Reuters - Health Report

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Thursday, January 25, 2018

Philip Morris sees six million U.S. smokers switching to iQOS device if cleared

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Philip Morris International Inc told a U.S. advisory panel on Wednesday that it expects around 6 million smokers to switch completely to its iQOS electronic tobacco device if the company is allowed to claim it is less risky than cigarettes.

Senate votes to confirm Azar as health secretary

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Wednesday voted to confirm former pharmaceutical industry executive and lobbyist Alex Azar as the next Health and Human Services secretary.

China's illegal opioids enter U.S. through Postal Service gaps: probe

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Illegal shipments of the powerful and addictive opioid fentanyl are pouring into the United States by mail from China and the U.S. Postal Service must step up the use of high-tech detection methods to fight the problem, according to a congressional report unveiled on Wednesday.

U.S. sued over approval of Kentucky Medicaid work provisions

(Reuters) - A group of Kentucky residents has filed a lawsuit challenging the federal government's approval of new state requirements that people must work or get jobs training if they are to receive benefits from the Medicaid health insurance program.

U.S. warns against unproven opioid addiction products

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Eleven companies selling products to help people addicted to opioids have no proof to support claims that their pills and treatments aid in overcoming an opioid addiction, two government agencies said on Wednesday.

Massachusetts federal prosecutor: opioids, not pot, are priority

BOSTON (Reuters) - Massachusetts' new federal prosecutor said on Wednesday he will not rule out prosecuting marijuana businesses in a state that has legalized the drug, but stressed that his focus is on the opioid epidemic.

Baxter to import IV saline bags from Mexico to ease U.S. shortage

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Baxter International informed customers on Wednesday that it has been given approval by U.S. regulators to import large saline bags from its plant in Mexico in an effort to ease hospital shortages of the product as the nation faces a severe flu season.

Spark licenses blindness gene therapy rights outside U.S. to Novartis

(Reuters) - Spark Therapeutics Inc, whose breakthrough gene therapy to treat a rare form of blindness was approved by U.S. regulators in December, said on Wednesday that it had licensed rights to the drug outside the United States to Switzerland-based Novartis AG.

Gates backs Central America malaria elimination plan with $31 million

LONDON (Reuters) - Philanthropist Bill Gates promised $31 million on Wednesday as part of a new Central America malaria elimination fund aimed at wiping out the disease in seven of the region's countries and the Dominican Republic.

Flu increases the risk of heart attack

(Reuters Health) - Influenza is already known to be deadly, but a new study suggests that the risk of heart attack is six times greater than normal while people are ill with the flu.