Of generic drugs, quality theatre…

We in India do not undertake any research work for new molecules, new medicines, or new innovations. Primarily, it is very expensive, and secondly, we may not really have the bent of mind for research. Of course, we do have a few institutions where research scientists work, though they are often a frustrated lot.Hence, India and the rest of the world waits for patents to expire — mostly after 20 years or less. More often than not, it is the pharma companies that are doing the waiting. They then buy the technology without having to pay a hefty sum or invest in intense research.

The latest example is the Danish pharma giant Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy — drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes, with a secondary effect on obesity. The patent on semaglutide, the key ingredient in these drugs, expired on March 20.Now, our Indian companies will use this technology to make generic versions for weight loss as well as for controlling type 2 diabetes. The popular drugs Ozempic and Wegovy will now be sold under Indian brand names — and at a much more affordable price. The problem, however, is the potential for misuse by misguided people under the broad ‘weight-loss’ label.

 The well-read and those in the know are also eagerly awaiting Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro tablet, which serves a similar purpose.Meanwhile, Mohd Ali Baig of the Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Foundation has been remembering his late mother, Razia Begum, by presenting a series of works on Women in Performing Arts. I caught the woman-centric play Akeli. It consisted of two small plays with minimal props for the solo acts performed by Himani Shivpuri, a well-known name in theatre, television, and films.It is difficult to hold the audience’s attention for such a length of time, but Himaniji managed to do it brilliantly. Due credit to her — and I am beginning to truly appreciate stand-up comedians as well.Hats off to young Baig for his sustained effort to bring quality theatre to Hyderabad, along with many other stalwarts.The war situation remains iffy, though one would believe that the President of the USA, Donald Trump, seems to have got the message and might reduce his aggression against Iran. Fingers crossed. Because his foolish and brash remarks continue to shock the world and add to its headaches.

In India, with major tensions looming and the economy going nowhere, the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, was passed by Parliament on March 26 without much discussion. There are protests because this Bill narrows the legal definition of transgender persons to focus primarily on traditional sociocultural identities (e.g., Hijra, Kinner) and individuals with specific congenital variations.In other words, a person who simply identifies as a “trans man” might find it harder to obtain a certificate, while someone from the “Kinner” community will be explicitly recognized, according to PRS India.A mandatory medical board will now handle certification each time a transgender person needs identity recognition, thereby removing the self-declaration system provided under the 2019 Act.India, it seems, is not alone in taking a step back on the transgender issue. 

In what is extremely unfortunate, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided to follow Trump’s line and announced that transgender women will be excluded from women’s events at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. While one is not an expert in the area of transgender athletes, research indicates that after 12 months of testosterone suppression, a trans woman’s physical performance often aligns with that of cisgender women. While muscle mass may remain higher for some time, this does not automatically equate to superior athletic performance, the research adds. Trump and his men do not appear to do much research on certain matters. Neither do Indian MPs. And it looks like the IOC doesn’t either. Having said that, I wonder who will take up the transgender cause in India. Will it be through NGOs, or through court cases? And will there be a rollback?