AstraZeneca Partners Vaayu Chest & Sleep Center to Enhance Respiratory Care in Bglr

Through this partnership, AstraZeneca aims to improve the standard of care for individuals grappling with severe asthma, a prevalent non-communicable disease in India. 

To address the challenges posed by severe asthma, AstraZeneca Pharma India has joined forces with Vaayu Chest & Sleep Center to enhance the standard of respiratory care for severe asthma patients in Bengaluru. 

Through this partnership, AstraZeneca aims to improve the standard of care for individuals grappling with severe asthma, a prevalent non-communicable disease in India. 

Commenting on the initiative, Dr Anil Kukreja, VP, Medical Affairs & Regulatory, AstraZeneca India, said, “Severe asthma continues to have a debilitating impact for people living with the disease. At AstraZeneca, we are committed to providing innovative solutions and improving patient outcomes."

Centers of Excellence for Severe Asthma

Aligned with the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines, the Centers of Excellence (COEs) for severe asthma aim to provide a systematic and uniform approach to managing patients with severe asthma. 

Since the commencement of operations earlier this year, AstraZeneca's Severe Asthma COEs have screened over 3000 patients nationwide. 

According to the pharma giant, the COEs accurately assessed disease severity and provided tailored treatment through skilled healthcare professionals engaged in educational initiatives.

Severe asthma stands as a significant health concern in India, contributing to premature morbidity and mortality. Recent data suggests that approximately 22 Lakh individuals in Karnataka are grappling with asthma, ranking the state seventh in terms of asthmatic population in India.

NCDs, such as severe asthma, pose a socio-economic burden for patients, families, and the healthcare system due to the treatment costs involved. 

Sharing insights, Dr Ravindra Mehta, director and head, and Dr Sameer Bansal, clinical head at Vaayu Chest and Sleep Specialists,  said, "It is crucial to understand that knowledge is power, and empowerment is therapy when it comes to managing this respiratory condition."

Founded in 2023 by Dr Ravindra Mehta in Bengaluru, Vaayu Chest & Sleep Clinic offers comprehensive respiratory care in the region. Their services encompass pediatric and adult pulmonology, ENT, sleep medicine, and psychological assessments.

AstraZeneca’s Recent Collaborations 

In recent developments, AstraZeneca completed its equity investment with Cellectis, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, as part of a research collaboration agreement initiated in November 2023. With this investment, AstraZeneca holds a total equity stake of approximately 44% in Cellectis. 

The collaboration aims to harness Cellectis' proprietary gene editing technologies and manufacturing capabilities to develop novel cell and gene therapy products targeting areas with significant unmet medical needs, including oncology, immunology, and rare diseases.

Additionally, AstraZeneca acquired Fusion Pharmaceuticals, a Canadian specialist focused on next-generation cancer therapies, for $2.4 billion (£1.9 billion). This move aims to bolster AstraZeneca's cancer treatment portfolio. Fusion Pharmaceuticals develops next-generation radioconjugates & offers alternatives to traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy.