BioVoice News July 2017 Issue 2 Volume 2 | Page 60

news bytes fumarate dehydrate delivered through a special device. It is indicated for treatment of severe Asthma and for patients with moderate to severe COPD with frequent symptoms and a history of exacerbations. Symbicort is approved for use in 91 countries for the treatment of Asthma and COPD. Results from AstraZeneca’s two major clinical studies have shown that the addition of formoterol to budesonide improved asthma symptoms and lung function, and reduced exacerbation. SUN PHARMA PARTNERS WITH NIV TO TEST PHYTOPHARMA DRUGS FOR ZIKA, CHIKUNGUNYA & DENGUE Sun Pharmaceutical Industries and the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune recently signed an agreement for testing phytopharmaceutical, biologic and chemical entities developed by Sun Pharma against Zika, chikungunya and dengue viruses. Sun Pharma 60 BioVoiceNews | July 2017 will provide drug molecules to NIV for testing against Zika, chikungunya and dengue viruses. The phytopharmaceuticals are being developed for treating individuals infected with Zika virus and possibly for curing Zika disease.These phytopharmaceutical candidates have been isolated from plants found in India. In the case of chikungunya, Sun Pharma has identified certain chemical entities in house which would be tested at NIV. The drug molecules will be tested against all the three viruses through laboratory studies (in vitro) and the promising candidates will be tested on animals. ICGEB CELEBRATES ITS 30 YEARS OF BIOSCIENCE RESEARCH This year, the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) celebrates thirty years of activity dedicated to international advanced research and training in the life sciences.