The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP), the leading global organization for molecular diagnostics, has published new best practice recommendations for clinical laboratories conducting homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) testing. The guidelines are detailed in a manuscript titled “Recommendations for Clinical Molecular Laboratories for Detection of Homologous Recombination Deficiency in Cancer,” a collaborative effort with the Association of Community Cancer Centers and the College of American Pathologists. The full text is now freely accessible online in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics.

HRD testing plays a critical role in identifying tumors with impaired DNA repair via the homologous recombination pathway. Such tumors often exhibit genomic instability and may be more responsive to targeted therapies, particularly PARP (poly ADP-ribose polymerase) inhibitors. However, current HRD assays vary significantly in their definitions, biomarker targets, and algorithms—differences that can influence treatment choices.

To address this, AMP convened an expert panel under its Clinical Practice Committee to review the scientific literature and current laboratory practices. The resulting consensus recommendations aim to support standardization and quality assurance in HRD testing. The working group included representation from major oncology and pathology societies, including ASCO and CAP.

Dr. Alanna J. Church, Chair of AMP’s 2025 Clinical Practice Committee and Associate Director of Molecular Pediatric Pathology at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer Center, emphasized the need for harmonization. “Our review revealed wide variability in assay design, tumor sample types, and biomarker selection,” she noted. “These evidence-based guidelines aim to improve consistency, transparency, and ultimately, patient care.”

The working group formulated 12 key recommendations focusing on assay design, validation, and the clinical interpretation of HRD-related genomic features. These guidelines are informed by professional expertise, survey data, and analysis of over 4,300 scientific publications. They provide direction on interpreting genomic scars from both tumor and germline sequencing data and outline the clinical implications of various HRD biomarkers.

Dr. Susan Hsiao, Chair of the HRD Working Group and Associate Professor of Pathology at Columbia University, added, “Our goal is to help clinical labs navigate the complexities of HRD testing while identifying areas where further research is needed. As technologies and our understanding of HRD evolve, AMP remains dedicated to updating and refining these recommendations.”

Dr Lal PathLabs (DLPL) has significantly advanced its genomics capabilities by incorporating Illumina’s state-of-the-art NovaSeq X Series into its dedicated genomics division, Genevolve. This strategic move is set to enhance the speed, precision, and scale of DLPL’s genomic research and diagnostics offerings.

The NovaSeq X Series features Illumina’s next-generation XLEAP-SBS chemistry, which delivers exceptional throughput, accuracy, and environmental sustainability. The NovaSeq X Plus system can sequence over 20,000 whole genomes annually—more than double the output of earlier Illumina platforms—setting new benchmarks in high-throughput genetic sequencing.

“This investment marks another milestone in our journey toward scientific excellence and innovation,” said Mr. Shankha Banerjee, CEO of Dr Lal PathLabs Limited. “With Illumina’s latest technology, we are well-positioned to expand our genomics capabilities and make a significant contribution to India’s growing genomics ecosystem.”

Genevolve, established in 2019, has quickly become a DNA-driven center of excellence within DLPL. The addition of Illumina’s NovaSeq X Series further solidifies Genevolve’s leadership in next-generation sequencing (NGS), empowering the platform to deliver faster, AI-enabled, and highly sensitive genomic insights that can drive impactful clinical and research outcomes.

Vector BioMed, a mission-driven contract vector development and manufacturing organization (CVDMO) dedicated to expanding access to cell and gene therapies, has announced a strategic partnership with Muni Seva Ashram’s Kailash Cancer Hospital and Research Center (KCHRC) in Gujarat, India. Through this collaboration, Vector BioMed becomes the exclusive CVDMO partner for KCHRC’s pioneering cell therapy program—aimed at bringing cost-effective CAR-T cancer treatments to underserved populations.

The partnership, initiated in June 2024, follows over a year of in-depth due diligence, site visits, and technical reviews led by KCHRC’s leadership, including Dr. Vikram Patel. KCHRC is expected to begin treating patients with autologous CAR-T therapies in early 2026, making it the first center in Gujarat—and among the first in India outside a major metro area—to offer this cutting-edge treatment.

Vector BioMed brings to the partnership its innovative portfolio of rapid CAR-T solutions, including prebuilt, validated anti-CD19 CAR-T constructs and other IND-ready formats. The company’s approach simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces timelines, and enhances the global standard of care—making advanced cancer therapies more accessible to hospitals and research institutions.

Situated in rural Gujarat, KCHRC provides care to over 70,000 outpatients annually, with more than 60% receiving free or donor-subsidized treatment. Operated under the umbrella of Muni Seva Ashram—a nonprofit committed to equitable healthcare—the hospital is equipped with 400 beds, 10 operating theatres, three linear accelerators, and expanding GMP capabilities, positioning it as a rising regional leader in precision oncology and advanced therapeutics.

“We are honored to partner with Muni Seva Ashram in this impactful mission,” said Dr. Boro Dropulić, CEO of Vector BioMed. “This collaboration is a meaningful step toward democratizing access to one of the most advanced cancer treatments available today. Together, we are working to ensure that geography or financial status no longer limits access to world-class care.”

The initiative is powered by Vector BioMed’s LENTIVERSE™ platform—a versatile, scalable, and cost-efficient system optimized for the needs of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Capable of treating one patient per day without reliance on proprietary high-cost technologies, LENTIVERSE™ helps institutions like KCHRC scale advanced therapies sustainably and affordably.

“This partnership moves us closer to our vision of making cutting-edge cancer care universally accessible,” said Dr. Vikram Patel, Chair of Muni Seva Ashram. “Vector BioMed’s expertise in vector manufacturing and clinical support has been instrumental in building our cell therapy program, and will soon be life-changing for the communities we serve.

Philanthropist Bill Gates reaffirmed his long-term commitment to global health equity, announcing plans to donate nearly all of his personal wealth within the next two decades. As part of this pledge, Gates stated that the world’s poorest communities would benefit from an estimated $200 billion through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He spoke with Reuters in New York City on May 8, 2025.

In line with this commitment, the Gates Foundation announced on Tuesday that it will contribute $1.6 billion over the next five years to support Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance—a public-private partnership focused on improving vaccine access for children in low-income countries.

Bill Gates, chair of the foundation, warned that the number of child deaths worldwide is likely to rise this year due to significant reductions in foreign aid. “Funding Gavi is the single most impactful action we can take to prevent this,” Gates said in a statement.

Gavi is currently aiming to raise $9 billion to fund its programs from 2026 to 2030. A pledging conference to support this effort is scheduled for Wednesday in Brussels, co-hosted by the European Union and the Gates Foundation.

The alliance collaborates with governments to finance vaccines that protect against life-threatening diseases such as measles and diphtheria.

Gavi CEO Dr. Sania Nishtar highlighted the stakes of reduced funding, noting that the loss of U.S. contributions—previously about $300 million annually—could result in as many as 1.2 million additional child deaths over the next five years.

The foundation's latest pledge reinforces its role as a leading advocate for global immunization and underscores the urgent need for sustained investment in vaccine access, especially in the face of mounting global health challenges.

MicroPort Orthopedics Inc., a leading global medical device company headquartered in the U.S., has announced the launch of its flagship product, the Evolution® Medial-Pivot Knee, in India. The innovative knee implant was successfully used for the first time at Aster Hospital, Whitefield, Bengaluru, in a total knee replacement procedure performed by Dr. Kumardev Arvind Rajamanya, Head of Orthopaedics and Lead Consultant.

The recipient of the implant was a 65-year-old retired businessman suffering from severe osteoarthritis, resulting in chronic knee pain and restricted mobility. Dr. Rajamanya opted for the Evolution® Medial-Pivot Knee due to its strong clinical performance and design advantages, which include enhanced flexion stability, anatomically guided motion, and a wear-resistant structure.

“I’ve had the opportunity to use the Evolution® Medial-Pivot Knee extensively in a short span and have seen impressive results,” said Dr. Rajamanya. “Its design closely mimics the natural motion of a healthy knee, helping patients achieve a more natural range of movement and overall better functional outcomes.”

Dr. Mukesh Parmar, Director and General Manager for South Asia at MicroPort Orthopedics, added, “We are dedicated to introducing groundbreaking solutions that truly improve patient care. The Evolution® Medial-Pivot Knee represents our commitment to advancing orthopaedic treatment and enhancing quality of life for patients.”

Globally, the Evolution® Medial-Pivot Knee has shown outstanding clinical outcomes, with a 98.8% survivorship rate over 17 years and a 95% patient satisfaction rate. With over 25 years of proven clinical use, the Medial-Pivot line has been implanted in more than 1 million patients across 70 countries.

The Bengaluru patient has made a smooth and successful recovery, with noticeable improvements in mobility and pain relief. This outcome highlights both the advanced design of the Evolution® Medial-Pivot Knee and the surgical expertise involved in its implantation.

The product’s launch in India marks an important step for MicroPort Orthopedics as it continues to expand its global footprint and reinforce its leadership in orthopaedic innovation.

The Adani Group is taking a significant step into the healthcare sector with the launch of two 1,000-bed integrated medical campuses in Ahmedabad and Mumbai. These state-of-the-art facilities will include medical colleges, research centres, and wellness spaces, developed in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic, one of the world’s leading healthcare institutions.

Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, shared the announcement while addressing shareholders of Adani Enterprises. He said the initiative marks the beginning of the Group's broader ₹60,000 crore commitment, pledged by his family three years ago to transform healthcare, education, and skill development in India.

The partnership with the Mayo Clinic will focus on creating a next-generation, AI-driven, patient-centric healthcare model. The Mayo Clinic’s global consulting arm will lend its expertise to help shape the infrastructure and clinical approach of these campuses.

Earlier this year, the Group launched Adani Health City (AHC), a network of integrated health campuses to be developed through its not-for-profit healthcare arm. The family has already committed more than ₹6,000 crore to build the first two AHC campuses in Ahmedabad and Mumbai, with more planned across India.

Each AHC campus will feature a 1,000-bed multi-super-specialty hospital, a medical college with an annual intake of 150 undergraduate students, over 80 residents, and more than 40 fellows. The campuses will also include transitional and step-down care facilities, along with advanced research capabilities focused on clinical studies, artificial intelligence, and biomedical informatics.

The Adani Group stated that the AHC initiative is designed to provide high-quality, affordable healthcare to people from all socio-economic backgrounds, while also training the next generation of medical professionals and advancing clinical research in India.

The Odisha government has unveiled an ambitious plan to establish nine new medical colleges across the state, aiming to significantly boost medical education and healthcare access. This includes four MBBS colleges, four dental colleges, and one Ayurvedic college, according to Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling.

The proposed MBBS colleges will be set up in the districts of Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, Dhenkanal, and Nabarangpur, while dental colleges will be established in Burla, Berhampur, Bolangir, and Keonjhar. The Ayurvedic medical college is planned for Mayurbhanj district.

Minister Mahaling also announced that two newly built medical colleges—in Phulbani (Kandhamal district) and Talcher (Angul district)—will become operational this year, each admitting 100 MBBS students in their first academic session.

He extended his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi for their support in facilitating the approvals and infrastructure required for these institutions. Mahaling emphasized that these developments will help address the persistent shortage of doctors and improve healthcare delivery across Odisha.

 
These announcements were made during Mahaling's address at the Healthcare Summit 2025, hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Bhubaneswar. Speaking at the summit, the minister reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to strengthening Odisha’s healthcare system and expanding medical education infrastructure.

He highlighted that over 4,000 doctors and paramedical staff were recruited in the past year and shared plans to hire more than 5,000 medical professionals in 2025. Additionally, the government aims to fill 1.5 lakh vacant positions across various departments over the next five years.

Sunil Gupta, Chairperson of the CII Odisha State Council, also addressed the gathering, underscoring Odisha’s evolving leadership in the national healthcare landscape. He stressed the importance of public-private partnerships in accelerating healthcare reforms and ensuring sustainable progress in the sector.

Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, in collaboration with global healthcare leader GSK, has announced a major price reduction for the world’s first malaria vaccine, RTS,S. The vaccine will be made available for under $5 per dose for children in malaria-endemic regions, significantly boosting accessibility and the potential to save thousands of young lives each year.

The announcement, made on Wednesday, is part of the companies’ joint commitment to the Gavi Vaccine Alliance for its 2026–2030 programme phase. The reduced pricing will be phased in over the coming years and is expected to be fully implemented by 2028.

According to Bharat Biotech, the price drop has been made possible through a combination of enhanced manufacturing efficiencies, expanded production capacity, cost-optimized processes, and a deliberate choice to maintain minimal profit margins.

RTS,S, the first malaria vaccine recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), has been a breakthrough in the global fight against the disease. Since WHO’s endorsement in 2021, GSK has invested significantly in scaling up production and transferring key manufacturing technology to Bharat Biotech.

In turn, Bharat Biotech has invested over $200 million to establish high-capacity production facilities and advance product development.

With support from Gavi, the vaccine is expected to become part of routine immunisation programmes across 12 African countries by the end of 2025.

This initiative is driven by a collaborative effort involving Bharat Biotech, GSK, WHO, PATH, MedAccess, and the governments of affected nations.

Dr. Krishna Ella, Executive Chairman of Bharat Biotech, remarked, “This pledge is more than just a price reduction—it reflects our commitment to global health equity. We aim to bridge the gap between vaccine availability and the pressing needs of children at risk of malaria.”

Echoing the sentiment, Thomas Breuer, Chief Global Health Officer at GSK, stated, “Through close collaboration with Bharat Biotech and our global partners, we’re making this life-saving vaccine more affordable and accessible. Today’s announcement marks a critical step forward in malaria prevention.”

For families in malaria-stricken areas, the reduced cost of the RTS,S vaccine represents a significant advancement in the broader effort to control—and ultimately eliminate—malaria worldwide.

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, a research-driven global pharmaceutical company, has announced the launch of TEVIMBRA® (tislelizumab) in India, following approval by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO). This marks Glenmark’s entry into the field of immuno-oncology in India, representing a significant milestone in expanding its innovative oncology portfolio.

Developed by BeiGene (now BeOne Medicines), a global leader in oncology, TEVIMBRA is a next-generation anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody. It is indicated for:

First-line treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in combination with chemotherapy, and

Second-line monotherapy for both locally advanced/metastatic NSCLC and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

This launch brings a differentiated immunotherapy option to Indian oncologists and patients, addressing two of the most prevalent and hard-to-treat cancers in the country. NSCLC accounts for more than 80% of lung cancer cases, while ESCC is the dominant histological subtype of esophageal cancer in India.

“Through the launch of TEVIMBRA, Glenmark is fulfilling its commitment to transform cancer care in India by introducing globally recognized immunotherapies that are now within reach of Indian patients,” said Alok Malik, President and Business Head – India Formulations, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals. “As cancer incidence continues to rise, we are proud to provide a treatment backed by strong science, established safety and efficacy, and the potential to make a real impact on patient lives.”

He added, “Immuno-oncology holds tremendous promise for treating advanced, difficult-to-manage cancers. Our entry into this field marks a turning point in our mission to develop an oncology portfolio that is not only innovative and evidence-based but also equitable and patient-focused.”

Mankind Pharma, India’s fourth-largest pharmaceutical company, has announced the appointment of acclaimed actor Rajkummar Rao as the brand ambassador for its flagship pain relief brand, Nimulid Strong gel and spray.

This strategic partnership positions Nimulid Strong as the go-to “Neck Pain Specialist,” emphasizing its rapid action—delivering relief in just two minutes—and its powerful 2X diclofenac formulation. By aligning with Rao, known for his relatable persona and strong connection with everyday Indians, Mankind aims to reinforce the brand's commitment to helping people overcome pain and live more active, pain-free lives.

Rajkummar Rao, widely appreciated for his versatile acting and authenticity, perfectly complements Nimulid Strong’s core values of trust, efficacy, and empowerment. His mass appeal strengthens the brand’s positioning as a dependable solution for targeted pain relief.

India’s topical pain relief market is valued at over ₹5,000 crore, and Nimulid Strong is making its mark as a major player in this space. In its first year alone, the brand sold approximately 20 lakh units of gel and 10 lakh units of spray, generating ₹15 crore in revenue. Unlike many competing products that offer 1.16% diclofenac concentration, Nimulid Strong delivers a 2.32% formulation—offering deeper and more effective relief from pain and inflammation.

Joy Chatterjee, Vice President – Sales & Marketing, Consumer Business Unit, Mankind Pharma, stated:
“Rajkummar Rao’s credibility, relatability, and dedication to his craft make him an ideal representative for Nimulid Strong. His association strengthens our mission to support individuals in overcoming pain and discomfort swiftly, with reliable solutions like Nimulid Strong that work in just 2 minutes.”

Nimulid Strong is available in two convenient formats:

• Nimulid Strong Gel: Designed for long-lasting, deep-penetrating relief.

• Nimulid Strong Spray: Ideal for quick, on-the-go application—especially suited for active individuals.

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Looking ahead, Mankind Pharma plans to expand the Nimulid Strong portfolio with innovative formats such as balms, roll-ons, and tablets, aiming to further disrupt and lead the topical pain relief category in India