Reuters - Health Report

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Monday, November 6, 2017

U.S. House approves funding for children's healthcare program

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday approved legislation to continue a federal insurance program for millions of lower-income children and pregnant women, but with an ongoing funding battle it could be weeks before the program gets more money.

Novartis seeks European approval for cell therapy Kymriah

ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss drugmaker Novartis has submitted its cell therapy Kymriah for European approval in two forms of blood cancer, seeking to expand the use of a new treatment it hopes will eventually become a $1 billion-a-year seller.

Bayer in bid to broaden use of anti-clotting drug Xarelto

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - German drugmaker Bayer on Monday moved to tap a potentially lucrative new market opportunity for its blockbuster clot prevention drug Xarelto, requesting approval in Europe to make atherosclerosis patients eligible for treatment.

Bulgaria reports two more outbreaks of virulent bird flu

SOFIA (Reuters) - A virulent bird flu virus has spread to two more regions in Bulgaria prompting veterinary authorities to announce a cull of nearly 8,000 ducks, the Balkan country's food safety agency said on Sunday.

Ryan says Obamacare mandate repeal on table in tax debate: Fox News Sunday

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House speaker Paul Ryan said his colleagues might use the tax overhaul currently under consideration to repeal the Affordable Care Act provision that mandates individuals buy health insurance.

China disputes Trump's claims of fentanyl 'flood' into United States

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's drug control agency disputed on Friday U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that most of the synthetic drug fentanyl at the heart of the U.S. opioid crisis was produced in China.

Former GSK boss to lead new UK accelerated drug access scheme

LONDON (Reuters) - Former GlaxoSmithKline boss Andrew Witty is to lead a new British scheme to accelerate access to ground-breaking medicines for conditions such as cancer, dementia and diabetes from April 2018, the government announced on Friday.

Teva shares topple on profit warning, uncertain future

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Teva Pharmaceutical Industries , the world's biggest generic medicine maker, came under investor and market pressure on Thursday after saying it would miss 2017 profit forecasts.

Millions either malnourished or obese in global nutrition crisis

LONDON (Reuters) - Almost every country in the world now has serious nutrition problems, either due to over-eating leading to obesity or a lack of food leading to undernutrition, according to a major study published on Saturday.

Torrent Pharma to buy Unichem Labs' India business for $558 million

(Reuters) - Torrent Pharmaceuticals said on Friday it would buy more than 120 brands from Unichem Laboratories in India and Nepal, and its manufacturing plant at Sikkim.