Below is a summary of current health news briefs.
EU regulator backs Takeda’s dengue vaccine
The European medicines regulator on Friday recommended a dengue vaccine from Japan’s Takeda, paving the way for a second vaccine against the mosquito-borne illness that causes millions of infections annually. Advisers to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) endorsed the use of the Takeda vaccine for those over 4 years of age to prevent any of the four so-called dengue serotypes.
Bavarian Nordic wins monkeypox vaccine order from Switzerland
Bavarian Nordic said on Friday that the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health and the Swiss Armed Forces jointly ordered 100,000 doses of its MVA-BN smallpox and monkeypox vaccine. The Danish company said in a statement that it would seek regulatory approval of the vaccine in the country as part of the deal and that deliveries would begin imminently.
US Supreme Court Rejects Novartis and Allows Generic Versions of MS Drug
The US Supreme Court on Thursday rejected Novartis’ offer to block the launch of generic versions of the company’s hit multiple sclerosis drug Gilenya in a dispute with China’s HEC Pharm Co Ltd and other drugmakers. generic. Novartis had asked judges to stay a lower court ruling that lifted a ban on generic versions of Gilenya, the Switzerland-based company’s third best-selling drug last year, with sales of $2.8 billion.
Exclusive-NHS drafts stricter oversight of care for trans youth
England’s National Health Service has drafted new guidelines for the treatment of transgender youth that would require local authorities to be alerted in some cases where youth have obtained puberty blockers and hormone therapies on the private market, according to a copy of the guidelines reviewed by Reuters. The guidelines are part of a wide-ranging review of treatment for transgender youth seeking NHS care. The current approach, which can include medical interventions, has been criticized by some professionals who said it rushed people into taking medication, and by families who complained the service couldn’t handle rapidly growing demand.
Japan’s Fujifilm stops working on Avigan as a COVID drug
Fujifilm Holdings Corp has finished development of its Avigan influenza drug to treat COVID-19, the firm said on Friday, after more than two years of work on a pill once hailed as Japan’s greatest contribution to influenza. world fight against coronavirus.
In March, Fujifilm had halted enrollment in a Phase III trial, saying the appearance of the Omicron variant made it difficult to measure the drug’s effectiveness in preventing severe symptoms.
China says its zero COVID policy is the best, most cost-effective and will get better
China’s anti-COVID-19 measures are the best, the most cost-effective and will continue to improve, a spokesman for the ruling Communist Party said on Saturday. “We firmly believe that the light is ahead and perseverance is victory,” Sun Yeli told a press conference in Beijing ahead of the 20th party congress.
Prolonged COVID at 12 months persists at 18 months, study shows
Most COVID-19 patients who have persistent symptoms at 12 months are likely to still have symptoms at 18 months, new data suggest. The findings are drawn from a large study of 33,281 people in Scotland who have tested positive for the coronavirus. Most of the results are in line with those of previous smaller studies.
Biden targets Big Pharma, Republicans in California
US President Joe Biden slammed Republicans and pharmaceutical companies during a stop at a California community college on Friday while campaigning for fellow Democrats in November’s midterm elections. Biden’s trip includes stops in California on Friday and Oregon on Saturday, as the president seeks to position his party, the Democrats, as an advocate for consumers and lower health care costs at a time when the Inflation is among the top concerns of voters. The midterm elections are on November 8.
The Gambia says cough syrup-related child deaths have risen to 70
The Gambian government said on Friday that the number of child deaths from acute kidney injury, believed to be linked to cough syrups made in India, had risen to 70 from a previous number of 69. President Adama Barrow gave the update at an emergency cabinet meeting he called Thursday to discuss the crisis, according to a presidential statement.
Abbott recalls liquid infant formula due to bottle defect
Abbott Laboratories said Friday that it was recalling some ready-to-feed liquid baby formula products, including Similac-brand items, due to improper sealing of some bottle caps. The recall, which amounts to less than a day’s worth of infant formula used in the United States, is not expected to affect the overall supply of formula, Abbott said in a statement.
(With contributions from agencies).
