| |AUGUST 20249NOVO NORDISK'S WEGOVY RECEIVES UK NOD FOR REDUCING HEART RISKSBUDGET 2024: GOVT PLANS TO FULLY EXEMPT 3 CANCER DRUGS FROM CUSTOMS DUTYWegovy, a weight-loss drug by Novo Nordisk, has been sanctioned approval by the UK regulator to help overweight and obese adults lower their risk of serious heart problems or strokes. The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has given its approval, just like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration did in March.The agency stated that the MHRA's choice has made Wegovy the initial GLP-1 weight-loss medication approved for reducing cardiovascular events in individuals with obesity.The British Heart Foundation reports that over 7.6 million individuals in the UK suffer from cardiovascular diseases, and in England, approximately one out of every six deaths related to heart and circulatory issues are linked to a high body-mass index."This treatment option that prevents heart disease and strokes is an important step forward in tackling the serious health consequences of obesity," Shirley Hopper, MHRA's deputy director of innovative medicines, said."Weight loss drugs can be key part of our arsenal to help tackle obesity and manage associated risks, but as global supply issues continue to affect these drugs, it is important that treatments are used correctly, in line with licensing, to ensure that patients with type 2 diabetes can receive the medicines they need," said Stephen Powis, NHS National Medical Director.The approval from the agency was granted after a study demonstrated that Wegovy decreased the likeli-hood of major cardiovascular events, like heart attack and stroke, by 20 percent when compared to a placebo. POThe government suggested completely waiving custom duties for three cancer drugs. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman suggested exempting three additional medicines from customs duties in order to help cancer patients, during the presentation of the Union Budget for 2024-25 in the Lok Sabha.The government plans to reduce custom duties from 10 per cent to zero on Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, Osimertinib, and Durvalumab.She suggested modifications in the basic customs duty (BCD) for x-ray tubes and flat panel detectors used in medical x-ray machines under the phased manufacturing programme to align with domestic capacity expansion."My proposals for customs duties intend to support domestic manufacturing, deepen local value addition, promote export-competitiveness, and simplify taxation, while keeping the interest of the general public and consumers surmount," Sitharaman said.Harsh Mahajan, Chairman of FICCI Health Services Committee and Founder & Chairman of Mahajan Imaging & Labs, expressed his approval of the exemption of customs duty on three essential cancer treatment medicines.Praveen Gupta, the Principal Director and Chief of Neurology at Fortis Hospital, stated that the elimination of custom duties on three cancer drugs and the decrease in duties on specific medical technologies like x-ray tubes and flat panel detectors is a crucial step in enhancing local capabilities in the healthcare industry."Though these measures are far less than expected, they will make advanced cancer treatments more affordable and accessible, addressing a critical need given the high cost of such treatments," he added. PO | |AUGUST 20249
< Page 8 | Page 10 >