nerve conduction studies and electroneuromyography (ENMG) tests,' Dr Shiva Kumar HR, a consultant neurologist in Bengaluru, said. Dr Kumar noted that deaths occur due to complications arising out of the disorder, not the disorder itself. 'Over time, it weakens respiratory muscles, causing patients to die due to Type II respiratory failure. Life expectancy can be prolonged with gene therapy, but it cannot be called a cure because once a degeneration has begun, it cannot be reversed,' he said. .Prasanna Kumar Shirol, founder of the Organisation for Rare Diseases India (ORDI), said that although the government had the National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021, its assistance was limited to the one-time payment of Rs 50 lakh per patient. 'Sustainable funding is the only way out. With an ICMR-rated 90% treatment effectiveness for SMA, government support, regardless of the cost, is essential,' he said, adding that not only the Centre but the state governments too needed to step in. 'The governments can develop a standard operating procedure for every rare condition like the SMA, identifying what is the inclusion and exclusion criteria for treatment, the criteria for extending treatment. They can then get into talks with the pharma companies, figure out drug supply for a fixed period and monitor drug effectiveness with timely reviews,' suggested Shirol.
Hans India
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Family drama ‘Deeksha' gears up for June release
The upcoming family entertainer Deeksha, produced under the banners of RK Films and Sigdha Creations, is all set for a June release. Directed by RK Goud and produced by Ramakrishna Goud and P. Ashok Kumar, the film stars Kiran and Alekhya Reddy in the lead roles, with Aaqsa Khan, Tulasi, Anusha, Keerthana, Pravallika, and Rohith Sharma in key supporting parts. Speaking at a press meet on Monday, director-producer Ramakrishna Goud shared, "Deeksha is a powerful family drama infused with mythological elements, action, and emotion. Kiran delivers a standout performance as Bheemudu, and Aaqsa Khan's special song is sure to grab attention." The film features five action sequences and an impressive soundtrack composed by Raj Kiran. Hero Kiran expressed gratitude for being part of the project, while Aaqsa Khan and Tulasi appreciated the opportunity to work under the RK Films banner. Rohith Sharma, who plays the antagonist, shared his excitement and thanked the team for his role. With the shoot completed, the team is confident Deeksha will resonate with audiences when it hits theatres next month.
The Hindu
25-04-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Re-evaluation impact: Tirthahalli girl is now topper in Science stream
Shivamogga/Bengaluru Deeksha R., a student from Tirthahalli in Shivamogga district of Karnataka, has secured 600/600 in II PUC in the Science stream after re-evaluation. Now, she is the topper in the Science stream in Karnataka. In the Commerce stream, Prateeksha of ASC PU college, Rajajinagar in Bengaluru, improved her position from third to first after the re-evaluation. Now she shares first position with S. Deepashree of Canara College, Mangalore, with 599 for 600. Prateeksha had earlier secured 577, and in the re-evaluation, she got two more marks in English. One more mark in chemistry Deeksha, a student of Vagdevi PU College in Tirthahalli, had scored 599 out of 600 marks when the results were announced on April 8. She had scored 100 each in every subject except chemistry, in which she secured 99 marks. She was the joint topper in the science stream in Karnataka. She had applied for re-evaluation of the chemistry paper. Ms. Mamatha, principal of the college, informed The Hindu on April 25 that after revaluation, her score in chemistry increased to 100. She had scored 69 out of 70 in the theory. After revaluation, the theory score increased to 70. Deeksha is the daughter of Raghavendra Kalkur M.V. and Usha V. who are teachers in government high schools in Tirthahalli. As per the data released by the Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB), a total of 5,800 students who applied for re-evaluation have seen changes in the marks, some got negative marking too. As many as 1,470 applicants have not seen any changes in their marks. Blunders by teachers The data revealed the blunders by teachers during the evaluation. In one case, a student who was awarded 04 in a first language in the original evaluation has secured 64 in re-evaluation. There are cases where students managed to get 50, 44, 30 and 20 additional marks in the re-evaluation.
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Science
- Time of India
REVALUATION: II PU science topper gains a mark, scores 600 on 600
Bengaluru/ Shivamogga: The revaluation of II PU-1 exam answer scripts have led to changes in the top ranks in the state. R Deeksha from Thirthahalli, Shivamogga district, and student of Vagdevi PU College, has emerged as the topper in the science stream, achieving a perfect score of 600/600. The revaluation results were announced on Friday. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru When the results were announced on April 8, the first position was shared by Deeksha and Amulya Kamath from Expert PU College in Mangaluru, both scoring 599 out of 600. Deeksha, who secured 100 in all subjects except chemistry, applied for revaluation. Mamatha, the principal of Vagdevi PU College, where Deeksha studies, confirmed that post-revaluation, Deeksha's chemistry score increased to 100, with theory marks rising from 69 to 70. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Don't Miss The Top Packaging Trends Of 2024, Enhance Your Brand With Latest Insights (Check Now) Packaging Machines | Search Ads Search Now Undo Her father, Raghavendra Kalkur told TOI that his experience as a teacher helped identify valuation discrepancies. Upon obtaining the chemistry answer script photocopy, they found in Part D, where students must answer four out of six questions worth five marks each, Deeksha had attempted all questions. The evaluator overlooked correct answers in a five-mark question split into parts A and B (worth 3 and 2 marks). After filing objections, the department rectified the oversight, raising her total from 69 to 70 marks, which was confirmed in a mobile message from the PU Board, he stated. Deeksha's parents, Raghavendra and Usha V, serve as teachers in govt high schools in Thirthahalli. Commerce rank 3 is now no. 1 Meanwhile, in the commerce stream, Prateeksha of ASC PU College Rajajinagar shifted from third position to first position after the revaluation. Now, she shares the first position with S Deepashree of Canara College, Mangaluru, both scoring 599 out of 600. Prateeksha had earlier secured 597, and in revaluation, she gained two more marks in English. "I was confident about my marks in English. I was hoping for 99 or at least 98. But on the result day, I was disappointed. In the photocopy of the answer script, I saw that I lost two marks for no reason. My teachers encouraged me to apply for revaluation. Now, I am happy with my marks," said the CA aspirant. As per the data by Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB), there were changes in marks of 5,800 students who applied for revaluation and 1,470 applications did not see any changes. The changes were as significant as 60 marks in one case.
