Latest news with #GERD
Mint
6 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Mankind to expand gastro, derma presence, says MD Rajeev Juneja
Mankind Pharma is focused on expanding its presence in the gastrointestinal and dermatology segments this year, as it looks at expanding its presence in the chronic segments, managing director Rajeev Juneja toldMintin an interview. 'We are not great in the gastro [segment]...we have decided that we are supposed to work a lot in gastro because it has become semi-chronic, and our inclination is towards the chronic side," Juneja said, adding thatgastro in India is one of the fastest-growing segments. 'Along with this, we are working on derma as well," he said. The gastro segment grew 7.3% year on year in April, according to pharma intelligence platform Pharmarack. Further, Mankind is developing a novel anti-obesity and diabetes drug in-house. The drug candidate, GRP119, is currently in phase 2 trials in Australia, and Juneja said that results are expected in the next six to nine months. In FY25, Mankind signed a non-exclusive patent licensing agreement with Takeda Pharmaceuticals to commercialise its novel drug Vonoprazan, to treat Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Also Read: Sun Pharma to ramp up growth-boosting specialty portfolio in FY26 Juneja said that the company is evaluating all options to increase its presence in these therapy areas, including in-licensing products from innovators or small acquisitions. 'No past strategy can be guaranteed for future success. So we need to apply our mind and try to bring some kind of differentiation in whatever we do," said Juneja. 'The point is that once we decide that our intention is that we are supposed to be good on the gastro side, we start searching for avenues, we start searching for people, we start searching for products," he said. The company will also continue to strengthen its leadership in the women's health segment, which received a boost last year through its acquisition of Bharat Serum and Vaccines (BSV). With its foundation strengthened in FY25, Mankind aims to grow 1.2 to 1.3 times the Indian pharmaceutical market. Juneja said this will be driven by its focus on its chronic domestic formulations portfolio. Juneja said the focus is also on growing larger brands, from the current ₹50 crore to ₹100 crore brands for products to ₹500 crore brands. 'This is the strategy we basically want to pursue in future, because we have seen that once you create that kind of a brand, that's a very big entry barrier," he added. BSV acquisition Mankind is on track with the integration of BSV, which it acquired for ₹13,768 crore in October 2024. The integration will be funded through a mix of internal accruals and external debt. Juneja said the company focused on removing the 'extra flab" and bringing in the right talent for the acquired entity in FY25. This year, he expects 18-20% growth from the BSV portfolio. The goal is to increase the reach and awareness of BSV's niche super-speciality products. BSV is working on two biosimilars, the company's investor presentation highlighted, although Juneja declined to share more details on the BSV pipeline. Also Read: Emcure Pharmaceuticals to expand gynaecology, derma portfolio for India market in FY26 Vishal Manchanda, senior vice president of Institutional Equities at Systematix Group, toldMintthat BSV's platform and skillset for making recombinant drugs (created by inserting genes from one species into a host species) can be leveraged to make biosimilars. Select companies in India, including Biocon, are skilled at the recombinant process. However, Manchanda pointed out that Mankind has the potential to scale this up meaningfully. Innovation push 'If you're a pharma company, naturally, you gain respect once you have great R&D," Juneja said. 'We started our own R&D in Mankind 13-14 years back…going forward, we'll be putting a bit more money in the R&D side…our R&D expenses will increase because that would be the future need as well." 'We wish to become a bigger company…our dream is to become India's number one company on the domestic side," Juneja said, adding that 'we need to have certain innovative products, and we are working for that". Mankind's focus on innovation and speciality segments comes as the Indian pharmaceutical market has become more crowded. Most segments already have established market leaders. '…the promoters are realising that there is a challenge to growth. And they know the space they have been playing in is now kind of difficult to expand from where they are, meaningfully expand from where they are. So I think Mankind promoters being extremely committed to India business, they are also kind of prepared on how to take this forward," Manchanda said. 'What they are actually looking for is a bigger avenue to build growth on," he added, referring to Mankind's BSV acquisition. Internal corrections Mankind undertook several internal correction initiatives in the last year, including leadership changes and improving synergies between its divisions, Juneja said. Also Read: Zydus bets big on vaccines and medtech 'If you look at the history of Mankind, in 30 years, we have become the fourth largest company," Juneja said, adding that for any company growing very fast, there comes a time when growth plateaus. 'But once you bring commercial excellence, you bring people from outside…a number of flaws can come in front of you, and you have two choices: Either to remove those flaws gradually without affecting your sales and profit and growth, or second, do it immediately," Juneja said. 'We belong to the second category, and we decided that by March 2025, we'll clean up Mankind from every side," he added.
Health Line
6 days ago
- General
- Health Line
What to Know About Hypersalivation and Sialorrhea
Hypersalivation, or increased salivation, can occur with some health conditions such as dental problems, infection, or gastroesophageal reflux. Treatment may involve home remedies and medical treatments. In hypersalivation, the salivary glands produce more saliva than usual. If the extra saliva begins to accumulate, it may begin to drip out of the mouth. In older children and adults, drooling may be a sign of an underlying condition. Sialorrhea refers to the loss of saliva from the mouth, or drooling, that can occur with hypersalivation. Hypersalivation and sialorrhea may be temporary or chronic, depending on the cause. Keep reading to learn more about potential causes, symptom management, and more. What causes hypersalivation? Temporary hypersalivation and sialorrhea can be due to: dental problems infection gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) certain medications bites from venomous snakes or funnel web spiders scorpion stings mushroom toxicity In these cases, hypersalivation typically goes away after treating the underlying condition. Chronic hypersalivation is usually due to a condition that affects the brain. Examples include: How do doctors diagnose hypersalivation and the cause? Your doctor may be able to diagnose hypersalivation after discussing your symptoms. Testing may be required to determine the underlying cause. After going over your medical history, your doctor may examine the inside of your mouth to look for other symptoms that could occur with different conditions. These can include: swelling bleeding inflammation If a doctor has already diagnosed a chronic condition as the cause of sialorrhea, they may use a scale system to assess how severe the sialorrhea is. This can help your doctor determine which treatment options may be right for you. What medical treatments can help hypersalivation? Medical treatments for hypersalivation may depend on the underlying cause. Directly treating the cause of hypersalivation may help to reduce it. Other treatments can directly target hypersalivation. Medications Certain medications can help decrease saliva production. Glycopyrrolate (Cuvposa), an anticholinergic agent, is a possible option. This medication blocks nerve impulses to the salivary glands so that they produce less saliva. Scopolamine (Hyoscine) is another option. This is a skin patch that you wear behind the ear. It works by blocking nerve impulses to the salivary glands. If a doctor recommends these medications, they can provide more information about what the treatment involves and the possible side effects. Injections Your doctor may recommend botulinum toxin (Botox) injections if your hypersalivation is constant. Your doctor will inject the drug into one or more of the major salivary glands. The toxin paralyzes the nerves and muscles in the area, preventing the glands from producing saliva. This effect will wear off after 3 to 6 months, so you will likely need to return for repeat injections. »Learn more: Best Practices for Botox Aftercare Surgery In severe cases, doctors may recommend surgery on the major salivary glands. Your doctor may recommend removing the glands completely or relocating them so that the saliva releases in the back of the mouth where you can easily swallow it. Radiation therapy If surgery isn't an option, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy on the major salivary glands. The radiation causes dry mouth, relieving the hypersalivation. Can home remedies help with hypersalivation? Depending on the cause and severity, some home remedies may help manage hypersalivation. These include: frequently drinking small sips of water or other fluids throughout the day maintaining good oral hygiene, such as brushing your teeth and tongue regularly dabbing the mouth rather than rubbing at it observing your posture to see if certain positions increase drooling »Learn more: The bottom line Hypersalivation refers to increased saliva production, and sialorrhea means drooling from the mouth. There are numerous possible causes, such as dental problems, infections, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and some medications. Conditions affecting the brain can also cause hypersalivation. Examples include Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), traumatic brain injury, motor neuron disease (MND), cerebral palsy, and stroke. Treatment can focus on addressing the underlying cause. Doctors may also prescribe medications such as scopolamine (Hyoscine) and glycopyrrolate (Cuvposa) to block nerve impulses to the salary glands. Botox injections, surgery, and radiation therapy may help if other medications are not effective. Home remedies such as adjusting posture, dabbing at the mouth, and maintaining good oral hygiene can also help.
Egypt Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- Egypt Independent
Egypt warns of regional escalations over Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty revealed that the current stalemate on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) crisis could lead to renewed tensions in the region, given the escalating dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia and the failure to reach an agreement. During his participation in the US-Egypt Policy Leaders Forum held by the American Chamber of Commerce in Cairo, the Egyptian Foreign Minister assured that Egypt is working to maintain stability, and referred to several points of tension in the region, including incidents in Sudan and the situation in the Gaza Strip. Egypt suspended talks with Ethiopia over the GERD more than a year ago due to Addis Ababa's intransigence in the negotiations and its attempts to buy time to complete the dam. Rising water tensions The GERD is one of the most controversial issues in the Horn of Africa, a source of ongoing tension between Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan since Ethiopia began its construction on the Blue Nile in 2011. The Ethiopian dam, the largest hydropower project in Africa, aims to generate more than 5,000 megawatts of electricity, doubling Ethiopia's energy production and providing electricity to nearly 60 percent of its population, which suffers from energy shortages. The dam raises concerns for Egypt and Sudan, which rely heavily on the Nile's waters, as the Blue Nile provides approximately 85 percent of the Nile's total flow. Egypt, which relies on the Nile for over 98 percent of its water needs, considers the dam an existential threat to its water security. Cairo fears that filling and operating the dam without a binding agreement will reduce its water share, potentially impacting agriculture, drinking water supplies, and the economy as a whole. Stagnant talks In September 2023, Ethiopia announced the completion of the fourth and final phase of filling the dam's reservoir, sparking fierce Egyptian protests describing the move as 'illegal.' Egypt also expressed concern that Ethiopia could use the dam for political purposes, such as controlling water flow as a leverage. Ethiopia views the dam as a vital development project to eradicate poverty and provide electricity to its population of more than 123 million, nearly half of whom lack access to electricity. The Ethiopian government has asserted that the dam will not cause significant harm to the riparian states and that it is committed to the principles of equitable utilization of the Nile's waters, in accordance with the 2015 Declaration of Principles. However, Ethiopia has refused to sign legally binding agreements specifying how the dam will be managed during droughts. Negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan stalled in late 2023 due to what Egypt described as 'Ethiopia's intransigence' and its refusal to accept compromises that safeguard the interests of the three countries.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Implantica's RefluxStop™ stimulates intensive dialogue at DDW, the world's largest Digestive Disease conference, held in the U.S.
VADUZ, Liechtenstein, May 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Implantica AG (publ.) reports successful pre-launch activities in the U.S., pending FDA approval, with European real-world clinical evidence generating much interest from U.S. surgeons. Several presentations on RefuxStop™ were held at DDW, an impressive hub for discussing the latest innovations and clinical data in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy, and gastrointestinal surgery. Over 13,000 leading surgeons, gastroenterologists (GIs), academics, and researchers recently gathered in San Diego, California for the 2025 conference. Dr. med. Zehetner says, "The curiosity and interest were palpable as more and more surgeons and GIs throughout DDW learned about the unique mechanism of action and the advantages of the RefluxStop procedure. It's an honor to be able to share my real-world RefluxStop knowledge and clinical outcomes with the top experts and leaders in this treatment field, all in attendance at DDW." Performing resurgery using RefluxStop™ on failed standard of care procedures was a topic of a study on the combined results from Dr. Lehmann, Germany, and from Dr. Zehetner (Prof. USC), Switzerland, "Feasability and technique of conversion to RefluxStop from previous anti-reflux surgery in GERD patients". The conclusion was that RefluxStop™ provides successful outcomes when used for reoperations on the most common standard surgical methods. Dr. Zehetner also presented his excellent results in a study entitled, "Laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery outcomes at 12 months in the first 100 patients to undergo RefluxStop procedure in a single institution in Switzerland." RefluxStop™ was favorably discussed during the "Technologies and Procedural Innovation" session presentation by Dr. Reginald Bell, the leading US surgeon and past President of the American Foregut Society (AFS). All sessions boasted high attendance driven by high interest in the unique approach and the impressive European clinical data outcomes of the RefluxStop™ procedure. Implantica CEO and founder, Dr. Peter Forsell, adds, "I'm grateful to all our independent surgeons who go through great efforts to publish their real-world data to advance the field of GERD management and improve patient care. The RefluxStop™ procedure's unique mechanism of action eliminates many of the uncomfortable post-surgical side effects typically associated with anti-reflux procedures. We strongly believe RefluxStop™ is uniquely positioned to have a lasting impact on the anti-reflux surgery landscape for decades to come." For further information, please contact: Nicole Pehrsson, Chief Corporate Affairs OfficerTelephone (CH): +41 (0)79 335 09 Implantica is listed on Nasdaq First North Premier Growth Market in Stockholm. The company's Certified Adviser is FNCA Sweden AB, info@ The information was sent for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, on 27. May 2025, at 08:00 a.m. (CET). About Implantica Implantica is a MedTech group dedicated to bringing advanced technology into the body. Implantica's lead product, RefluxStop™, is a CE-marked implant for the prevention of gastroesophageal reflux that will potentially create a paradigm shift in anti-reflux treatment as supported by successful clinical trial results. Implantica also focuses on eHealth inside the body and has developed a broad, patent protected, product pipeline based partly on two platform technologies: an eHealth platform designed to monitor a broad range of health parameters, control treatment from inside the body and communicate to the caregiver on distance and a wireless energizing platform designed to power remote-controlled implants wirelessly through intact skin. Implantica is listed on Nasdaq First North Premier Growth Market (ticker: IMP A SDB). Visit for further information. About RefluxStop™ RefluxStop™ is a new innovative treatment that has the potential to spur a paradigm shift in anti-reflux surgery. It's unique mechanism of action differentiates it from standard of care and current surgical solutions. Longer established surgical options for GORD involve encircling the food passageway to support the lower esophageal sphincter's closing mechanism and are commonly associated with side effects such as swallowing difficulties, pain when swallowing and inability to belch and/or vomit. In contrast, the RefluxStop™ device treats the cause of acid reflux without encircling and putting pressure on the food passageway. It restores and maintains the lower esophageal sphincter in its original, natural position. The RefluxStop™ mechanism of action is focused on reconstructing all three components of the anti-reflux barrier, that if compromised could possibly result in acid reflux. It restores and supports the natural anatomical physiology of the body allowing the body to itself solve the problem with acid reflux. Newsroom Community Media Contact: Implantica AG Juanita Eberhart, VP Marketing & Advocacy M: +1 925-381-4581 This information was brought to you by Cision The following files are available for download: Implantica’s RefluxStopâ'¢ stimulates intensive dialogue at DDW, the world’s largest Digestive Disease conference held in the U.S. logo transparent 1 8 ReluxStop Product View original content: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Star
24-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Breathing from your belly is the best
Dear Mayo Clinic: Is breathing from your belly beneficial? If so, can you explain why and how to do it? From the day you're born, you know how to breathe correctly. That means letting the diaphragm – the large, thin muscle just below the rib cage – do the work of drawing air into the lungs and letting it out. It's known as diaphragmatic or belly breathing, and it's the most efficient and effective way to breathe. But over time, almost everyone needs to remember how. Rather than belly breathing, people begin chest breathing. With chest breathing, the muscles between the ribs and the neck do the harder work of raising and lowering the rib cage to pull air into the lungs and push it out. Chest breathing requires a lot of effort and moves less air. When it comes to the correct way to breathe, it doesn't matter whether you breathe through your nose or your mouth. ALSO READ: Are you a mouth or nose breather? Mouth breathing could impact your health Where you breathe from matters: your belly and not your chest. Relaxed breathing should originate primarily from the diaphragm with little movement of the chest and shoulders. Chest breathing activates 'accessory respiratory muscles' that tighten the neck, chest and vocal cords, and can trigger a fight-or-flight stress reflex. A chest-breathing pattern is useful in short bursts when running from danger. However, prolonged chest breathing can contribute to coughing, hoarseness, tension headaches, chest tightness, shortness of breath and anxiety. Belly breathing promotes a sense of calm relaxation. That's why it's typically part of mindfulness practices and yoga. About 80% of people with chronic cough have more than one factor contributing to symptoms. These can include postnasal drip, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), asthma, respiratory infections, throat dryness and inefficient chest breathing, which is an often-overlooked cough trigger. People with chronic coughs tend to adopt inefficient breathing habits. Each of these conditions can aggravate the other, and the cough may persist unless the person addresses all contributing factors at the same time. ALSO READ: When it's hard to breathe: The top five respiratory diseases Research has indicated that people with GERD who practise belly breathing after eating reduce how often they experience acid reflux. People with sleep apnoea and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can find some relief with belly breathing, which helps them feel less short of breath and less anxious. Belly breathing can also slow your heartbeat, and lower or stabilise blood pressure. One way to help people experiencing chronic pain alleviate or control it is by using biofeedback to train them to relax and breathe with their belly, not their chest. ALSO READ: Try these three natural methods to ease pain Medications can't correct chest breathing. The only solution is practice and patience. Most people can improve their breathing patterns with enough time and attention. As a bonus, you may end up with fewer headaches and less anxiety. To determine how you breathe, try this simple test: Stand up straight or lie flat on a bed or the floor. Put one hand flat on your chest, the other one flat on your belly. Watch your hands when you inhale and exhale. If you're chest breathing, the hand on your chest will go up and down. If you're belly breathing, the hand on your belly will go up and down. Other signs that you're chest breathing include frequent sighing and yawning, which indicate you're not getting enough air into your lungs. Relearning how to belly breathe takes practice. If you've ever taken a yoga class or done a mindfulness exercise, those activities usually start with belly-breathing practice. Begin your training by repeating the test throughout the day while lying down, standing or sitting with your back straight. As you get more comfortable breathing from your belly, you can try it when you're more active, such as walking. Then, build your way up to practising belly breathing while engaging in more vigorous activities such as working out, running, mowing the grass or dancing. Don't worry if you revert to chest breathing. Think about it this way: Chest breathing will get you there, just like crawling does, but neither is very efficient. As a toddler, you spend countless hours, with plenty of falls and tumbles, learning how to walk so you can get from point A to point B most efficiently. Like walking, belly breathing will become normal to you; be patient with yourself. Not only is diaphragmatic or belly breathing efficient and powerful, but it's also free and has no side effects. Embrace belly breathing, and your body and mind will thank you. – By Dr Richard Crockett/Mayo Clinic News Network Dr Richard Crockett is an allergist and immunologist in Minnesota, United States.
