Kemwell Biopharma Chairman Inaugurates Manipal Centre For Biotherapeutics Research

Mr Anurag Bagaria, Chairman and CEO of Kemwell Biopharma, Bengaluru, inaugurated Manipal Centre for Biotherapeutics Research (MCBR) at Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal. He said  “I am very happy to see that MAHE has taken the lead in the country to establish a dedicated centre for carrying out Biotherapeutics Research, a science that continues to gain momentum in the universities of the developed countries. I am confident that this centre will emerge as one of the eminent centres in this part of the globe. In the last 40 years, biotherapeutics have become an important part of modern medicine with a great focus on the areas of cell therapy, gene therapy, protein therapy and biomaterials. From Insulin, the first modern medicine produced using biotechnological methods, to today’s COVID vaccine, biotherapeutics research has come a long way. With advances in Biotherapeutics research, especially cell and gene therapy, we are starting to see cures for certain diseases, for example, CAR-T products for leukaemia and gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy. Without academia-industry collaboration, none of these would have been possible”.

Guest of Honor Dr Ranjan R Pai, Chairman of MEMG, Bengaluru said “Globally, biotherapeutics is the fastest growing sector in the pharma industry today. But we need to get deeper in the area of innovative cell therapies for regeneration and cancer treatment, gene therapy, monoclonal antibodies, vaccines etc., to compete with the developed countries. Although biologics produced in the developed countries provide hope for many unmet medical needs, their high costs pose an entry barrier to the developing markets. I call upon Pharma/Biopharma companies to reduce the load on their in-house R&D units and focus more on strategic partnerships with high ranking institutions to manage time and money more efficiently”.

Chief Guest Mrs Vasanti R Pai launched the webpage of the new centre. Dr H S Ballal, Pro Chancellor of MAHE said  “MAHE continuously strives to improve the quality of teaching and research. In addition, we are focusing on innovation in the emerging technologies like Biotherapeutics. MAHE has established the state of the art facility to carry out advanced research in Biotherapeutics , and I am glad to note that all the faculty of MCBR are foreign-trained and gained experience in the industries as well as academia. The new centre is expected to create novel intellectual properties and innovative products.”

Lt. Gen. (Dr) M D Venkatesh,  Vice Chancellor of MAHE, said “MAHE has taken the initiative to establish Manipal Centre for Biotherapeutics Research, which aims to carry out translational research in the area of biological therapy, primarily in collaboration with Biopharma industries. MCBR will offer Masters (by research), Doctoral and postdoctoral Programs in the area of Biotherapeutics. It also aims to co-create or co-develop Biotherapeutics products in partnership with Biopharma companies.

Dr Raviraja N S, Director of Corporate Relations and Coordinator of MCBR said “MCBR aims to develop Biotherapeutics with a broad remit covering all biological products with a therapeutic potential mainly in the areas of cell, gene, protein, nanotechnology, regenerative medicine and biomaterials. MCBR has clean rooms and GMP labs and equipped with sophisticated equipments. We can offer co-working space to the partnering Biopharma companies at very nominal cost or they can outsource translational research projects to MCBR. Some problems can’t be solved by academia or industry alone, but the collaboration should lead to mutual benefit”.

Dr. Vasan Sambandamurthy, CEO, DBT Wellcome Trust India Alliance, stressed industry-academia collaboration in biotheraoeutics research and wished the centre all the best. Dr. Mukesh Kumar, VP and Head of clinical R&D, Cipla Limited, stated the need for Academia-Industry partners to innovate sustainable approaches to overcome the current healthcare challenges continuously. Mr. Manohar BN, MD and CEO, Stempeutics Research Pvt. Ltd. cited the current challenges in cell therapy industry and the need for cost-effective innovative solutions. Dr Sairam Atluri, co-founder of RCRI, Hyderabad, and Dr. Roberto Salvi, Lab Head, Curio Biotech, Switzerland, are in the advanced stages of collaboration discussion with MCBR and expressed their best wishes to MCBR.

MCBR faculties Dr Manjunatha SM proposed the vote of thanks while Dr Sachin Kadam anchored the program.

13th Edition Of India Game Developer’s Conference Set To Take Place Virtually Between November 16–18

* IGDC will be held in partnership with the Government of Telangana; Unreal Engine, AWS, and MPL on board as sponsors

* 3-day virtual event to see 10,000+ in attendance presenting numerous opportunities to game developers for growth, networking, and skill development

* IGDC will also feature the Annual Game Developers Awards and host the 16th edition of BYOG – India’s oldest game jam

The India Game Developer Conference (IGDC), India’s premier event for game developers, announced its 13th edition to be held this year between 16th to 18th November. Like the previous edition, this edition will also be a virtual affair.

The event is being held in partnership with the Government of Telangana. IGDC is a major catalyst in enabling the growth of the Indian gaming ecosystem and sees enthusiastic participation from game developers, publishers, and investors each year. Its goal is to support and empower game developers with insights, upskilling and networking opportunities in the presence of industry leaders and investors.

This year, there will be 10 key tracks at IGDC, including the latest addition of the hot favourite Hyper-casual track. These are:

Design

Art

Engineering

Production

Applied Games

Indie

eSports

Hyper-casual

Careers

Business and Product Management

The event is expected to see attendance from around 10,000 people, 120+ industry experts, 100+ e-stalls, 30 publishers, and 30 investors. Unreal Engine will be the presenting sponsor and MPL and AWS will be the gold sponsors for the event.

Annual India Game Developer Awards 2021

The conference also encompasses the Annual India Game Developer Awards, submissions for which end on 18th October, 2021. The finalists will be announced on 10th November, 2021 and the winners will be felicitated on the 1st day of IGDC.

The award categories are as follows:

Studio Game of the Year: Awarded to the game that exemplifies overall excellence and creates a distinct gaming experience across all platforms and genres

Indie Game of the Year: Awarded to the game that exemplifies overall excellence made by an Indie/Indie Team

Student Game of the Year: Awarded to the game that exemplifies overall excellence made by a student/student group

Upcoming Game of the Year: Awarded to the game that exemplifies overall excellence that is unreleased/under development

Popular Choice Award (*New Category): Awarded to the game which gets the most votes from attendees and viewers

Hyper-casual Game of the Year (*New Category): Awarded to the game that stands out in the Hyper-casual games category

Website: https://indiagdc.com/2021/awards/

Build Your Own Game

This year, IGDC will also mark the return of BYOG (Build Your Own Game) – India’s oldest game jam. In its 16th edition, BYOG will be held between 22nd October (6:00PM) -24th October (6:00 PM) on itch.io and will see game developers across the country compete together to make a game within a limited amount of time across various themes. The results will be announced during IGDC.

BYOG has been instrumental in identifying and encouraging game development talent from the country over the years, with past winners having gone on to win international accolades and establish successful games and careers.

Commenting on the upcoming event, Sridhar Muppidi, co-founder, YesGnome said: “Online gaming has seen a meteoric rise in recent years. Fuelled by the pandemic, rise in investments and heightened internet penetration, we foresee a lot more growth in India’s game development ecosystem. There is immense talent in our country and a platform like IGDC seeks to recognise, empower and connect them with the right investors and publishers. Following the success of last year, this year too we are excited to host the event virtually and hope to attract a varied audience once again. We are also grateful to be supported by the Government of Telangana in its commitment to help boost the country’s gaming industry.”

About India Game Developer Conference (IGDC) and IndiaJoy:

The India Game Developer Conference (IGDC) is India's premier game developers conference. The conference is organized by industry volunteers, with support from corporates and the Government of Telangana. The conference plays a key role in developing the Indian gaming ecosystem. It is instrumental in helping developers gain valuable insights, pick up new skills, and connect with publishers and investors that they otherwise may not have had access to.

IGDC is one of the events held under the larger umbrella of IndiaJoy, an aggregator platform that brings together prestigious international events in one place to unfold opportunities for investors, corporations, studios, content developers, delegates, consumers, hardware manufacturers, and students, through a host of networking, trade exhibitions, product launches, B2B, and B2C events.

For more information, visit the event website: https://indiagdc.com/2021/

For more information on BYOG, please visit: https://indiagdc.com/2021/build-your-own-game/

For Investor – Publishers: https://indiagdc.com/2021/investor-publisher-connect/

Tata Motors Launches - Tata Punch - Sub-Compact SUV, Priced At Rs. 5.49 Lakhs

Key Highlights

* 1st SUV from the proven ALFA Architecture

* Offers the agility of a hatch with the DNA of an SUV

* Earned the 5-star safety rating of 16.453 points from Global NCAP, highest adult occupant protection rating points any vehicle has received in India

* Comes in 4 distinct ‘Personas’ with customization packs to match diverse lifestyles 

* ARAI certified Fuel efficiency – 18.97 kmpl on MT and 18.82 kmpl on AMT

* Enjoy a spirited Performance with absolute safety, class leading comfort, advanced infotainment and rich connectivity

Tata Motors, India’s leading automobile brand, today launched its latest offering in its ‘New Forever’ range of SUVs, Tata Punch, India’s first sub-compact SUV and the recipient of the much-coveted Global NCAP 5-star rating (16.453) for adult occupant protection and 4-star rating (40.891) for child occupant protection. With several industry-first features up its sleeves, the Tata PUNCH reinforces the four core pillars that define all Tata SUVs- Stunning Design, Versatile and Engaging Performance, Roomy and Spacious Interiors, and Absolute Safety. It will now be available for deliveries over 1000 Tata Motors showrooms nationwide, at a starting price of Rs. 5.49 Lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi).

Speaking at the launch of this exciting new offering, Mr. Shailesh Chandra, President – Passenger Vehicles Business Unit (PVBU), Tata Motors, said: “With PUNCH, we have created an entirely new category altogether to address a growing need for small-in-size cars with a true SUV character. Designed under Impact 2.0 design language, the PUNCH is a stunning, bold SUV. It’s tall stance, high ground clearance and commanding driving position provides an exhilarating driving experience even while navigating all the unexpected challenges that Indian roads throw in one’s way. The class leading comfort, advanced infotainment and connectivity match the high expectations of the increasingly discerning Indian car-buyers. Even ahead of its launch, the PUNCH has already got off to a great start by bagging the GNCAP 5-star rating for safety. This is a proud moment for us not only as an entity but also as an Indian carmaker as we continue to deliver on our promise of safety with almost every new product in the market. We are extremely confident that with the kind of differentiation, the feature package and the absolute safety the PUNCH has to offer, it will definitely make its mark in the dynamic Indian car market in the days to come.”

Tata Motors Design Studios in India, UK, and Italy collaborated to design this unique vehicle which was further engineered and developed by Tata Motors India team to herald the creation of India’s first sub-compact SUV, addressing a growing customer need for a small in size but large in space SUV. Built on the proven and modern Agile Light Flexible Advanced (ALFA) Architecture, the PUNCH incorporates several industry first innovations to enhance both functionality and driving pleasure. Furthermore, in a departure from the conventional industry practice of trims, Tata Motors has adopted a new age, human centric approach in developing the PUNCH family. It will be available both in Manual (MT) and Automatic (AMT) transmission options, in 4 distinct personas with - Pure, Adventure, Accomplished and Creative, to cater to the varied lifestyle of its customers.

The Pure persona has been designed for customers who appreciate minimalism and simplicity and prefer functionality without any complications. The Adventure persona caters to the customers who have a streak of adventure and love for the great outdoors. The Accomplished persona is for the city dweller who loves to make a style statement with host of features to complement the customers’ active metro life. Finally, the Creative persona is tailor-made for the digital native, who prefers information at his/her fingertips and is stacked with features to sync with this customer’s tech-savvy lifestyle. In addition, customers can mark their PUNCH by choosing from 7 vibrant colours and further personalize it with the Rhythm and Dazzle customization packs, in tune with their personality.

HCL Technologies Ltd: Weakness In Products Business Affects Overall Performance

 

BUY

CMP: Rs1251  

Target Price: Rs1380

■    HCLT's operating performance missed expectations in Q2FY22, largely attributed to the decline in Products & Platform business (-8% QoQ CC). Revenue grew 3.5% QoQ in CC terms, below our estimates. EBITM declined 60bps QoQ to 19.0%, missed expectations.

■    It signed 13 large services and 1 product deals across Life sciences and healthcare, telecom, and manufacturing, totaling new deal TCV of USD2.2bn (38% YoY). The strong demand environment and robust deal intake augur well for revenue acceleration.

■    The company reiterated double-digit revenue growth guidance in CC for FY22, implying at least a 2.2% CQGR over Q3-Q4. It also retained 19-21% EBITM guidance for FY22, considering planned investments in Mode 2 capabilities and in certain markets.

■    We lower our FY22E/23E/24E EPS by 3.3%/1.3%/0.8%, factoring in Q2 miss and higher payout. We maintain Buy with a TP of Rs1,380 at 23x Sept'23E EPS, considering attractive valuation (~3% dividend yield, double-digit earnings growth profile, >20% ROE) and anticipated revenue acceleration.

Brand ambassador Shraddha Kapoor Launches Melorra’s First Experience Centre In Mumbai

* With 8 experience centres in Bengaluru, Delhi/NCR, Bhopal, and Mumbai and a digital presence spanning every pin code, Melorra is harmonizing retail

Melorra, India’s fastest growing lightweight D2C fine jewellery brand designing affordable and trendy jewellery for everyday wear has recently announced the launch of its first experience centre in Mumbai. The store was launched by the brand’s ambassador, actor and influencer, Shraddha Kapoor at Phoenix Mall, Lower Parel. The launch takes Melorra’s experience centre count to 8 and the brand will be opening 350 more in the years ahead.

The experience centres are fresh and dynamic. Customers get a seamless choosing and buying experience including the touch, feel and trial of Melorra jewellery. Shraddha has been associated with Melorra since October 2020 and is an integral part of the brand’s fun, quirky, and new-age campaigns. The launch was also attended by Siddharth Talwar, Lightbox Ventures. Melorra is the only lightweight and trendy gold jewellery brand offering Hallmarked pieces to all 718 Indian districts ahead of the government’s mandate of 256. It is also spearheading a campaign to educate consumers about the importance of buying BIS Hallmarked gold jewellery in India in line with the government’s recent announcement.

Speaking about this, Saroja Yeramilli, Founder and CEO, Melorra, said, “It is a moment of great joy for us as we expand our experience centre presence pan India. It was natural for us to have our centre in Mumbai given how women in the city are dynamic and fashionable – and the stores are also new age. We wanted to give them access to both the physical and online experience. We are on our way to becoming the largest lightweight and fine gold jewellery company in India.” 

Adding her comments, Shraddha Kapoor, Actress and Influencer, said, “Melorra is my go-to brand since it resonates with my sense of anytime, anywhere fashion. The brand has proved that gold does not have to be boring but can be as trendy and fashionable as we want. I have admired the brand’s vision right from the time I got associated with them and now, with the extension of their online presence to these experience centres, she has taken it a notch higher. I wish Melorra the best for the times to come.”

Siddharth Talwar, Co-Founder and Partner at LightBox Ventures, added, “The journey of a brand speaks volumes about the founder’s vision and the breakthrough they are bringing in an age-old concept. In this light, Melorra has been a disruptor. It has made gold an everyday accessory and fashionable at the same time, something that Indians could probably never think of! Now, with these physical experience centres, they have come full circle. I wish the brand the best in their journey ahead towards further growth.”

All the experience stores are designed for any of the many journeys a customer may choose to adopt: shop online pickup in store; shop in store ship to home and everything in between. Melorra is also ramping up its team strength and adding people in technology, digital marketing, product management, and UX/UI. Given their rapid offline expansion as well, the brand is increasing its retail team strength, apart from adding designers and CAD and rendering experts. Since inception in 2016, Melorra has delivered to over 2700 pin codes in the country and made its mark everywhere. Going forward, the brand will be launching its international website as well. The brand has been growing at 200% year-on-year and currently stands at a revenue of INR 350 crore. It recently raised $24 million in funding from 9Unicorns, Symphony Asia, Value Quest, and other family offices. Melorra is aiming for $1 billion in revenue five years from now.

About Melorra

Melorra is the fastest growing trend-inspired fine jewellery brand in India. In operations since May 2016, Melorra creates BIS Hallmarked and 100% certified gold and diamond pieces in sync with global fashion trends that are fun, easy to wear and crafted to complement a woman's everyday wardrobe. They have over 25 quality check processes in place to make sure that all their jewellery pieces are of the finest quality. Melorra's jewellery can be experienced on desktop, iOS and Android, and through their new age digital experience centers in Delhi, Bangalore and Bhopal.

Tinder Opens This Season’s Hottest New Venue: Tinder Explore In India

Tinder opens its virtual doors to Explore, a newly-created hub within the app that hosts completely new, interactive ways to use Tinder.  With Explore, members now have more control over who they meet by giving them the option to navigate through profiles arranged by interest, while also allowing them to access a growing list of exclusive social experiences, such as Hot Takes, Vibes and Swipe Night - with many more to follow. Explore represents the biggest update to Tinder since the invention of the original Swipe feature, and in early testing nearly 80% of eligible Tinder members have flocked to try it. 

“A new generation of daters is asking for more from us in the post-Covid world: more ways to have fun and interact with others virtually and more control over who they meet on Tinder,” said Renate Nyborg, CEO of Tinder.  “Today’s launch of Explore is a major step in creating a deeper, multi-dimensional, interactive experience for our members that expands the possibilities of Tinder as a platform.”

Explore is a dynamic space that will consistently add new social experiences and will evolve its discovery options so members can find someone new for whatever they’re into.  At launch, the following options will be available:.

Now Members Have More Control Over Who They Meet

Mix It Up, Discover By Interest

In Explore, members can discover potential matches for every mood and activity.  Members can find a snack in Foodies, someone on their level in Gamers, or a partner to split their headphones with in Music Lovers.  Whether they’re looking to find a match to march with in Social Causes or to complete their power couple in Entrepreneurs, Explore will provide members the ability to direct their matching experience themselves. New interests will launch on a regular basis so members can find someone new for whatever they’re into.

Photo Verification, which is the most popular Trust & Safety feature on Tinder, allows members to self-authenticate through a series of real-time posed selfies, which are compared to existing profile photos using human-assisted AI technology. Photo Verified profiles display a blue checkmark and for the first time members can choose to see only Photo Verified profiles through a dedicated space in Explore.  

A New Home for Social Experiences

Participation in social experiences on Tinder has made it clear that Gen Z wants more ways to meet someone. Swipe Night, the first social experience Tinder launched, drew crowds of more than 20 million and led to a 26% increase in matches.  This success paved the way for more social experiences on Tinder, which have become an incredibly popular way for members to match and interact with new people.  Now Explore will be the home for this growing list of experiences, which includes Vibes, a weekly event that gives members a new way to express their opinions on everything from whether it’s normal to wear socks in bed to what’s happening in pop culture. As previously announced, the next installation of Swipe Night will be available in Explore in November.   

‘Hot Takes’ Now Part of Explore

Hot Takes, a nightly social experience, can now be joined directly from Explore. Hot Takes gives members the opportunity to chat with someone before they match in a low-stakes quiz on popular culture and opinions. As the timer counts down they’ll choose if they want to pair off as a match or let the timer expire to meet someone new. This is the first time members can chat before they match, letting their flirty banter be their first impression. Hot Takes has attracted millions of members since it launched in the US and the UK earlier this Summer and is available daily from 6 p.m. - midnight local time. 

Explore and Hot Takes will be available globally for all members by mid-October.  

*Tinder usage data from members in Australia and New Zealand, August 2021

Experts Highlight Damaging Effects Of Visual Impairment And Importance Of Eliminating Preventable Loss Of Sight

* On World Sight Day, aim to ‘Love Your Eyes’ and ensure good care. Millions of people in India live with preventable sight loss, making regular eye screening, enabling timely diagnosis and disease management crucial

* Widely prevalent yet under-diagnosed in India, common eye diseases include cataract, glaucoma, age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)

* Holistic maintenance of eye health is important, even amongst the younger population

More than two billion individuals live with eye conditions globally, with India alone home to millions of people suffering from preventable vision loss. According to AIIMS’ National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey India 2015-19, 1.99% of Indians over the age of 50 years suffer from blindness.[i] While the number of Indians facing potential blindness is alarming, an even bigger concern is that the contributing conditions are greatly under-diagnosed.

As a result, a significant percentage of people suffer from permanent loss of vision due to factors including cataract (the clouding of the eyes’ lens), which is responsible for 66.2% of blindness cases amongst individuals aged 50 years or older,[ii] glaucoma (damage to the optic nerve) or retinal diseases like Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Diabetic Macular Edema (DME), which affect the layer of tissue in the back of one’s eye. AMD and DME, that are leading causes of blindness, are chronic and progressive retinal diseases that can be effectively managed with early detection and timely treatment. Glaucoma is also one of the leading causes of blindness for people aged 60 or older.

Common signs and symptoms

One must be alert and visit an Ophthalmologist or a Retina specialist in case of any of these symptoms:

• Blurred or fuzzy or distorted vision

• Impaired colour vision

• Decreased contrast or colour sensitivity

• Experiencing dark spots in vision

• Straight lines that appear wavy or crooked

• Difficulty seeing at a distance

• Gradual Vision loss

Dr. Mahesh Shanmugam, Head of the Department, Ocular Oncology and Vitreoretinal diseases, Sankara Eye Hospital, Bangalore said, “At our tertiary hospital, 20% of the patients are children and a majority of them benefit from glass prescriptions. In adults, among those with preventable blindness we see approximately 16% retinal disease patients, 15.8% Glaucoma patients and 21% Cataract patients in a month. Timely diagnosis and treatment is  key for effective management of these conditions. If the conditions such as glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy are not treated appropriately in time, they can result in irreversible blindness. Routine eye screening especially for the elderly and diabetic patients should be prioritized as it can help in early detection and diagnosis, which is imperative to enable timely care and prevent vision loss.”

World Sight Day, celebrated on October 14th, marks an opportunity to raise awareness about retinal diseases and showcase the community’s commitment to support the millions of people nationwide living with preventable vision loss. This year’s theme, ‘Love Your Eyes,’ re-establishes the importance of giving one’s eyes the due care they deserve. World Sight Day forms a key opportunity to promote the need for regular eye screenings. Building on this, enshrined as part of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, nations have made eye-health integral to their SDG efforts.[iii] Starting at a young age, undertaking holistic steps to maintain optimal eye health is vital to prevent the onset or progression of eye diseases. This includes timely eye exams, staying alert to early warning signs such as blurry or double vision, limiting continuous screen exposure and blocking harmful UV rays, and reducing behaviours that could induce eye complications, including smoking.

Untreated Eye Diseases: The Double Threat 

DME is a complication of diabetic retinopathy, affecting the back of the eye (the retina). It is estimated that by 2040, India will have the second highest number of diabetes cases in the world – with a proportionate rise in cases of preventable vision loss. According to research, 17.6% to 28.9% of diabetics suffer from diabetic retinopathy in India, largely affecting the country’s working age population. For a nation with a population of 1.3 billion people, this translates into significant disease burden as well as impacts on quality of life, productivity and the economy. A similar situation is evident in the case of AMD, which is the leading cause of vision loss among the elderly. Wet macular degeneration (wet AMD) is a chronic and degenerative disease. Timely commencement of treatment not only slows the degeneration, but also helps one maintain their eyesight.

Other diseases such as Glaucoma and cataract worsen with age and are medical conditions that may cause irreversible vision loss if untreated. Glaucoma is often neglected until a significant amount of damage has occurred. Those with a family history of glaucoma, or above the age of 40, are especially at risk.

Treating & Managing Eye Diseases

Early detection is vital to prevent vision loss, and recognizing its symptoms and undergoing screening can be key to this. There are various treatment options available that can limit disease progression and consulting an ophthalmologist to discuss available treatment modalities is a key step to understanding options that can be beneficial for maintaining eye health. Some of the options available in India include laser photocoagulation, anti-VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) injections, surgery and combination therapy which includes laser and anti-VEGF treatment. These are especially important to consider now, considering the gaps in treatment and routine eye care during the COVID pandemic, which led to health complications for affected patients, including the younger population. 

Strictly adhering to prescribed treatments and recommended lifestyle modifications will help individuals keep their eye diseases in check, so they can benefit from improved outcomes.