In a decisive move, the Union Public Service Commission (<keyword id="19896499" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UPSC" source="keywords">UPSC</keyword>) has permanently barred <keyword id="22376645" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Puja-Khedkar" source="keywords">Puja Khedkar</keyword>, a trainee <keyword id="19906369" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IAS" source="keywords">IAS</keyword> officer, from appearing in all future exams conducted by the commission. This action comes after allegations surfaced that <keyword id="22380695" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="khedkar" source="keywords">Khedkar</keyword> misused the disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) quotas to secure her candidature in the <keyword id="20332089" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="civil-services" source="keywords">civil services</keyword> exam.<br /><h2>Allegations and investigation</h2>Puja Khedkar has been accused of violating the rules of the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2022 by fraudulently availing attempts beyond the permissible limit and misrepresenting her eligibility under the disability and OBC (non-creamy layer) categories. The UPSC, following a thorough review of her application and eligibility, found her guilty of these violations.<br />  <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111859091" title="Puja Khedkar case: UPSC files FIR against IAS trainee for fraud; bars her from all future exams" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>"UPSC has examined the available records carefully and found her guilty of acting in contravention of the provisions of the CSE-2022 Rules. Her provisional candidature for the CSE-2022 has been cancelled and she has also been debarred permanently from all the future Examinations/Selections of the UPSC," the commission stated.<br /><h2>Failure to respond to show cause notice</h2>The UPSC issued a Show Cause Notice (SCN) to Khedkar on July 18, giving her an opportunity to explain her actions. Despite extending the deadline to July 30, Khedkar failed to provide an explanation within the prescribed time. The commission emphasised that this extension was the final opportunity for her to respond.<br /><h2>Legal actions and charges</h2>Following the UPSC's findings, Puja Khedkar has been booked by the <keyword id="20433325" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi-Police-Crime-Branch" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Delhi Police Crime Branch" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Delhi Police Crime Branch">Delhi Police Crime Branch</keyword> under several sections of the <keyword id="19898811" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-penal-code" source="keywords">Indian Penal Code</keyword> (IPC), including:<br /><br />- Section 420 (cheating)<br /><br />- Section 464 (making a document in the name of a fictitious person)<br /><br />- Section 465 (forgery)<br /><br />- Section 471 (passing off a forged document as genuine)<br /><br />Additionally, she faces charges under sections 89 and 91 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act and section 66D of the <keyword id="20003647" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="information-technology-act" source="keywords">Information Technology Act</keyword>.<br /><br />A team led by the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) of the Crime Branch has been tasked with collecting documents from various government departments to support the investigation.<br /><h2>Broader implications</h2>This case highlights the stringent measures taken by the UPSC to maintain the integrity of its examination process. Misuse of quotas and fraudulent activities undermine the fairness of the competitive exams, depriving deserving candidates of their rightful opportunities. The UPSC's decision to debar Puja Khedkar serves as a stern warning to all aspirants about the consequences of attempting to manipulate the system.<br /><br />The permanent debarment of Puja Khedkar from future UPSC exams underscores the commission's commitment to upholding transparency and fairness in its selection process. As the legal proceedings continue, this case will likely prompt a reevaluation of the safeguards in place to prevent such incidents, ensuring that the civil services examination remains a beacon of meritocracy and integrity.<br />  <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112124387" title="Delhi coaching centre tragedy: Students continue protest in Old Rajinder Nagar over deaths of 3 UPSC aspirants" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><br />

Puja Khedkar case: UPSC finally bars former IAS trainee permanently for misusing quotas in civil services exam

<keyword id="22376645" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Puja-Khedkar" source="keywords">Puja Khedkar</keyword>, an IAS trainee, has been making news for all the wrong reasons after reports of her having submitted <keyword id="20375769" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fake-documents" source="keywords">fake documents</keyword> to the Union Public Service Commission (<keyword id="19896499" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UPSC" source="keywords">UPSC</keyword>) came to light earlier this month. The aspiring <keyword id="21086559" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="civil-servant" source="keywords">civil servant</keyword> has since dug herself a deeper and deeper hole and the shocking details of her misdemeanour are now exposed.<br /><br />The UPSC, a highly respected body responsible for selecting India's top bureaucrats, has been rocked by <keyword id="22471546" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="puja-manorama-dilip-khedkar" source="keywords">Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar</keyword> attempts to cheat her way to the coveted position. Khedkar, who had already cleared the highly competitive Civil Services Exam and begun training, now faces <keyword id="20160430" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="criminal-charges" source="keywords">criminal charges</keyword> and a permanent ban from future UPSC exams.<br />    <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="107421371" title="Bill to tackle entrance exam malpractices introduced in Lok Saba" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><br /><h2>What did Puja Khedkar do?<br /></h2>An in-depth investigation revealed that Khedkar allegedly created a fake identity with a different name, changed details like her parents' names, and fabricated an entirely new background, including a photograph, signature, email address, phone number, and even a different residence. This elaborate scheme involved taking the UPSC exam multiple times, exceeding the permissible limit set by regulations.<br /><br /><h2>UPSC takes action against Puja Khedkar<br /></h2>The UPSC, known for its rigorous selection process and commitment to fairness, took decisive action. They not only debarred Khedkar from all future exams but also filed a First Information Report (FIR) against her with the police authorities. This strong stance sends a clear message that any attempt to manipulate the UPSC system will not be tolerated.<br /><br />In a statement, the UPSC emphasised its unwavering commitment to "the highest possible order of due diligence" and maintaining public trust, especially amongst aspiring candidates who invest years of hard work in preparation for the Civil Services Exam. <br /><br />This incident serves as a stark reminder that even within prestigious institutions, individuals may attempt to exploit the system.<br />    <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111053674" title="AI app &amp;#39;PadhAI&amp;#39; solves UPSC 2024 prelim exam paper in seven minutes, scores 170 out of 200!" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><br />

Puja Khedkar case: UPSC files FIR against IAS trainee for fraud; bars her from all future exams

<keyword id="15414361" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="yogita-khedkar" source="Orion">Yogita Khedkar</keyword> created a new national record after she lifted a total weight of 183 kgs at the Khelo <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> Women's Weightlifting tournament in the 87-kg category at Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. <br /><br /> Khdekar lifted a weight of 78 kg in snatch while lifting 105 kg in clean and <keyword id="613446" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="jerk" source="Orion">jerk</keyword>, totalling a staggering 183 kg in the junior category. <br /><br /> Earlier, Maharashtra-based weightlifter, <keyword id="14479179" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="akanksha-vyavahare" source="Orion">Akanksha Vyavahare</keyword> created a new National Weightlifting Record in the 40kg weight category.<br /><br /> The weightlifter, also a part of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme, has created the NRs in all 3 scores - Snatch, Clean and Jerk and Total.<br /><br /> This has been achieved on the opening day (Friday) of the Khelo India National Ranking Women's Weightlifting tournament Phase 2, being held in Ghaziabad, Noida.<br /><br /> Akanksha bettered her existing Snatch national record, by lifting 60kg. She recorded 71kg in the Clean &amp; Jerk, and in the process, registered a total lift of 131kg. She competed in the 40kg <keyword id="6356126" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="youth" source="Orion">Youth</keyword> Girls category.<br /><br /> Commonwealth Games 2022 silver medalist BidyarDevi, Harshada Garud, Akanksha Vyavahare and Soumya Dalvi are some of the weightlifters set to compete in Phase 2 of the Khelo India Women's Weightlifting League National Ranking Youth, Junior &amp; Senior Tournament, scheduled to start October 27 in Ghaziabad, Noida and end on November 2.<br /><br /> Organised by the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) and supported by the Department of <keyword id="6356028" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="sports" source="Orion">Sports</keyword>, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the league will be organized across three age groups: Senior (15 years and above), Junior (15-20 years) and Youth (13-17 years). The total amount of support put forward by the Government of India to conduct the Khelo India league across all editions is Rs 1.88 Crore, which includes a total cash prize of Rs 48.3 Lakh to the top 8 ranked weightlifters across 10 weight categories in all age groups.<br /><br /> The Khelo India Women's league is yet another endeavour by Khelo India's Sports for Women component, which takes the most necessary steps to power more female participation in a wide array of sports competitions. The support extends to not only giving grants but also helping in the proper organization and execution of the events.<br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO:<br /><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-kuldeep-sen-team-indias-new-pace-bowler/slidelist/95247221.cms">Everything you need to know about Kuldeep Sen, team India’s new pace bowler</a></strong><br /><strong><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/indias-suryakumar-yadav-becomes-the-worlds-no-1-t20i-batsman/articleshow/95251680.cms">India's Suryakumar Yadav becomes the world's No 1 T20I batsman</a></strong><br />

Yogita Khedkar creates National Record in the 87kg weightlifting category

<keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>'s talismanic batter Virat <keyword id="6360637" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="kohli" source="Orion">Kohli</keyword> on Thursday earned a nomination for the ICC Men's Player of the Month Award for the very first time. Alongside Kohli, in-form South Africa batter <keyword id="118827" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="david-miller" source="Orion">David Miller</keyword> and Zimbabwe all-rounder <keyword id="239056" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="sikandar-raza" source="Orion">Sikandar Raza</keyword> have also been nominated for the honour.<br /><br />Kohli is nominated for the very first time in the ICC Player of the Month awards, and while registering 205 runs across the calendar month of October, he showed glimpses of his very best form. He looked at ease in scoring an unbeaten 62 against the dogged Netherlands in Sydney.<br /><br />But the cricketing highlight of October came in the era-defining innings played in front of a full house in Melbourne as India claimed a famous four-wicket victory against arch-rivals Pakistan. The iconic display saw Kohli rally his side from 31 for four to chase down the 160 targets on the final ball, thanks to an unforgettable score of 82 not out from 53 balls, which will go down as one of the best knocks ever seen in T20Is.<br /><br />Like Kohli, <keyword id="26523" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="miller" source="Orion">Miller</keyword> is also named on the men's shortlist for the very first time, and he started the month in the bilateral series against India, scoring 117 runs across three ODIs and 125 runs in two T20Is, including a brutal knock of 106 not out in 79 balls in Guwahati.<br /><br />This blistering form was carried into the T20 World Cup where his most significant contribution during the month came in the successful run chase against the same opposition on a challenging Perth track. His unbeaten 59 was crucial to seeing his side over the line after losing quick wickets early, further outlining his credentials as a big game player for South Africa.<br /><br />Raza, meanwhile, is going through a purple patch for performances in 2022 and finds himself nominated for the second time in three months. The talented all-rounder claimed the award back in August and was a key player in sealing Zimbabwe's qualification through to the Super 12 stages of the T20 World Cup.<br /><br />Scoring 145 runs and taking nine wickets at a formidable average of 14.66 from his six T20Is, he won three Player of the Match awards, including for his contribution in the 31-run win against Ireland (82 not out) and the shock one-run victory against Pakistan (3/25).<br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO:<br /><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/morning-exercise-has-no-benefits-to-control-blood-sugar-study/articleshow/95256618.cms">Morning exercise has no benefits to control blood sugar: Study</a><br /><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/yogita-khedkar-creates-national-record-in-the-87kg-weightlifting-category/articleshow/95256632.cms">Yogita Khedkar creates National Record in the 87kg weightlifting category</a><br /></strong>

Virat Kohli nominated for ICC Men's Player of the Month Award with David Miller, Sikandar Raza

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5d09a9a9e3ecba0c2514fb72-2400/ap19170021190190.jpg" border="0" alt="trump 2020 re-election rally" data-mce-source="AP" data-mce-caption="President Donald Trump speaks during his re-election kickoff rally at the Amway Center, Tuesday, June 18, 2019, in Orlando, Fla." /><p class="source"><span>AP</span></p><p class="caption">President Donald Trump speaks during his re-election kickoff rally at the Amway Center, Tuesday, June 18, 2019, in Orlando, Fla.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li>President Donald Trump officially kicked off his re-election campaign with a raucous rally Tuesday night in Orlando, Florida.</li><li>Trump's stump speech conspicuously lacked concrete policy rollouts or a 2020 agenda, and it focused instead on excoriating the president's perceived enemies in the media, the Democratic party, and the intelligence community.</li><li>Tuesday's rally comes after a rocky few weeks for the White House. Trump ignited a firestorm last week when he said he might entertain an offer of political dirt on an opponent from a foreign power.</li><li>He's also on the defensive after reports surfaced that internal campaign polling data shows Trump losing to former Vice President and 2020 Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden in key states.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul><p>ORLANDO - President Donald Trump kicked off his re-election campaign Tuesday night by excoriating the press, mocking Democrats, and running through the highlights of his presidency on issues like tax reform, the economy, and deregulation.</p><p>While the speech struck a chord with supporters packed into the arena, it conspicuously lacked any new policy rollouts or an agenda for a second term.</p><p>A few minutes into the speech, the president tested the slogan for his 2020 campaign - "Keep America Great" - to the roaring crowd and rattled off many familiar grievances against his perceived enemies.</p><p>While railing against the FBI's Russia investigation and the former special counsel Robert Mueller, Trump declared, "No president should ever have to go through this again … our patriotic movement has been under assault from the very first day."</p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-officials-hide-russia-cyber-operation-trump-2019-6" data-analytics-position="1">US officials are reportedly keeping Trump in the dark about a cyber operation against Russia because they're afraid he'll leak it to foreign officials</a></em></p><p>He went on to falsely claim that he still accomplished "more than any other president has in the first two years of a presidency, and under circumstances that no president has had to deal with before."</p><p>He also insisted Mueller had exonerated him of any wrongdoing and that Democrats now want "a do-over." (Mueller's team specified that its report "does not exonerate" the president and indicated that it was up to Congress to investigate further.)</p><p>"They tried to take away your dignity and your destiny," Trump told the enthusiastic audience. "But we will never let them do that, will we? They tried to erase your vote, erase your legacy of the greatest campaign, probably the greatest election in the history of our country."</p><p>As he often has in the past, the president later threw the spotlight on his 2016 presidential rival, Hillary Clinton, prompting supporters to break into chants of, "Lock her up!"</p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-political-dirt-foreign-power-fbi-intel-veterans-react-2019-6" data-analytics-position="2">'Stunning' and 'outrageous': Trump's willingness to accept political dirt from foreign spies makes it 'open season' on US elections</a></em></p><p>Trump also attacked the <keyword id="6355005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="news">news</keyword> media and reporters covering the rally. And while he spent some time ripping former vice president Joe Biden - the 2020 Democratic frontrunner - Trump didn't call out any other 2020 campaign rivals and instead chose to focus on his own record.</p><p>He dedicated a significant portion of his speech to extolling the breakneck pace at which his administration has had conservative judges appointed to the bench. He also praised Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and slammed Democrats for stalling Kavanaugh's confirmation last year following multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.</p><p>Trump has prioritized nominating anti-abortion judges who would overturn Roe v. Wade, and the issue is a big deal to many conservative voters.</p><p>Charrife Lane, a 20-year-old African-American college student who attended the rally, told INSIDER that being "pro-life is a big issue to me."</p><p>"It's hard to support someone who is not pro-life," she said. "Because first of all, when you're dealing with Planned Parenthood, the founder of Planned Parenthood, Margaret Singer, I believe that she was a racist. So I will not support someone who stands for abortion ... And I believe that because [Trump] is being pro-life on that, that's why I support him."</p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/most-democratic-primary-voters-plan-to-watch-first-debate-2019-6" data-analytics-position="3">A massive 70% of Democratic primary voters say they'll be watching the first debates this month</a></em></p><p>For other voters, Trump's hardline stance on immigration is a big selling point.</p><p>19-year-old Mihir Khedkar lives in New York City but is originally from Jacksonville, Florida. He attended Tuesday's rally and told INSIDER his parents immigrated to the US from India.</p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"My parents are immigrants, it took them 20 years to get citizenship," Khedkar said. "So I think that coming in the legal way in the right way is the right way to go."</span></p><p>Trump's re-election rally follows a rocky few weeks for the White House. Trump sparked backlash when he told ABC's George Stephanopoulos last week that he would consider entertaining an offer of political dirt on an opponent from a foreign power, and that he'd alert the FBI only if the information he got was "incorrect" or "bad."</p><p>The president was also on the defensive after reports surfaced that internal campaign polling data showed him losing to Biden in key states by significant margins and carrying just a two-point lead over the former vice president in deep-red Texas. Trump denied that such data existed, but his own campaign manager, Brad Parscale, confirmed its authenticity to the media.</p><p>Parscale added, though, that the numbers were from March and therefore did not accurately reflect current support for Trump.</p><p>Still, analysts say the numbers don't look good for the Trump team which, in addition to keeping its core base of supporters, needs to draw more moderate voters to win the 2020 election.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-allows-hate-speech-harassment-steven-crowder-carlos-maza-2019-6">YouTube is in dangerous territory after not removing a video that ridiculed a Vox producer for being gay</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/2EWff8O8-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div>

Trump kicked off his 2020 campaign with a freewheeling rally riddled with falsehoods as he excoriated Mueller, Democrats, and the press

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58c0563c402a6b83038b4ce1-800/screen%20shot%202017-03-08%20at%2015315%20pm.png" alt="Screen Shot 2017 03 08 at 1.53.15 PM" data-mce-source="MoreThanTired.com"><p class="source"><span>MoreThanTired.com</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div><p>"I feel tired all the time."&#xa0;</p><p>"It can be tough to concentrate, and I have this need to nap," says a voiceover while&#xa0;images of people falling asleep on public transportation or&#xa0;at the movies flash across the television screen.&#xa0;</p><p>The footage in this <a href="https://www.ispot.tv/ad/AFak/narcolepsy-link-not-something-i-can-control">advertisement is relatable to anyone who's unexpectedly nodded off</a>. But then comes a surprise:</p><p>"It could be narcolepsy."</p><p>Narcolepsy&#xa0;- most commonly known as the condition that leaves people falling asleep unexpectedly - affects&#xa0;roughly <a href="http://narcolepsynetwork.org/about-narcolepsy/faq/">1 in 2,000 people</a> in the US. In addition to the sleepiness, another symptom is&#xa0;cataplexy, a condition where the body suddenly loses muscle tone after the person expresses strong emotions, like laughing.</p><p>So chances are pretty good that if you're sleepy - it is <em>not</em> narcolepsy.&#xa0;</p><p>Certainly, narcolepsy is serious for the 0.05% of Americans who suffer from it, but the advertisement described above is running on prime time cable television. And that begs the question that's often asked about widely broadcast consumer ads for such uncommon conditions: Why do drug companies do this?</p><p>The answer is simply "because it works." But, that's only true if the drug meets certain conditions - namely that it needs to be expensive.</p><h2>It needs to be expensive</h2><p>These types of ads are expected to grow 10% per year, with drug companies spending $8 billion on ads by 2020 up from <a href="http://www.mmm-online.com/commercial/drugmakers-again-boost-dtc-spending-to-56-billion-in-2016/article/642028/">$5.6 billion in 2016</a>, according to ZS Associates, a sales and marketing firm focused on the healthcare industry.</p><p>And the ads the pharma companies are running are targeting incredibly tiny populations. Also on TV these days is an ad for people with a certain kind of advanced small cell lung cancer, and a treatment for a <a href="https://www.statnews.com/2016/05/04/sleep-drug-blind-advertising/">rare sleep disorder that happens to people who are blind.</a>&#xa0;Prescriptions for these can cost upward of $100,000 a year.</p><p>ZS principal Pratap Khedkar told Business Insider that running ads for these expensive specialty products makes sense. Sure, you might be spending more per potential patient, but because the drugs cost so much, it pays off.</p><p>"It's not very profitable, but it's not making a loss," Khedkar said. The total spending might be $400 or $500 per known case, but the drugmaker can make that back easily with a high-priced specialty medicine.&#xa0;</p><p>The narcolepsy ad isn't quite the same as one for, say, Opdivo&#xa0;- a lung cancer immunotherapy. For one thing, it is an "<a href="http://www.morethantired.com/">awareness campaign</a>" and doesn't name a specific drug. It does direct people to a website&#xa0;that then encourages them to self-diagnose their condition, and then find a sleep specialist who, presumably, would just prescribe the drug behind all this.</p><p>&#xa0;</p><p>That drug is called Xyrem. It is owned by Jazz Pharmaceuticals - which is running the ads - and it's the only approved drug that treats cataplexy and daytime sleepiness.</p><p>And, it costs roughly <a href="http://www.fiercepharma.com/special-report/xyrem-jazz-pharmaceuticals">$20 per dose</a>&#xa0;(taken nightly), after Jazz increased the price at least&#xa0;<a href="http://www.fiercepharma.com/sales-and-marketing/10-big-brands-keep-pumping-out-big-bucks-a-little-help-from-price-hikes">841% between&#xa0;2007 and 2014</a>. There is generic alternative, though, which was just approved in January.&#xa0;</p><p>Jazz didn't respond to Business Insider's requests for comment on the ad campaign or its intentions, but a spokeswoman did tell&#xa0;<a href="http://www.fiercepharma.com/marketing/jazz-more-than-tired-ad-campaign-keeps-narcolepsy-disease-awareness-at-fore">FiercePharma</a>&#xa0;in November 2016, that "we believe that, over time, a targeted narcolepsy awareness initiative may increase the number of patients diagnosed with narcolepsy and may help reduce the time from disorder onset to diagnosis."<br><br>So, for the next time you're watching TV and being asked if you might have narcolepsy - now you know why.</br></br></p><div><div style="position:relative;width:100%;padding-top:56.25%;padding-bottom:40px;"><iframe style="position:absolute;top:0;right:0;left:0;bottom:0;width:100%;height:100%;" src="https://www.ispot.tv/share/AFak" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/statue-defiant-girl-faces-wall-street-charging-bull-state-street-global-national-womens-day-2017-3">A $2.5 trillion asset manager just put a statue of a defiant girl in front of the Wall Street bull</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="8xb2M3YTE66aw-XI5qgwht7uhktCkT7D" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', '8xb2M3YTE66aw-XI5qgwht7uhktCkT7D',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

You probably don't have narcolepsy - but it actually makes sense that there is a startling ad for it on TV

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/pfizer-to-raise-prices-on-41-drugs-1542398034"></a><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5c1d2eefad9571526860c8d5-2400/gettyimages-155292424.jpg" border="0" alt="Pills drugs medicine money price hikes price increases" data-mce-source="Getty" /><p class="source"><span>Getty</span></p><p class="caption">Pharmaceutical companies still have increases planned for January of next year, in spite of President Donald Trump recently shaming Pfizer and others for price hikes.</p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since President Donald Trump called out Pfizer and other drugmakers for prescription drug price increases in July, the issue has largely stalled. </span></li><li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Now, though, pharmaceutical companies are planning drug price hikes for January. The increases could even be larger than usual.</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: 400;">You can expect to hear a lot more about the cost of drugs next year. </span></li></ul><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Drug companies raise their prices each January, as predictably as people make New Year's resolutions. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This January will be no exception</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> - the only question is if that will provoke any meaningful <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-prescription-drug-prices-are-so-high-and-whats-being-done-about-it-2018-3">policy change</a>s.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Drugmakers have put price hikes on a low simmer since July, when President Donald Trump publicly shamed "Pfizer &amp; others" by tweet for jacking up their prices.<strong> </strong></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pfizer agreed to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-pfizers-decision-to-defer-price-increases-after-trump-talk-means-2018-7">postpone its increases</a>, and other companies either <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/r-novartis-puts-brakes-on-price-hikes-bowing-to-us-pressure-2018-7?r=UK&amp;IR=T">didn't take</a> price increases, or at least reduced their price-hike ambitions over the last year, according to Bernstein analyst Ronny Gal. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But all that is being left behind when the calendar turns to 2019. Pfizer, for example, plans to increase the prices of 41 drugs in January, The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/pfizer-to-raise-prices-on-41-drugs-1542398034">reports</a></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and the strategy extends to nearly 30 drugmakers, according to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-drugpricing-exclusive/exclusive-big-pharma-returning-to-u-s-price-hikes-in-january-after-pause-idUSKCN1OJ01E">Reuters</a>, including other prominent firms like Novartis, Allergan, GlaxoSmithKline, Amgen and Biogen. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There could even be "a step up in both the number and magnitude of list price increases (as opposed to a more gradual returning to business as usual)," Bernstein's Gal predicted. "However, while individual companies may do well, the price increases taken together would suggest Pharma is 'tone deaf' to public concerns."</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gal noted that drugmakers are once again boosting their prices just as Congress is setting its agenda. The high cost of prescriptions has drawn the ire of both Democrats, who will control the House of Representatives, and Republicans, who are expanding their majority in the Senate.</span></p><p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/antitrust-suit-companies-partnered-to-hike-prices-on-antifungal-nystatin-2018-12">A smiley-face text message about hiking the price of an old drug is at the center of a massive lawsuit being brought against nearly 20 big drug companies</a></span></em></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Other experts, meanwhile, are predicting that's exactly why price increases of a smaller-than-usual magnitude should be exhibited in January.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After Trump's tweet, "that freeze is starting to thaw," Pratap Khedkar, managing principal of consulting firm ZS Associates, told Business Insider, "but it's muted."</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Drug companies are facing greater scrutiny than ever on list price increases, and we expect list price increases to moderate somewhat," compared with those made in 2018, Morgan Stanley analyst David Risinger agreed. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">No matter what, expect to hear a lot about the high cost of drugs again next year.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"We believe that the noise over drug pricing in 2019 - 2020 will be unrelenting," Veda Partners analyst Spencer Perlman wrote last month.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"There likely will be news every single day due to a multitude of high-profile congressional hearings, legislation introduced, presidential shaming, and regulations proposed as both parties try to one-up the other in demonizing pharma and threatening heavy-handed government actions to drive down pharmaceutical prices." </span></p><p class="tagline">Get the latest Pfizer stock price<a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/pfe-Quote"> here.</a></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-many-children-you-can-have-lifetime-2018-11">Here's how many children you can have in a lifetime</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/u19hopOk-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div>

US prescription drug prices are set to climb higher, after drugmakers put them on pause in response to Trump's tweet-shaming

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5a201e1f3dbef4e3058b90ff-1199/stefano pessina.jpg" alt="stefano pessina" data-mce-source="Bloomberg" data-mce-caption="Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO speaks to Bloomberg in Davos in 2016." data-link="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2016-01-21/walgreens-ceo-consumer-drug-prices-should-be-lower" /><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2016-01-21/walgreens-ceo-consumer-drug-prices-should-be-lower">Bloomberg</a></span></p><p class="caption">Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO speaks to Bloomberg in Davos in 2016.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul><li><strong>Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO Stefano Pessina doesn't see Amazon getting into the pharmacy business. </strong></li><li><strong>His comments come at a time when other healthcare companies have been taking Amazon's potential entry into healthcare <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/what-mckesson-and-express-scripts-think-of-amazon-2017-11">very seriously</a>.</strong></li><li><strong>Pessina said if Amazon were to get into the pharmacy business, it would have to "buy or team up."</strong></li><li><strong>But if Amazon does start offering direct delivery of medicines to customers, that would hurt Walgreens' retail business as people have less reason to stop by a drug store.</strong></li></ul><hr /><p><br />There's a lot of speculation these days about whether Amazon is going to enter the pharmaceutical industry. Not everyone in the industry is worried about this, though.</p><p><span>"They will not come in an industry so complicated as our industry," Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO Stefano Pessina <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2017/11/29/walgreens-ceo-doesnt-see-amazon-as-a-rival-without-a-major-acquisition/#17559a832032">said at the Forbes Healthcare Summit on Thursday</a>. </span></p><p><span>If Amazon does want to enter the pharmaceutical industry, it would have to "buy or to team up," Pessina said.</span></p><p><span>That's a different sentiment than <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/what-mckesson-and-express-scripts-think-of-amazon-2017-11">we've seen lately:</a> worry about the drug-sales business being Amazon'd has sent healthcare stocks tumbling, and is even credited with sparking a </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/cvs-aetna-takeover-creates-an-amazon-buffer-2017-10">potential $60 billion takeover.</a></p><p><span>Whether Amazon does enter the business, and if it does, what that business will look like, remains to be seen. There <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/prescription-drug-costs-explained-2016-10">are a lot of people</a> involved in the process of delivering and paying for your prescription, from the drugmakers, to insurers, to the pharmacy. </span></p><p><span>But one way Amazon could get into the pharmacy business would directly impact Walgreens. </span><span>It could distribute drugs to people who aren't using insurance, at a cash price. If patients could get their drugs through Amazon, they might not have to stop by a pharmacy like Walgreens, which could hurt its <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/cvs-aetna-takeover-creates-an-amazon-buffer-2017-10">retail business</a>. </span></p><p><span>But if Amazon wants to serve people who do have insurance, that will require extra legwork, which could mean buying or teaming up as Pessina mentioned. </span></p><p><span>ZS principal Pratap Khedkar <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/what-mckesson-and-express-scripts-think-of-amazon-2017-11">told Business Insider</a> that ultimately, should Amazon decide to get into the pharmacy business, it will have to acquire a pharmacy benefits manager, which negotiate discounts to drug prices for health plans. "Things are so arcane that they will have to buy something and fix it instead of build it from scratch," he said. </span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/cryptocurrency-value-explained-by-crypto-hedge-fund-cio-ari-paul-2017-11">The CIO of a crypto hedge fund explains the value in cryptocurrency - and why the market will explode over the next 2 years</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/eUIMbufw-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div>

Walgreens CEO isn't convinced Amazon will get into healthcare

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5813636ab28a642b008b5901-784/study-leads-to-insulin-injection-recommendations-2016-9.jpg" alt="A diabetic applies an Insulin pen injection in Vienna November 13, 2012. Picture taken November 13, 2012.  REUTERS/Heinz-Peter Bader  " data-mce-source="Thomson Reuters" data-mce-caption="A diabetic applies an Insulin pen injection in Vienna" /><p class="source"><span>Thomson Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">A diabetic applies an Insulin pen injection in Vienna</p></div><p></p></div></div>It hasn't been a good morning for the pharmaceutical industry. </p><p>As company earnings come out, stocks have been <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mckesson-warns-about-wholesalers-drug-price-scrutiny-shares-fall-2016-10">dropping across the supply chain</a>. <br /><br />Novo Nordisk, a Danish pharmaceutical company known for its diabetes medication was down 14% Friday morning after slashing its long-term profit growth target in half. </p><p>"The competitive environment in the U.S. within both diabetes care and biopharmaceuticals has become more challenging, negatively impacting the price of our products, especially for insulin and human growth hormone products," Novo's chief financial officer Jesper Brandgaard said in a call with investors Friday. </p><p>In the last decade, Novo's list prices for its insulin have gone up roughly 300%. The company also introduced a new <a href="http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm464321.htm">insulin in 2015 called Tresiba</a>.<br /><br />But the pharmacy benefits managers - who manage relationships between drugmakers, insurers and pharmacies - have been taking an increasing cut of drug prices.  Drugmakers pay the PBMs a "rebate" to offset price increases, and for insulin, this has been rising, according to ZS Associates,  a sales and marketing firm that works in the healthcare industry. <br /><br />ZS data shows that Novo's rebate rates were 47% in 2014, and 55% in 2015. Across the industry, ZS data shows that rebates paid out to PBMs and insurers have gone up from about $40 billion four years ago to $100-$130 billion by 2016. So while list prices continue to go up, net prices to the drugmakers have stayed mostly flat. </p><p><span>"If you want a little more money, you've got to increase the list price by a lot," ZS principal Pratap Khedkar told Business Insider earlier in October. </span><br /><br /></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58135d76362ca486238b549e-968/screen shot 2016-10-28 at 10.14.06 am.png" alt="Screen Shot 2016 10 28 at 10.14.06 AM" data-mce-source="Markets Insider" /><p class="source"><span>Markets Insider</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Sanofi, which also reported earnings Friday and also makes insulin, has been facing similar issues for a few years. The company hasn't taken any price increases on its insulin, called Lantus, since 2014. Sanofi was up 4% Friday morning.</p><p> </p><p class="tagline">Visit Markets Insider for constantly updated market quotes for individual stocks, ETFs, indices, commodities and currencies traded around the world. <a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/">Go Now!</a></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/waffle-house-index-used-track-hurricanes-fema-matthew-2016-10">FEMA is tracking Hurricane Matthew using the 'Waffle House Index'</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="RqdTJkNjE6P7Zz1ngH-16GYRNnLnymBd" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'RqdTJkNjE6P7Zz1ngH-16GYRNnLnymBd',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

One of the world's largest insulin makers is getting clobbered after issuing a warning about its prospects

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/575069f491058436008c670e-1777/gettyimages-507239758 (1).jpg" alt="Jeff Bezos" data-mce-source="Chip Somodevilla/Getty" data-mce-caption="Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos delivers remarks during the opening ceremony of the media company's new location January 28, 2016 in Washington, DC. Bezos purchased the newspaper and media company in October of 2013 from the storied Graham family." /><p class="source"><span>Chip Somodevilla/Getty</span></p><p class="caption">Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul><li><strong>The potential threat of Amazon getting into the pharmacy business has been on the minds of healthcare companies. </strong></li><li><strong>Drugmakers, wholesalers, and pharmacy benefits managers have all addressed the question in their latest quarterly earnings calls. </strong></li><li><strong>The members of the pharmaceutical supply chain seem to be taking Amazon seriously, weighing the different ways the tech giant would affect their businesses. </strong></li></ul><hr /><p> </p><p>Pharmaceutical companies are fielding a lot of questions these days about Amazon's potential entry into the pharmacy business. </p><p>It's enough to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/cvs-aetna-takeover-creates-an-amazon-buffer-2017-10">spark potential $60 billion+</a> deals between healthcare giants, and reports of Amazon's actions tangentially related to healthcare have sent healthcare <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-cvs-walgreens-stock-price-wholesale-pharmacy-licenses-2017-10">stocks tumbling</a>. </p><p><span>Whether Amazon does enter the business, and if it does, what that business will look like, remains to be seen. There <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/prescription-drug-costs-explained-2016-10">are a lot of people</a> involved in the process of delivering and paying for your prescription, from the drugmakers, to insurers, to the pharmacy. </span></p><p><span>There are a number of ways Amazon could get into the pharmacy business. For one, it could distribute drugs to people who aren't using insurance, at a cash price. But if Amazon wants to serve people who do have insurance, that will require extra legwork. </span></p><p><span>ZS principal Pratap Khedkar told Business Insider that ultimately, should Amazon decide to get into the pharmacy business, it will have to acquire a pharmacy benefits manager, which negotiate discounts to drug prices for health plans. "Things are so arcane that they will have to buy something and fix it instead of build it from scratch," he said. </span></p><p><span>Here's how the different members of the supply chain are thinking about Amazon, according to recent quarterly earnings calls. </span></p><h2><span>Drugmakers</span></h2><p><span>Ian Read, CEO of the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, looked at a potential entrance conditionally, depending on how Amazon approaches the business. </span></p><p>"Any system of distribution, you can cut costs and have a wide availability of products to patients is something that the whole industry will be interested in," Read said on Tuesday's earnings call. That changes if Amazon decides to get into the business via PBMs calling it "more of a difficult strategic proposal."</p><p>Allergan CEO Brent Saunders said the talk of disruption in the drug distribution ecosystem could benefit the overall healthcare system. </p><p>"My sense is that the whole ecosystem is ripe for disruption to figure out a way to do it more efficiently, to do it more conveniently for patients to better manage compliance and persistence," Saunders said in an earnings call on Wednesday. "I do think that just like <keyword id="41551" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="science">science</keyword> is disrupted with gene therapy or novel treatments, I think the drug distribution channel also should be disrupted with improvements based on technology or effiency."</p><h2>Wholesalers</h2><p>Wholesalers, which are<span> </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/prescription-drug-costs-explained-2016-10">in charge of shipping drugs</a><span> to pharmacies and hospitals</span>, could face direct competition from Amazon if it chooses to distribute prescription drugs. But wholesalers like McKesson don't seem to be sweating it just yet.</p><p>"To some extent, we were Amazon before it was cool to be Amazon," McKesson CEO John Hammergren said in the company's October earnings call. That's because, he argued, McKesson is mainly based on online orders, much like what Amazon could do if it started supplying prescriptions. "But if you actually think about what's behind the scenes in terms of us taking credit risk, in terms of us processing invoices and processing returns, and then processing pricing on a regular basis, it's quite significant and more nuanced, perhaps, than it would appear on the surface."</p><h2>Pharmacy benefits managers</h2><p>PBMs, could also face direct competition from a company like Amazon which might strike up its own deals. </p><p>"First of all let me say, people have always worried about foxes and henhouses, and I think our henhouse is pretty good," <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-isnt-a-threat-to-business-express-scripts-says-2017-10">Express Scripts CEO TimWentworth</a> said on an October earnings call. He recalled a time back in the mid 2000s when Walmart launched its $4 generic list that people thought would be the end of the PBM business model.  "And of course what it was instead was another opportunity for PBMs to create competition and drive down costs and drive generic expansion for their clients," Wentworth said. </p><p>Should Amazon want to capture the part of the population paying for their prescriptions with cash (that is, those without insurance or those who are underinsured), Wentworth said he'd be willing to work with Amazon. "We certainly see that as something where if they wanted to move into a space, we could be a very natural collaborator," he said.</p><p>That'd be different if Amazon decided to get into the PBM business, which seems like it might be a necessity.</p><p>"If they choose to become a PBM, then we'd have a competitor on our hands and we'd have to deal with it, but again, our independent focused model and the value we have shown clients, I feel very confident we'll stand well against an entry in the PBM space be it Amazon or anybody," Wentworth said.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/scott-galloway-why-amazon-successful-2017-10">SCOTT GALLOWAY: Amazon is using an unfair advantage to dominate its competitors</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/a7fymwyg-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div>

You Searched For "khedkar" and got 10 results

Puja Khedkar case: UPSC finally bars former IAS trainee permanently for misusing quotas in civil services exam

BI India Bureau

Puja Khedkar case: UPSC files FIR against IAS trainee for fraud; bars her from all future exams

BI India Bureau

Yogita Khedkar creates National Record in the 87kg weightlifting category

ANI

Virat Kohli nominated for ICC Men's Player of the Month Award with David Miller, Sikandar Raza

IANS

Trump kicked off his 2020 campaign with a freewheeling rally riddled with falsehoods as he excoriated Mueller, Democrats, and the press

Sonam Sheth,Marcus DiPaola

You probably don't have narcolepsy - but it actually makes sense that there is a startling ad for it on TV

Lydia Ramsey

US prescription drug prices are set to climb higher, after drugmakers put them on pause in response to Trump's tweet-shaming

Emma Court

Walgreens CEO isn't convinced Amazon will get into healthcare

Lydia Ramsey

One of the world's largest insulin makers is getting clobbered after issuing a warning about its prospects

Lydia Ramsey

Healthcare companies are taking Amazon very seriously

Lydia Ramsey