Health News Roundup: U.S. FDA panel backs expanded use of Alnylam's gene silencing drug; Indian firms linked to cough syrup deaths had received warnings and more

Two adults and a child were still infected in hospital, and more than 700 people were being tested for the virus, spread via contact with the bodily fluids of infected bats, pigs or people, a state health official said. ICON to partner with US govt agency to test COVID vaccine candidates Contract research firm ICON Plc said on Wednesday it is partnering with the U.S. government for a clinical trial to test the effectiveness of next generation COVID-19 vaccine candidates.

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

U.S. FDA panel backs expanded use of Alnylam's gene silencing drug

An outside panel of experts to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday backed the expanded use of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals' gene silencing drug to treat a type of heart disease associated with a rare organ-damaging disorder. The FDA panel voted 9 to 3 that the benefits of the drug, patisiran, outweigh its risks for treating patients with a type of heart muscle disease, cardiomyopathy, caused by a wild-type or hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (ATTR).

Indian firms linked to cough syrup deaths had received warnings

The deaths of 12 children in northern India between December 2019 and January 2020, police allege, were caused by adulterated cough syrup made by drugmaker Digital Vision. It was not the first time the company's medicines have come under scrutiny. Indian drugs regulators found quality shortfalls in drugs made by Digital and its unit Orison Pharmaceuticals at least 22 times between 2012 and July this year, according to a Reuters review of records from five states and India's federal drugs regulator CDSCO.

US FDA panel says popular decongestant used in cold medicines ineffective

An outside panel of experts to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday refused to back the effectiveness of oral over-the-counter (OTC) medicines made with phenylephrine, an ingredient widely used in cold and cough syrups. The panel unanimously voted against the effectiveness of orally administered phenylephrine as a nasal decongestant, adding that no more trials were required to prove otherwise.

US declares public health emergency in Georgia after Hurricane Idalia

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Wednesday declared a public health emergency (PHE) for the state of Georgia to deal with the ramifications of Hurricane Idalia. The hurricane hit Florida's Gulf Coast in late August with fierce winds, torrential rains and pounding surf before turning to southeastern Georgia, where floodwater trapped some residents in their homes.

Over 700 people tested for Nipah virus after two deaths in India

The southern Indian state of Kerala shut some schools, offices and public transport on Wednesday in a race to stop the spread of the rare and deadly Nipah virus, which has killed two people. Two adults and a child were still infected in hospital, and more than 700 people were being tested for the virus, spread via contact with the bodily fluids of infected bats, pigs or people, a state health official said.

ICON to partner with US govt agency to test COVID vaccine candidates

Contract research firm ICON Plc said on Wednesday it is partnering with the U.S. government for a clinical trial to test the effectiveness of next generation COVID-19 vaccine candidates. As part of the collaboration with Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, ICON will conduct a mid-stage trial of 10,000 participants to assess the efficacy of a next generation COVID-19 vaccine relative to currently available shots.

UK to invest extra 200 million pounds in National Health Service over winter

The British government said on Thursday it would invest 200 million pounds ($250 million) of extra funding in the National Health Service (NHS) to help boost its resilience during the busy winter months. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made cutting NHS patient waiting lists one of his five top priorities ahead of a national election expected next year. More than 7.5 million people in England are on a waiting list for hospital treatment.

Moderna flu shot succeeds in late-stage study

Moderna on Wednesday said its flu vaccine had generated a stronger immune response against all four A and B strains of the influenza virus compared to traditional flu shots in a late-stage trial. Shares of the U.S. biotech closed more than 3% higher at $108.59 on Wednesday.

US pharmacy chains gear up to administer updated COVID shots

U.S. drugstore chains CVS Health and Walgreens Boots Alliance said on Wednesday that updated COVID-19 vaccines would be available at their stores as soon as this week. Shots were being delivered in some locations on Wednesday, including at a Northwell Health facility in New York.

US CDC recommends broad use of updated COVID-19 vaccines

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director on Tuesday signed off on broad use of updated COVID-19 vaccines approved by the government - covering ages 6 months and up - as the country prepares to start a vaccination campaign within days. The final recommendation from director Mandy Cohen comes after a panel of advisers to the agency voted 13-1 to recommend the shots made by Pfizer and partner BioNTech SE as well as Moderna.