Biography:

Abha Doshi is working as a Principal and Professor in MET Institute of Pharmacy, Mumbai, India. She has started her career as a Production Supervisor in Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd., from January 1987 to January 1990. Then she joined MET Institute of Pharmacy in1996 and later promoted to professor and Principal. She guided many students on gastro-retentive drug delivery systems, nanoparticles, mucoadhesive drug delivery systems etc. She has presented sixteen research papers in national and international seminars/conferences and has published twenty two articles in various national and international journals. She has applied for patent for buccal patches for Aphthous ulcer. 

Abstract:

Some of the drugs get absorbed from a particular absorption site in the GI tract i.e., they have absorption window like stomach or upper part of the intestine. These drugs do not get absorbed completely when administered in the form of a typical controlled drug delivery system. Gastro-retentive drug delivery systems (GRDDS) can be used as carriers for drugs with a so-called absorption window. It is obtained by retaining dosage form into stomach and drug is being released at controlled manner to the specific site either in stomach, duodenum or intestine. Several gastro-retentive drug delivery approaches being designed and developed including high density system that is retained in the bottom of the stomach, low density (floating) systems that causes buoyancy in gastric fluid, mucoadhesive systems that causes bioadhesion to stomach mucosa, unfoldable, extendible or swellable systems which limits emptying of the dosage form through the pyloric sphincter of stomach, superporous hydrogel systems and magnetic systems etc. Floating drug delivery systems (FDDS) or hydrodynamically controlled systems are lowdensity systems that have sufficient buoyancy to float over the gastric content and remain buoyant in the stomach without affecting the gastric emptying rate for a prolonged period of time. While the system is floating on the gastric contents, the drug is released slowly at the desired rate from the system. Floating tablets of cinnarizine, losartan potassium, famotidine, and norfloxacin were developed. Superporous hydrogels are swellable systems with a pore size greater than 100 microns. These systems instantly swell in the stomach and maintain their integrity in the harsh stomach environment, while releasing the pharmaceutically active ingredient. Supergel hydrogel composite of Zn Carnosine and Cinnarizine were formulated. They were evaluated for their physicochemical characteristics namely floating lag time, total floating time, etc., swelling index and percent drug release.

Biography:

Sheila Connelly is Vice President, Research, at Synthetic Biologics, Inc., a clinical-stage company focused on gut microbiome therapeutics to protect and restore patient health. She has over 20 years of experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries ranging from start-ups to large pharma. She served as VP Research at GrayBug Vision, Inc., a Johns Hopkins University spinout and cofounded Advanced Vision Therapies, Inc., both ocular therapeutic startups. She served as Senior Director of Translational Research with Intrexon, Corp., and as Group Leader at Genetic Therapy, Inc., a Novartis Company. She published over 40 peer-reviewed scientific articles and has numerous research grant awards and issued patents. She earned her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Columbia University and completed postdoctoral training under an awarded NSF fellowship at the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research in Basel, Switzerland.

Abstract:

Beta-lactamases, generally considered the “enemy”, are natural, bacterial-derived enzymes that degrade betalactam antibiotics, confer antibiotic resistance, and dramatically complicate the treatment of bacterial infections. Synthetic Biologics, Inc. has harnessed the potent antibiotic hydrolyzing power of this enzyme class to develop a prophylactic intervention intended to inactivate selected beta-lactam antibiotics in the GI tract to protect the gut microbiome and to prevent the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). SYN-004, ribaxamase, is intended for use with IV penicillins and cephalosporins. SYN-004, formulated for oral delivery into enteric-coated pellets to protect the enzyme from stomach acid, is released in the upper small intestine at pH>5.5. Animal and human studies demonstrated that ribaxamase degraded antibiotics in the upper GI tract protected the gut microbiome, and reduced AMR. Further examination of this prevention approach, in a phase 2b clinical study, demonstrated that ribaxamase significantly reduced Clostridium difficile infection in high-risk patients who were receiving ceftriaxone for treatment of a lower respiratory tract infection without compromising pulmonary infection control. A new ribaxamase formulation, called SYN-007, was engineered for release in the lower small intestine distal to the site of oral amoxicillin systemic absorption. SYN-007 protected the gut microbiome from damage caused by oral amoxicillin without affecting amoxicillin systemic absorption in dogs. Antibiotic inactivation represents a promising potential new treatment paradigm for the preservation of the gut microbiome and reduction of AMR. SYN-007 is intended to expand beta-lactamasemediated microbiome protection to oral as well as IV beta-lactam antibiotics. 

Biography:

Zenat Ahmed Khired is an Assistance Professor of orthopedic, hip and knee arthroplasty. He is a Head of Basic Medical Sciences, Princes Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Since 2016 he is a Block Chair of the orthopedic block (Surg452). 

Abstract:

Biography:

Angel Josabad Alonso Castro is a Professor at the University of Guanajuato, Mexico since 2015. He has obtained his doctorate in the National Autonomous University of Mexico in 2012. He has published 66 research articles in journals indexed in the Journal of Citation Reports and published 4 book chapters in international books. His research articles have been cited 772 times (h index=17). His research interests are the pharmacology of natural products and ethnobiological studies. He is reviewer of the following journals: Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Phytomedicine, BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy, Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine, and Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia, among other journals. 

Abstract:

Biography:

Pratima Tatke is presently working as the Principal of CU Shah College of Pharmacy, Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey  Women’s University, Mumbai, India. She has 31years of teaching and research experience in the field of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Her expertise is in Research on medicinal plants such as Herbal product development, Bioactivity-guided extraction, and isolation of phytoconstituents and analysis of herbal products using newer pharmaceutical techniques. Thus, combining traditional knowledge with modern technologies to create new pathways for improving healthcare. She has more than 70 publications, contributed 2 chapters in books, 5 patents to her credit. 10 students have been awarded a doctoral degree and more than 50 students received M.Pharm. degree under her supervision. 

Abstract:

Biography:

Pratima Tatke is presently working as the Principal of CU Shah College of Pharmacy, Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey  Women’s University, Mumbai, India. She has 31years of teaching and research experience in the field of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Her expertise is in Research on medicinal plants such as Herbal product development, Bioactivity-guided extraction, and isolation of phytoconstituents and analysis of herbal products using newer pharmaceutical techniques. Thus, combining traditional knowledge with modern technologies to create new pathways for improving healthcare. She has more than 70 publications, contributed 2 chapters in books, 5 patents to her credit. 10 students have been awarded a doctoral degree and more than 50 students received M.Pharm. degree under her supervision. 

Abstract:

Biography:

Sarah K Amer earned her bachelor’s degree with honors at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Egypt in 2012. She currently works as an Assistant Lecturer of Pharmaceutics in the Arab Academy for Science and Technology-AAST Alexandria, Egypt. She has a master’s degree in Biomedical Informatics and Medical Statistics from the Medical Research Institute, Egypt. She also earned a Microbiology diploma from the High Institute of Public Health in Egypt. Currently, she is enrolled in the Pharmaceutics Ph.D. program at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Egypt. Over the course of the last two years, she disseminated researches in pharmaceutical drug-delivery systems and pharmacy practices through journal publication (Journal of Microbial and Biochemical Technology) and conferences participations (4th World Congress and Expo on Applied Microbiology & 2nd International Conference on Food Microbiology in Madrid Spain 2017 and Dubai International and Technologies Conference & Exhibition DUPHAT in Dubai 2018 and 2017). 

Abstract:

Acute bacterial pharyngitis is one of the major common diseases accounting for high outpatient visits rates. It is caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (group A betahemolytic); gram-positive cocci containing the Lancefield Group A antigen. Antibiotic prescriptions for pharyngitis have been estimated for increased health costs. It is challenging to distinguish between viral and bacterial pharyngeal infection on sight in outpatient clinics as traditional bacterial pharyngeal identification procedures require almost 24 to 48 hours. However, other approaches as the Rapid Response Strep A Test Strip (RADT) provides results within 5 minutes. The test uses specific antibodies to rapidly, qualitatively and selectively detect the presence of Strep A antigen in throat swab specimens. The study assessed the use of RADT and their impact on antibiotics prescribing behavior of physicians in outpatient clinics in the Ministry of Health hospitals in Alexandria, Egypt. It also studied the barriers hindering the use of RADTs. The study revealed that the physicians’ compliance regarding their use of RADT varied according to their different qualifications’ degrees. Bachelor’s degree physicians were the most to use the RADT resulting in the highest significant decrease in antibiotics prescribing rate from 82.5% to 20% (p=0.002). Followed by master’s degree physicians; they also showed a significant reduction from 92% to 65.7% (p=0.017). A borderline acceptable decline from 86.7% to 80% (p=0.056) was seen among the Ph.D. physicians; they were the least group utilizing RADT as they mainly relied on their clinical experience claiming that the test detects only one bacterium for a positive result, which was considered as the main barrier limiting their use of RADT. However, the study achieved a significant decrease in antibiotics prescription in outpatient clinics attributed to the availability of RADT. Conclusively, RADT could be a reliable tool to ensure bacterial diagnosis through differentiation between viral and bacterial infections. 

Biography:

Jacob Adegboyega Kolawole, Ph.D., FPSN, FPCPharm. FIPAN, completed his Ph.D. at the age of 38years from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and The Robert Gordon, University, Aberdeen, UK (1996). He is the Dean, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Jos and Consultant to West African Health Organization, on development of guidelines and training manuals for, Pharmaceutical Finished products; Pharmaceutical Raw Materials; Standard Operating Procedures for Laboratories; Bioavalability /Bioequivalent. He has more than 40 publications in international journals. 

Abstract:

This study investigates the effect of a herbal preparation (‘Goko’ Cleanser), on the pharmacokinetic profile of orally administered rifampicin in Swiss albino male rats. The in-vivo study was carried out in three phases. In phase, I only Rifampicin (20mg/kg body) was orally administered to rats and in phase II, rifampicin and Goko Cleanser (30ml/kg body weight) were concurrently administered and in phase III Goko Cleanser was administered for 6 days before Rifampicin. Blood samples were collected from rats in each group at 0, 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12hours in each phase and concentration determined by the spectrophotometric method. Pharmacokinetics parameters determined include Cmax, Tmax, t1/2α, ClT, AUC0-9, AUC 0-∞, t1/2β and kβ. The in-silico studies were done by docking molecules contained in the herbal cleanser into rifampicin binding site on the pregnane X receptor (PXR). The result showed rifampicin pharmacokinetics profile to be in line with previous reports. Goko Cleanser significantly (P<0.05, 0<0.01) increase the Cmax, Tmax, AUC0-9, AUC 0-∞, and t1/2β but decrease ClT, when administering concurrently with Rifampicin (Phase II). Goko Cleanser significantly (P<0.05) decrease the Cmax, Tmax, t1/2α, AUC0-9, AUC 0-∞, and t1/2β but increase ClT when Rifampicin was administered after 6days of taking Goko Cleanser (Phase III). In-silico docking results showed a significant interaction of Goko Cleanser constituents with active site binding residues and complex formation between constituents of Goko cleanser and rifampicin when administered together. Taking herbal preparations such as “Goko cleanser” with rifampicin at the same or within a week should be avoided. 

Biography:

Ermias Mergia Terefe is a registered expert pharmacist with Masters of Science degree in Pharmacology from Addis Ababa University, department of Pharmacology. He has also completed postgraduate diploma in curriculum design and development from Open University of Tanzania. He is lecturer in the pharmacy program of the School of pharmacy and health science at the United States International University-Africa, Nairobi, Kenya, a position he assumed on September 1, 2018. He has more than 14 year’s professional industry experiences.  Prior to joining USIU-Africa he was Lecturer (later promoted to Assistant Professor) of Pharmacology at Adama Hospital Medical College (AHMC), Ethiopia, where he lectured various pharmacology modules for medicine students. Previously he was assistant lecturer and department head at Rift Valley University where he led the pharmacy department and lectured pharmacology and related courses for pharmacy, nursing & public health students. He also served as hospital pharmacist at Medianialem general hospital, Ethiopia and Education and Training Officer at USAID funded Strengthening Human Resource for Health (S-HRH) project in Jhpiego-Ethiopia, where he supported more than 10 universities in improving quality of health professional’s education. He has served as head of the research, project and professional development (RPPD) committee of Ethiopian Pharmaceutical association (EPA).

Abstract:

Biography:

Shauroseni Palchoudhuri is a research professional with 5 years’ experience of working in the areas of infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance and novel antimicrobial search including the development of in-vitro screening platforms and evaluation in animal models. She completed her Ph.D. from Jadavpur University, India (2017). She is the author of 14 research articles published in international peer-reviewed journals. She also received awards for presenting novel findings in national and international conferences. She is a skilled microbiologist with a passion for research for the hope of better therapeutic advances

Abstract:

Biography:

Supamas Napavichayanun has her expertise in evaluation and passion in a wound healing agent, especially silk sericin. Her research experience has ranged from protein including silk proteins and biomaterials. She also did clinical researches in the area of dermatology especially materials for wound healing application. 

Abstract: