Objectives & Background: Good curriculum is reflected as the backbone for standard universities to develop competitive professionals having great potential. Pharmacy education in Pakistan has gone through the same developmental stages as in other countries, but is still striving for improvement. In the present study, we want (i) to know the opinion on whether the current pharmacy curriculum requires any improvement in order to meet the training needs of pharmacy professionals regarding clinical knowledge and pharmacy practice; and (ii) to present some humble suggestions to decision-making authorities in order to improve it with respect to patient-focused programs (PFP). Methods: The study was conducted in two sessions. In first session, a questionnaire was distributed to pharmacy students of eight public/private sector universities of Karachi (N = 354) offering Pharm. D degrees. The second session dealt with the pharmacy teachers, deans, and practicing pharmacists in health care facilities (who are in any ways also related to academia), in order to take their opinions on and suggestions for the development of a better Pharm. D curriculum (N = 135). Results: Our results showed that 75.2% of respondents agree that the Pharm. D curriculum does not meet the international standards of practice, and 88.4% of respondents support the addition of more clinical aspects than industrial ones, as Pharm. D could be both clinically and industrially oriented, according to the needs of the Pakistani people. Furthermore, 80.2% of respondents are of the view that an apprenticeship should be included in last two years, while 88.4% demand a ‘paid residency program’ to facilitate the hospital, clinical and compounding areas of pharmacy. In addition, we also received a number of verbal suggestions for improving the Pharm. D curriculum being followed in Pakistan. Discussion & Conclusions: We conclude that our Pharm. D curriculum needs additions in terms of clinical practice by providing residencies and electives in health care settings. Accordingly, the need for a clinically oriented curriculum is highlighted in Pakistan, keeping in mind the continuing importance of the industrial viewpoint. Various studies have criticized the pharmacy curriculum in Pakistan in the past. Conversely, we suggest some changes in the curriculum, as change is always needed for a better tomorrow.

Inflammation is a cause of number of disorders. Many anti-inflammatory drugs are available to cure and prevent inflammation and its related disorders. Some of the drugs are from plant and animal origin. Among animals snake venom is also utilized as treatment option of certain disorders. In the current study the venom of N. oxiana from Northern areas of Pakistan is assayed to determine its anti-inflammatory activity. The Naja oxiana is also called central Asian cobra is endemic to Central Asia. Naja oxiana belong to family Elapidae and it is highly venomous snake. The venom has many enzymatic proteins as well as nonenzymatic proteins that is neurotoxins. The venom is lethal having very high mortality rate and the death may occur due to respiratory failure in 45 minutes to 24 hrs depending upon the nature and amount of venom. As the venom is highly toxic so initially after venom milking its protein estimation was done and toxicity profile and LD50 was determined to find out its therapeutic dose at which anti-inflammatory activity was observed. The toxicity and anti-inflammatory activity was determined on mice model. Inflammation was induced by carrageenan induced peritonitis method. The inflammatory markers ROS, TNF-α and IL-β were determined by ELIZA in peritoneal fluid. The LD50 of crude venom, fraction 1 and fraction 2 was found as 34 µg/kg, 7.4 µg/kg and 416 µg/kg respectively. Anti-inflammatory activity crude venom, fraction 1 and fraction 2 was found at dose 19 µg/kg, 1.8 µg/kg and 267 µg/kg respectively. The levels of inflammatory markers reduced after therapeutic dose administration of venom and its fractions that indicates that it can be utilized as anti-inflammatory agent and so can be effective in various disorders.