Health News Roundup: Novo Nordisk owner sees IPO window opening within 18 months; WHO recommends malaria vaccine that will be rolled out next year and more

Novo Holdings' CEO Kasim Kutay was speaking to a group of journalists in Copenhagen, where the investment company and Wegovy-maker Novo Nordisk are both headquartered. WHO recommends malaria vaccine that will be rolled out next year The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended on Monday the use of a second malaria vaccine to curb the life-threatening disease spread to humans by some mosquitoes.

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Novo Nordisk owner sees IPO window opening within 18 months

The CEO of Novo Holdings, the controlling shareholder of Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk, said on Tuesday he sees the window for initial public offerings (IPOs) opening within 18 months and is encouraging portfolio companies to get ready. Novo Holdings' CEO Kasim Kutay was speaking to a group of journalists in Copenhagen, where the investment company and Wegovy-maker Novo Nordisk are both headquartered.

WHO recommends malaria vaccine that will be rolled out next year

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended on Monday the use of a second malaria vaccine to curb the life-threatening disease spread to humans by some mosquitoes. "Almost exactly two years ago, WHO recommended the broad use of the world's first malaria vaccine called RTS,S," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a briefing in Geneva.

Sanofi in agreement with Janssen to develop E. coli the vaccine candidate

Sanofi on Tuesday announced it had reached an agreement with Janssen, a part of Johnson & Johnson, to develop and commercialize a vaccine candidate for extra-intestinal pathogenic E.coli. Under the terms of the deal, both parties will co-fund current and future research and development costs. Sanofi will pay $175 million upfront to Janssen, followed by development and commercial milestones.

French agency curbs use of weedkiller due to children's health concerns

French health security agency ANSES restricted the use of common weedkiller prosulfocarb on Tuesday, mainly due to a risk of skin reaction in children, and threatened to ban it next June if producers cannot prove the new rules are effective. Mainly used on cereals like wheat, barley and rye, as well as root vegetables such as potatoes and carrots, prosulfocarb has become the second-largest weedkiller behind glyphosate in France, the European Union's biggest crop grower.

Hungarian and US scientists win Nobel for COVID-19 vaccine discoveries

Hungarian scientist Katalin Kariko and U.S. colleague Drew Weissman, who met in line for a photocopier before making mRNA molecule discoveries that paved the way for COVID-19 vaccines, won the 2023 Nobel Prize for Medicine on Monday. "The laureates contributed to the unprecedented rate of vaccine development during one of the greatest threats to human health in modern times," the Swedish award-giving body said in the latest accolade for the pair.

Boehringer launches 81% discounted biosimilar of AbbVie's Humira

Germany's Boehringer Ingelheim on Monday launched an unbranded version of its biosimilar of AbbVie's Humira with a list price 81% cheaper than the blockbuster rheumatoid arthritis drug. The company in July launched a branded biosimilar, Cyltezo, priced at a 5% discount to Humira's current list price of $6,922 per month. Boehringer's close-copies of Humira are the only ones that can be substituted for the original without consulting the prescriber after being designated as interchangeable by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Eli Lilly to buy cancer-focused Point Biopharma for $1.4 billion

Eli Lilly and Co will buy Point Biopharma Global for $1.4 billion, the companies said on Tuesday, gaining access to experimental therapies that enable precise targeting of cancer.

Lilly has been bolstering its pipeline through small deals as its cancer therapy Alimta faces fierce competition from copycat versions while betting on potential blockbuster drug tirzepatide, or Mounjaro, to drive growth.

AstraZeneca to pay $425 million to end US lawsuits over heartburn drugs

Britain's AstraZeneca said it will pay $425 million to settle lawsuits in the United States that claimed its heartburn drugs Nexium and Prilosec caused chronic kidney disease. AstraZeneca did not disclose specific terms of the agreement and said in a statement on Tuesday that it continues to believe the claims are without merit and admitted no wrongdoing.

Takeda announces voluntary withdrawal of lung cancer therapy

Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical said on Monday it will voluntarily withdraw its lung cancer therapy from the United States, where it had received an accelerated approval in 2021, after it failed to meet the main goal in a late-stage study. U.S.-listed shares of the company fell about 6% to $14.39 in extended trading as the failed study meant the therapy did not fulfill the confirmatory data requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's accelerated approval nor the conditional marketing approvals granted in other countries.

Regeneron, Intellia to make gene editing therapies in expanded collaboration

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Intellia Therapeutics have expanded their research collaboration to develop additional gene editing therapies for neurological and muscular diseases, the companies said on Tuesday. Regeneron and Intellia first partnered in 2020 to co-develop potential treatments for hemophilia A and B, which are genetic blood disorders that prevent blood from clotting properly.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)