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Ozempic’s Bengaluru connection
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Good morning, Bengaluru!

šŸŒ§ļø Today’s weather: High: 30 ā„ƒ | Low: 21 ā„ƒ | Partly cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers.

šŸ§ Did you know? Bengaluru has the highest number of pubs for a city in India.


šŸ’Š City behind Ozempicā€™s success

(Image credit: Chemist4Uā€™s Flickr post)

Novo Nordiskā€™s blockbuster drug, Ozempic, owes much of its success to the crucial contributions of the company’s Bengaluru-based team.

What’s it about? The Bengaluru team of 4,000 employees has been instrumental in various aspects of the Ozempic programme, including clinical trials, biostatistics, data management, pharmacovigilance, and global safety. Their work has contributed to Novo Nordiskā€™s market cap surpassing that of Tesla and has spurred Denmarkā€™s economy.

  • The Bengaluru unitā€™s trial statisticians and clinical data scientists worked closely with global teams from protocol development to regulatory submissions.
  • The Global Medical Affairs and safety teams in Bengaluru have also played a significant role in generating evidence and monitoring the safety of semaglutide-based treatments.

Indian unavailability: Despite the global success, Novo Nordisk faces supply challenges that delay Ozempic’s availability in India. However, the company plans to hire 1,400 more employees in India over the next two years to expand its capabilities further.


šŸš• Airport e-taxis

(Image credit: BLR Airportā€™s X post)

Kempegowda International Airport launched 175 electric taxis on World Environment Day.

New openings: Hari Marar, CEO of BIAL, and Ravi B.P., Principal Secretary of the Department of Forests, Environment, and Biology, inaugurated the new taxis, with Marar personally driving one around the airport to demonstrate its eco-friendly features. The airport plans to convert 50% of its taxi fleet to electric vehicles in the near future.

  • The electric taxis, available in light blue and pink, signify sustainability and women’s empowerment, respectively.
  • Passengers can book these taxis at airport stands or via the BLR Pulse app.

Environmental commitment: Unveiled on World Environment Day, this initiative underscores the airport’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint. To commemorate the day, 100 saplings were also planted on the airport campus, furthering the airport’s environmental initiatives.


šŸ½ļø 4th Bombay Brasserie

Bombay Brasserie has launched its latest outlet in Orion Mall, Malleshwaram, bringing a fresh culinary and cultural experience to Northwest Bengaluru.

What’s it about? This new venue offers a unique experience, combining Indian art, culture, and culinary nuances with a charming art-deco vibe. The updated menu showcases regional recipes with a modern twist, while the bar features nostalgic favourites and creative new concoctions.

  • The stunning indoor space includes vibrant kite lighting, a tribute to Mumbai’s dabbawallas, and a wall dedicated to handcrafted wooden dolls.
  • The al fresco seating area provides a picturesque setting perfect for Bengaluru’s weather.Ā 

Cocktail variety: The establishment also has an eye-catching bar with antique mirrors and vintage brass shelves which serves a variety of homemade infusions and India-inspired brews, enhancing the dining experience.


šŸ¢ Fastest liquidity

Bengaluru now requires the least time to liquidate its unsold housing inventory among India’s top seven cities, taking just 13 months.

What’s it about? This marks a significant improvement in the overall housing sector across India’s top seven cities, which also include Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. The average time to sell unsold inventory across these cities has dropped to 22 months in Q1 2024 from 32 months at the end of 2019, driven by a surge in housing demand.

  • Delhi comes second requiring only 14 months.
  • The premium housing segment, although still taking the longest to sell at 29 months, has seen a substantial reduction from 51 months in 2019.

Sales momentum: The JLL report observing this indicates robust sales momentum and strong buyer interest in larger homes with better amenities, particularly in Delhi NCR, where the time to sell unsold inventory fell from 48 months to 14 months between December 2019 and Q1 2024.


āœØ Things to doā€¦

Here are some fun and interesting things to do in the city over the weekend!


šŸ›‹ļø Local Lounge

Yesterday’s Poll Results:

  • I have gone trekking: 55.6% šŸ†
  • I have not gone trekking: 44.4%

Thatā€™s it for today. Have a great weekend!

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