Health News Roundup: US FDA says 561 deaths related to Philips machines since 2021; Sanofi Q4 earnings hit by weak dollar, generic competition and more

At least 10 trials are expected this year in state courts around the United States, and close to 50,000 Roundup lawsuits are currently pending. Merck posts better-than-expected results on Keytruda sales jump Merck & Co on Thursday reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter results on strong sales of its cancer immunotherapy Keytruda, now the world's biggest selling prescription medicine.

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Roche shares fall on modest 2024 outlook

Roche shares fell more than 4% on Thursday as the market expressed disappointed with the company's more modest than expected 2024 outlook. The Swiss drugs and diagnostic maker said on Thursday that group sales, which include diagnostics, would grow by a mid-single digit percentage, when adjusted for currency swings. But analysts said consensus forecasts were well above this, meaning investor expectations will have to come down.

US FDA says 561 deaths related to Philips machines since 2021

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Wednesday there have been 561 deaths reported since 2021 related to the use of Philips' recalled ventilators and machines for treating obstructive sleep apnea. The health regulator added that in 2023, between July and September, it received more than 7,000 medical device reports, including 111 reports of deaths related to the use of these machines.

Sanofi Q4 earnings hit by weak dollar, generic competition

Sanofi's fourth-quarter operating income fell 5% as a weaker U.S. dollar and cheap competition to multiple sclerosis drug Aubagio outweighed rising sales of anti-inflammatory drug Dupixent. The French drugmaker said on Thursday operating income, adjusted for one-offs, slipped 5.2% to 2.58 billion euros ($2.79 billion), falling short of the 2.77 billion euros expected on average by analysts in a poll on the company's website.

Growing cancer burden masks inequity among rich and poor nations- WHO

There were an estimated 20 million cancer cases and 9.7 million cancer deaths in 2022, the World Health Organization's cancer research agency said on Thursday, a growing burden that masks what it calls "striking inequity" among rich and poor countries. Around one in five people develop cancer in their lifetimes, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) said in a statement, and one in nine men and one in 12 women die from the disease.

US FDA warns consumers over copycats of Bausch + Lomb eye drops

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday warned consumers not to use unapproved eye drops that closely resemble Bausch + Lomb's Lumify product for redness relief. The copycat products, called South Moon, Rebright and FivFivGo, could be easily mistaken for Lumify, the FDA said.

Biogen drops Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm, ending a 17-year chapter

Biogen will end a post-approval study of Alzheimer's treatment Aduhelm and return the licensing rights on the drug after failing to find a partner to mitigate costs of obtaining standard regulatory approval. The drugmaker said on Wednesday it was concerned that by the time Aduhelm received a standard approval, new medicines would have advanced to the market.

Analysis-As Roundup verdicts pile up, Bayer bets big on US appeals courts

Despite more than $4 billion in U.S. jury verdicts over Bayer's Roundup weedkiller, including a $2.25 billion verdict last week, the company so far has shown no willingness to settle, instead betting that it can greatly reduce, or wipe out, its liability through legal appeals. The strategy means the German pharmaceutical and biotechnology company could face further trials and hefty verdicts for years to come as its appeals work their way through U.S. courts. At least 10 trials are expected this year in state courts around the United States, and close to 50,000 Roundup lawsuits are currently pending.

Merck posts better-than-expected results on Keytruda sales jump

Merck & Co on Thursday reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter results on strong sales of its cancer immunotherapy Keytruda, now the world's biggest selling prescription medicine. Sales of Keytruda rose 21% to $6.6 billion as the company was able to increase use of the drug in earlier stage cancers, topping analyst forecasts of $6.5 billion. For the full year, Keytruda racked up $25 billion in sales, surpassing sales of AbbVie's blockbuster arthritis drug Humira at its peak.

US proposes reimbursement rate for Medicare Advantage 2025 payments

The U.S. government on Wednesday proposed a 2025 reimbursement rate for Medicare Advantage plans run by private insurers that reflects an effective growth rate of 2.44% and a total increase of 3.7%. The closely watched proposal, known as the "advance notice", will be used by companies such as UnitedHealth Group and Humana to bid this year for contracts for Medicare Advantage plans they will sell in 2025.

GSK settles another Zantac lawsuit in California

GSK said on Thursday it had agreed to settle another lawsuit in California that alleged its discontinued heartburn drug Zantac caused cancer, the latest in a series of settlements to end costly litigation. The case was set to go to trial on Feb. 20 and instead, will now be dismissed, the British drugmaker said in a statement.