AstraZeneca’s Evusheld therapy may be effective against Omicron: Study

AstraZeneca’s Evusheld therapy may be effective against Omicron: Study

Evusheld has also received authorisations in other countries, the pharma major said, adding that it is now working with regulators on applications for the use of Evusheld in treating Covid.

Published: 18th December 2021 03:27 AM 

By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Pharmaceutical major AstraZeneca on Friday said that a pre-clinical study has concluded that its antibody combination Evusheld retained neutralising activity against the Omicron variant.

The company is in the process of applying in India for the regulatory approval of the drug.

Importantly, the latest study was done independently by researchers at the US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, and the work was supported by US government research funds.

Evusheld (Tixagevimab along with Cilgavimab), a long-acting antibody combination for the prevention of Covid, recently became the first drug to receive emergency use authorisation in the US as a prophylaxis treatment for coronavirus infections.

It was specifically indicated for cancer and immune-suppressed patients.

Sharing comments on the latest findings, its executive vice-president Mene Pangalos said that by combining two potent antibodies with different and complementary activities against the virus, Evusheld was designed to evade potential resistance with the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Evusheld has also received authorisations in other countries, the pharma major said, adding that it is now working with regulators on applications for the use of Evusheld in treating Covid.

As Omicron was not in circulation during the Evusheld clinical trials, the firm is continuing to collect data to better understand the implications of this observation in clinical practice.

“Additional analyses to evaluate Evusheld against the Omicron variant are being conducted by AstraZeneca and third-party laboratories, with data anticipated very soon,” it said.

Tamil Nadu Governor distributes degree certificates to graduates, urges them to dream big

Tamil Nadu Governor distributes degree certificates to graduates, urges them to dream big

Commenting on the 'Save Daughter, Educate Daughter' scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Governor Ravi said Modi believed that daughters are the future of the country.

Published: 17th December 2021 11:08 AM 

By Express News Service

MADURAI: "Dream big, work hard to fulfil your dreams. Never ever give up your self-confidence. Sky is the limit," Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi said, as he handed over degree certificates to graduates in the 29th convocation ceremony of Mother Teresa University at Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU).

Lauding the initiatives taken by Tamil Nadu, Ravi said the State has done much better than any other state in the country empowering women. "Though the ratio of women completing higher education is more than men (3:1), it is a challenge to make them financially secure," he said.

Commenting on the 'Save Daughter, Educate Daughter' scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ravi said Modi believed that daughters are the future of the country. "Female foeticide and gender issues are still prevalent in some parts of the State. We lost millions of girls. It is very unfortunate and the practice to be erased completely," he said.

National anthem was sung twice.

Deviating from the usual practice of starting the convocation ceremony by singing 'Tamil Thai Valthu' (The State song), the function at Mother Teresa University commenced and ended with the singing of the national anthem.

When asked, Vice-Chancellor Vaidehi Vijayakumar said any programme that is attended by Governor will have to start and end with the national anthem.

TNIE came to know that the convocation ceremony at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU) also started with the national anthem.

MSU V-C K Pitchumani said the itinerary they received from the governor's office demanded so and they simply followed it.

A total of 18,000 graduates, who completed their course in 2019-20 and 2020-21 academic years, were awarded degree certificates by the university. As many as 549 graduates received their certificates at the convocation ceremony and the rest 17,451 received them through postal mail.

Minister for Higher Education K Ponmudy, Vice-Chancellor of Mother Teresa University Vaidehi Vijayakumar, Vice-Chancellor of Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam, Tirupati, Prof. Jamuna Duvvuru, Principal Secretary to the Higher Education Department D Karthikeyan, Mother Teresa University Registrar (i/c) C Hilda Devi were present on the occasion.

Omicron fear as 28 foreign returnees in Tamil Nadu detected with S-gene drop: Health Minister

Omicron fear as 28 foreign returnees in Tamil Nadu detected with S-gene drop: Health Minister

Subramanian said he would write a letter to the Centre in this connection stating passengers should mandatorily undergo RT-PCR testing on completion of home isolation

Published: 17th December 2021 06:44 PM | Last Updated: 18th December 2021 04:34 AM | A+A A-

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: So far, 28 international travellers tested positive for Covid-19 with ‘s’ gene drop, a marker for Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, in Tamil Nadu, said Health Minister Ma Subramanian on Friday.

The Health Minister said in the last two weeks, a total of 14,868 international travellers from both ‘at-risk’ and ‘non-risk’ countries were tested at the airports in the State. Of them, 70 tested positive. All these 70 samples were sent for genome sequencing. Results of 10 genome sequencing were given, of which one tested positive for Omicron variant (the first case in Tamil Nadu), eight for Delta variant, and one sample was not sequenced. The results of the remaining samples are awaited.

The minister said the Health Department officials traced 278 contacts of the man positive for Omicron and tested all of them. The Health Department will also write a letter to the Union Health Ministry requesting them to make changes in the Guidelines for International Travellers. At present, only travellers from ‘at risk’ countries (12 countries) have to undergo RT-PCR test on arrival and wait at the airports till the reports come. Of travellers from ‘non-risk’ countries, only two per cent are being tested in random sampling. Also, those with symptoms are tested, added the Health Minister.

But since people from ‘non-risk’ countries — Nigeria and Congo — tested positive with ‘s’ gene drop, the State will request the Union Ministry to make seven-day home quarantine for people from non-risk countries mandatory. They should be released only after a repeat test at the end of the home quarantine period. Also, people violating quarantine rules should be put in institutional quarantine, Subramanian said.

The State will also request the Union Health Ministry to conduct an RT-PCR test for all the international travellers, irrespective of the country they come from, on arrival before sending them home. However, the holding area in the airports may not be sufficient to make all these travellers wait till their RT PCR test report came. In that case, alternative arrangements would be made after discussions with the airport authorities, the Health Minister said.

The Minister was speaking to reporters on the DMS campus after launching an SMS facility for pregnant women and lactating mothers. Eleven different vaccines are given to children. All the due vaccine dates will be informed to the mothers by an SMS. They will also be informed about Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit scheme money crediting dates. Over 11 lakh pregnant women and lactating mothers will be benefitted, he added. Later in the evening, the Health Department wrote the letter to the Union Ministry.

Spice jet likely to resume flights from Puducherry from Pongal, while Indigo approached for flight operation

Spice jet likely to resume flights from Puducherry from Pongal, while Indigo approached for flight operation

Published: 17th December 2021 07:42 PM |

By Debjani Dutta

Express News Service

PUDUCHERRY: Puducherry government has approached Indigo to operate flights from Puducherry Airport on six routes, while Spice Jet is expected to resume flight operation from Pongal on existing routes. Flight operations were stopped following the outbreak of the Covid pandemic.

Puducherry PWD Minister K Lakshminarayanan who holds the Tourism and Civil aviation portfolio who along with Puducherry Home Minister A Namassivayam held a discussion with Indigo Airline officials at Chennai told TNIE that six routes have been projected to Indigo for plying on the same conditions provided under Regional Connectivity Scheme UDAN. The government has offered VAT free Aviation fuel and a Viability Gap Fund (VGF) guarantee to the operator.

The routes being Puducherry to Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Tirupati, Rajahmundry, Kannur and Ernakulam, he said. Based on the letter sent to the operator, they have expressed interest, following which the discussions were held on Friday. Head of Indigo Chennai Jagadeeswaran, Regional Executive Director of AAI (Southern Region), Chennai R Madhavan, Puducherry Tourism Director P Priyadarshiny and other officials were present at the discussion with the ministers.

Lakshminarayanan who met Usha Padhee, Joint Secretary, Civil Aviation at New Delhi, said that certain documents sought by the ministry were handed over to the Ministry for the revival of flight operations. Puducherry government has also accepted to provide VGF to Spice Jet for resuming flight operations on Puducherry Bengaluru and Hyderabad routes. Spice jet has sought VGF for 15 seats on the Hyderabad route and for 10 seats on the Bengaluru route when normally VGF is provided for 39 seats under RCS, said Lakshminarayanan. A formal letter of acceptance would be sent to Spice Jet as well as to the Civil Aviation Ministry in this regard, following which they are likely to resume operation from Pongal, he said. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been occupancy of 60 to 80 seats out of 90seats of the( Bombardier) aircraft operated by spice jet on these routes, said Lakshminarayanan.

The operators could also take part in the UDAN4.0 tender when the Civil aviation ministry floats it in due course. Till then Puducherry government will offer the Airline operators the same benefits of VGF as under the UDAN scheme as well as VAT free Aviation fuel, he said.

Meanwhile, the land acquisition process for expansion of the airport runway for plying of larger aircraft has been initiated by both Tamilnadu and Puducherry governments, said Lakshminarayanan. As per the plan, the runway would be extended from its present length of 1,502 metres to 3,500 metres initially and then up to 4000 metres finally, said Lakshminarayanan. Around 57 acres of land will be acquired in Puducherry and 368 acres in Tamil Nadu, he said. The land to be acquired as well as the land ownership has been identified and notices are being sent to them for the acquisition, he said. The Ministry of Home Affairs has already assured to pay the cost of the land to the owners. To fulfil the requirements some of the buildings in the area will have to be demolished

The airport will also require a few modifications of changing the direction of the Taxiway and construction of a box culvert or a suitable construction over the storm channel that would cross the extended runway, he said

Special teams to nab Rajenthra Bhalaji

Special teams to nab Rajenthra Bhalaji

An investigation was underway by the DCB in both the cases, when the ex-minister had applied for anticipatory bails, which were rejected earlier this morning.

Published: 18th December 2021 04:41 AM 

File photo of KT Rajenthra Bhalaji campaigning for votes with ex-CM Edappadi K Palaniswami | Express

By Express News Service

VIRUDHUNAGAR: Three special teams have been formed by Superintendent of Police M Manohar to arrest former minister KT Rajenthra Bhalaji, who is reportedly on the run after the Madras High Court rejected both of his anticipatory bail petitions filed after he was accused in a government employment scam. Virudhunagar District Crime Branch last month registered two cheating cases against the former minister and his personal assistants, accusing them of job racketeering.

One complaint was filed by S Ravindran (49) of Sattur, against one Vijayanallathambi, Rajenthra Bhalaji and one Mariappan (who helped Ravindran contact Vijayanallathambi) for allegedly cheating him of `30 lakh for a job for his relative in Aavin. Ravindran, however, didn’t speak to Bhalaji directly, but Nalathambi had reportedly told Ravindran that the former minister was aware of the developments.

In December 2020, Ravindran paid `30 lakh. However, after the election, when Ravindran asked the money back, Nallathambi allegedly didn’t return it, following which Ravindran lodged a complaint with the CM’s cell and also with the Virudhunagar SP. He had also filed a complaint at the South Zone IG’s office.

The second complaint was filed by Vijayanallathambi himself accusing Bhalaji and his three personal assistants – Baburaj, Balaraman, and Muthupandi – of allegedly cheating him of around `3 crore. Vijayanallathambi said he had obtained money from several persons for obtaining them jobs and also spent money for party- related activities.

It is to be noted that the ex-minister issued a press statement stating that legal action will be taken against those making baseless complaints against him, on November 12, after Ravindran filed a complaint at the IG’s office. Soon after the incident, Vijayanallathambi was expelled from the AIADMK on November 14 for indulging in anti-party activities.

An investigation was underway by the DCB in both the cases, when the ex-minister had applied for anticipatory bails, which were rejected earlier this morning. The ex-minister was heading the state-wide protest held by AIADMK against the State government this morning when the court rejected his petitions.

Innocent persons lost their money, future: HC

Chennai: Dismissing the anticipatory bail application moved by KT Rajenthra Bhalaji in connection with a job racketeering case, the Madras High Court on Friday said innocent persons lost their money and future. This, Justice M Nirmal Kumar said, cannot be ignored. Rajenthra Bhalaji was holding the post of a minister and was entrusted with the duty to act in public interest. Instead, he allowed the accused to collect huge sums of money from innocent individuals in his name, the judge noted. Saying the minister’s claim of innocence cannot be accepted, the judge noted that only a thorough investigation can unearth the conspiracy and the involvement of each of the accused. He directed the police to conclude the investigation within the stipulated time. ENS

Anna University tells students to sign anti-ragging oath

Anna University tells students to sign anti-ragging oath

To curb the ragging menace in engineering colleges, Anna University directed students and their guardians to file an online declaration that they won’t indulge in ragging activities.

Published: 15th December 2021 04:40 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: To curb the ragging menace in engineering colleges, Anna University directed students and their guardians to file an online declaration that they won’t indulge in ragging activities. A circular on the matter was issued to affiliated colleges and universities, making the affidavit compulsory for all students.

Students have to submit the online affidavit on two websites: www.antiragging.in, www.amanmovement.org. This is in compliance with the All India Council for Technical Education (Prevention and Prohibition of ragging in Technical institution, universities including deemed-to-be universities imparting technical education) regulations 2009.

As part of an initiative of the University Grants Commission (UGC) towards reduction of compliance burden of stakeholders, UGC revised the procedure to file the online anti-ragging affidavit. As per the revised guideline, students need to submit their details on prescribed websites. The students will receive an e-mail with a registration number and a web link. The student will have to forward the email link to a nodal officer.

‘Allow foreign varsities in TN to aid growth’

‘Allow foreign varsities in TN to aid growth’

Rather than TN being dependant on the Centre for funds, the State must look at creating an eco-system locally in addition to enhancing skills of local talent.

Published: 16th December 2021 03:06 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government should tap the resources of the State’s diaspora and also allow foreign universities to set up their outposts to make TN the hub for research and development, according to former Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan.

Speaking during a virtual conference on research as an engine for growth of TN, organised by the Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Wednesday, Rajan, who is also a State Economic Advisory Council member, said the State could keep the homegrown talent in India by allowing foreign universities.

He said the State has power to allow foreign universities and the government should go in for open licensing to allow a Stanford or Massachusetts Institute of Technology or Caltech to come up. “It could be useful and will be a source for value addition,” he said.

Rather than TN being dependant on the Centre for funds, the State must look at creating an eco-system locally in addition to enhancing skills of local talent. Rajan also pushed for a need to create an environment in Chennai similar to what was done to nurture Silicon Valley.

Speaking during the occasion, Finance Minister Palanivel Thiagarajan said the need is to focus on creating an ecosystem of excellence.