Reckoning with U.S. opioid crisis as $8 billion Ohio trial kicks off

The fight over who is responsible for the opioid epidemic that has ravaged the United States heads to court on Monday in Ohio as local governments seek billions of dollars from companies that manufactured and distributed the highly-addictive painkillers.

Factbox: Billion-dollar lawsuits accuse drugmakers, distributors of fueling U.S. opioid crisis

On Monday, two Ohio counties will face off in a U.S. courtroom with five companies they accuse of fueling the nationwide opioid epidemic. The counties are seeking billions of dollars to cover the cost of addiction treatment programs, healthcare and other services.

Factbox: The U.S. opioid epidemic by the numbers

Opioid deaths in the United States have soared over the last two decades, driving a wave of litigation against drugmakers and distributors.

Timeline: Popular heartburn medicine Zantac pulled off store shelves

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and international health authorities are investigating the safety of Zantac heartburn medicine, also sold generically as ranitidine, after finding a probable cancer-causing impurity in the drug.

GSK to sell two vaccines in $1.1 billion deal to focus on newer treatments

GlaxoSmithKline will sell two travel vaccines to Bavarian Nordic for up to 955 million euros ($1.1 billion), the British firm said on Monday, as it looks to bolster its push into the lucrative cancer drug market.

Roche pushes late-comer Tecentriq as new liver cancer option

Roche's Tecentriq mixed with Avastin helped liver cancer patients live longer, a boost to the Swiss drugmaker's strategy of expanding its late-to-the-game immunotherapy into niche areas not yet dominated by rivals.

FDA approves AstraZeneca diabetes drug for treating heart failure risk

AstraZeneca's diabetes drug Farxiga has been approved for use in the United States as a treatment to reduce the chances of hospitalisation for heart failure in adults with type-2 diabetes and other cardiovascular risks, the British drugmaker said on Monday.

Erdogan says he will never allow vaping, will block e-cigarettes in Turkey

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday he will never allow electronic cigarette companies to produce their products in Turkey, urging Turks to drink tea instead.

Opioid settlement talks fail, landmark trial expected Monday

A landmark trial over the U.S. opioid epidemic is on track to begin on Monday after drug companies and local governments failed to agree on a settlement on Friday that had been expected to be valued at around $50 billion.

FDA approves Alexion's Ultomiris for another rare blood disease

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc's treatment for a second rare blood disorder, the company said.

Sanofi pulls Zantac from U.S. and Canada after carcinogen found

Sanofi SA said on Friday it would recall popular heartburn medicine Zantac in the United States and Canada, after the medicines were linked with a probable cancer-causing impurity.

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