Reuters - Health Report

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Wednesday, November 15, 2017

AstraZeneca ticks another box as U.S. approves severe asthma drug

LONDON (Reuters) - AstraZeneca has achieved another milestone in rebuilding its drug portfolio with U.S. approval of a drug for severe asthma as the company battles to put patent losses on older medicines behind it.

Bayer taps Nestle executive to stem eroding consumer care sales

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - German drugmaker Bayer has hired the head of Nestle's baby food business to reverse a decline in revenue at its embattled consumer health division from next March.

FDA warns against using kratom for opioid addiction

(Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday waded once again into the hotly contested debate over the safety of kratom, a botanical substance that advocates say can help ease pain and reduce symptoms of opioid withdrawal, but which critics say can lead to addiction and death.

Investor group warns U.S. farm antibiotic policy lagging

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The United States is falling behind Europe in the fight to curb the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in meat production and experts are warning of the possibility of dangerous drug-resistant "superbug" infections as a result, according to a new report on Tuesday.

U.S. approves digital pill that tracks when patients take it

(Reuters) - U.S. regulators have approved the first digital pill with an embedded sensor to track if patients are taking their medication properly, marking a significant step forward in the convergence of healthcare and technology.

Eighth New Zealand farm tests positive for cattle disease

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand's Primary Industries ministry said on Wednesday that an eighth farm in the country's South Island has tested positive for the cattle disease mycoplasma bovis, which can seriously affect animal health.

Shanghai Pharma buys U.S. Cardinal Health's China business for $557 million

(Reuters) - Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co has agreed to buy Cardinal Health Inc's China drug distribution business for $557 million, winning a highly competitive auction in a move that will greatly expand its presence nationwide.

Loxo signs lucrative cancer drug deal with Bayer, but shares fall

(Reuters) - Loxo Oncology on Tuesday signed a collaboration agreement for its promising cancer drugs with Germany's Bayer AG that could be worth up to $1.55 billion to the tiny U.S. company, but its shares fell 11 percent as the deal appeared to end near-term likelihood of a takeover.

U.S. top court to hear fight over California pregnancy center law

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to decide whether a California law requiring private facilities that counsel pregnant women against abortion to post signs telling clients how to get state-funded abortions and contraceptives violates free speech rights.

Biotech firms race to recruit good bugs in war on cancer

(Reuters) - Biotech companies are competing to develop medicines using "bugs as drugs" to fight cancer, building on the latest scientific findings that patients with high levels of good gut bacteria are more likely to respond to modern immunotherapy.