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UPSC Daily Current Affairs | Prelim Bits 16-07-2024

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July 16, 2024

Semaglutide vs tirzepatide

India's drug regulator could soon approve the weight-loss drug tirzepatide.

  • Semaglutide and tirzepatide are small proteins that increase levels of hormones like GLP-1, helping to control weight via the brain and digestive tract.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is a hormone most commonly known for stimulating insulin release following meal consumption.

  • Manufacturer- Eli Lilly, American pharmaceutical company.
  • The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide) for chronic weight management in adults.
  • Prescription- These drugs can be prescribed to adults who are obese (BMI over 30) or overweight (BMI between 27 and 30) with at least one weight-related health condition, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes.

Feature

Semaglutide

Tirzepatide

Drug Class

Glucagon-like-peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist

Dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist

Brand Names

Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy

Mounjaro

Indications

Type 2 diabetes, chronic weight management

Type 2 diabetes, potentially for weight loss

Mechanism of Action

Mimics GLP-1 to increase insulin secretion, decrease glucagon release, and slow gastric emptying

Activates both GIP and GLP-1 receptors to enhance insulin secretion, inhibit glucagon release, and slow gastric emptying

Efficacy in HbA1c Reduction

Reduces HbA1c by approximately 1.0-1.5%

Reduces HbA1c by approximately 1.5-2.0%

Weight Loss

Significant weight loss observed (up to 15% body weight in trials for Wegovy)

Significant weight loss, potentially greater than Semaglutide (up to 22.5% in trials)

Side Effects

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, potential risk of thyroid C-cell tumors

Similar to Semaglutide: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, potential risk of thyroid C-cell tumors, injection site reactions

Cardiovascular Benefits

Shown to reduce major cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease

Shown to reduce major cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes (ongoing studies to further validate)

Approval Status

FDA approved for type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management

FDA approved for type 2 diabetes (weight management indications under investigation)

  • Global scenario- The development of various weight loss drugs has been a game changer for obesity treatment in recent years, especially in the US and Europe.
  • Semaglutide vs tirzepatide drugs are yet to be commercially available in India.

References

  1. Indian Express | Drug tirzepatide
  2. Healthline | Tirzepatide vs. Semaglutide

 

Information Ratio

SEBI's recent consultative paper recommends that asset management companies (AMCs) disclose their funds' information ratio (IR) to highlight risk-adjusted returns.

  • The Information Ratio (IR) is a quantitative measure used to evaluate the performance of an investment portfolio or financial asset compared to a benchmark index, factoring in the volatility of the returns.
  • The benchmark typically represents the market, an industry, or a specific sector.
  • A higher information ratio indicates that the fund manager has consistently outperformed the benchmark and similar fund managers over a given period.
  • IR figures are usually annualized for easy understanding.
  • Calculation
    • Information Ratio = (Portfolio Return−Benchmark Return)/Tracking Error
  • The Portfolio Return refers to the portfolio’s overall return.
    • Benchmark Return - The value of the benchmark index that was chosen.
    • Tracking Error- The standard deviation of the difference in portfolio returns from benchmark returns.
  • Applications for Information Ratio
    • Performance Evaluation- Investors utilize internal rate of return (IR) to assess portfolio manager performance. It aids in analyzing whether the management is generating enough extra returns for the level of risk taken.
    • Portfolio Comparison- IR enables the comparison of many portfolios against the same benchmark, resulting in a standardized measure of risk-adjusted performance.
    • Investment Decision-Making- Investors utilize IR to make informed decisions about allocating funds to different portfolios or managers based on risk-adjusted returns.

References

  1. The Hindu business line | Information Ratio
  2. Lemonn | Information Ratio

 

Zoonotic diseases

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has issued a stark warning about emerging zoonotic diseases that may trigger another pandemic by 2030.

  • About- Zoonotic diseases are infections that are spread between people and animals.

Zoonotic diseases

  • Different pathogens- Many different pathogens can cause zoonoses. These include Bacteria, Parasites (protozoa or parasitic worms), Viruses, Fungi, and Prions.
  • Types- There are various types of zoonotic diseases.
  • Examples include rabies (from bites of infected animals), Ebola (through contact with infected animals), Lyme disease (from ticks), and COVID-19 (thought to originate from bats).
  • Symptoms- Some common symptoms include Fever, Tiredness (fatigue), Headache, Body aches, Rash, Diarrhoea, and Vomiting.
  • Prevention- Prevention involves measures like avoiding contact with wild animals, proper food handling and cooking, using insect repellents, and vaccination of animals.
  • Recommendations- The UNEP report emphasizes the urgent need for proactive measures to address ecological disruptions and human-wildlife interactions, stressing that safeguarding planetary health is crucial in preventing future zoonotic outbreaks.
  • Understanding zoonotic diseases is crucial for public health preparedness and managing outbreaks effectively.

References

  1. Down to Earth | Zoonotic diseases
  2. Cleveland Clinic | Zoonotic Diseases

 

Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS)

A report recently released shows that the ECLG scheme extended liquidity support of over ₹3.68-lakh crore to 1.19 crore businesses in just a 3-year tenure between May 2020 and March 2023.

  • Aim - It was aimed to support businesses and individuals affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Launch - 2020.
  • Ministry - It is under the operational domain of the Ministry of Finance, Department of Financial Services (DFS).
  • The scheme aims to provide emergency funding to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic.
  • It is a part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
  • Objective - The scheme is designed to ease the financial burden by providing an additional source of funding with minimal interest rates and extended repayment terms.
  • Funding - The overall ceiling initially announced for ECLGS was Rs 3 lakh crore which was subsequently enhanced to Rs 4.5 lakh crore.
  • However, ECLGS being a demand-driven scheme, sanctions are made by lending institutions based on assessment of borrower’s requirement and their eligibility.
  • Guarantee - The scheme provides a 100% guarantee on the credit facilities extended by banks and financial institutions.
  • Interest rates - The government has capped the interest rate under ECLGS scheme at
    • 9.25% for Banks and Financial Institutions and
    • 14% for Non-Banking Financial Institutions.
  • This scheme also offers a one-year moratorium on payment of principle component.  
  • Implementation - The scheme is administered through public sector banks, private sector banks, and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs).

Reference 

The Hindu Business line | Credit to ECLGS

 

National Company Law Tribunal

Recently, the Bengaluru bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) admitted BCCI’s petition seeking insolvency proceedings against ed-tech giant Byjus.

  • It is a quasi-judicial authority incorporated for dealing with corporate disputes that are of civil nature arising under the Companies Act
  • Ministry - Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
  • Background - It is the outcome of the Eradi Committee.
  • The NCLT functions like a regular court, ensuring fair, unbiased case evaluations based on principles of natural justice.  
  • It issues decisions in the form of orders.
  • Appeals - Decisions of the tribunal may be appealed to the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, the decisions of which may further be appealed to the Supreme Court of India on a point of law.  
  • Major Functions of NCLT
    • It has been empowered to take several steps, from canceling the registration of a company to dissolving any company.
    • The Tribunal could even render the liability or charge of members unlimited.
    • It is also empowered to hear grievances of rejection of companies in transferring shares and securities and under section 58- 59 of the Act.
    • It has the power to order an investigation. It could be conducted within India or anywhere in the world. 

Reference

The Indian Express | NCLT

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