Health News Round-up: Skin cancer drug, H5N6 bird flu, African swine fever

The local government in Zhengzhou plans to officially lift the blockade on Oct. 1, but it must take measures to prevent recurrence of the highly contagious disease, the ministry said in a statement.

Sanofi, Regeneron skin cancer drug gets FDA nod

Sanofi SA said on Friday its skin cancer drug, made in partnership with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The drug, Libtayo, is used to treat a rare form of skin cancer, in patients whose condition has not improved following surgery or chemotherapy.

China reports H5N6 bird flu case on poultry farm in Guizhou province

China has reported a case of H5N6 avian bird flu on a poultry farm in southwestern Guizhou province, the nation's agriculture ministry said on Saturday. Local authorities culled 32,352 birds at the farm following the outbreak, according to a statement published on the website of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

China to lift restrictions where second African swine fever outbreak found

China is set to lift restrictions on an area in central Henan province, where the country's second African swine fever outbreak occurred last month, the agriculture ministry said on Sunday. The local government in Zhengzhou plans to officially lift the blockade on Oct. 1, but it must take measures to prevent recurrence of the highly contagious disease, the ministry said in a statement.

China removes restrictions where first African swine fever outbreak found

China has removed restrictions on an area in Shenyang, Liaoning province, where the nation's first African swine fever outbreak was found last month, the agriculture ministry said on Saturday. The infected area had been sealed off for six weeks after the highly contagious disease was reported there, the statement said.

Insmed's treatment-resistant lung disease drug gets FDA approval

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved Insmed Inc's lead drug to treat a rare, chronic lung disease, making it the first approved treatment in the United States for the condition. The drug's label contains a boxed warning - the FDA's strictest — of increased risk of respiratory conditions, including inflamed lungs and tightening of the airway, the agency said.