Health News Roundup: Eli Lilly is still seeking UK approval on pen for weight-loss drug; Kaiser healthcare workers ratify new contract and more

The drug itself was cleared for weight loss by the British regulator on Wednesday, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration also gave its go-ahead for the wider use. Kaiser healthcare workers ratify new contract Kaiser Permanente's healthcare workers voted to ratify a new contract with the hospital chain, the union said on Thursday, ending a months-long negotiation that resulted in the largest recorded strike in the U.S. medical sector.

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

UnitedHealth unit to add eight insulin products to its reimbursement list

UnitedHealth's pharmacy benefit manager unit said on Thursday it was adding eight insulin products to its reimbursement list that would limit out-of-pocket spend to $35 or less. The unit, Optum Rx, will move eight products, including all short- and rapid-acting insulin, to tier one, or preferred status, which offers the lowest price for consumers and is effective Jan. 1.

Eli Lilly is still seeking UK approval on pen for weight-loss drug

Eli Lilly on Thursday said it has not yet gained approval in Britain for the injection pen it plans to use for its Mounjaro drug against obesity and diabetes, adding to uncertainty over timing of the product's launch. The drug itself was cleared for weight loss by the British regulator on Wednesday, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration also gave its go-ahead for the wider use.

Kaiser healthcare workers ratify new contract

Kaiser Permanente's healthcare workers voted to ratify a new contract with the hospital chain, the union said on Thursday, ending a months-long negotiation that resulted in the largest recorded strike in the U.S. medical sector. The union of more than 85,000 healthcare workers approved the four-year contract, effective from Oct. 1 this year, by a margin of 98.5%, the union said.

US Senator Elizabeth Warren expresses 'disappointment' in FTC's Amgen decision

Senator Elizabeth Warren, an antitrust hawk, expressed disappointment with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's decision to allow pharmaceutical firm Amgen to move forward with its acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics. Warren, a Democrat, has staunchly supported the FTC and Justice Department's tougher stance on mergers under President Joe Biden. In a rare break with the Biden administration's antitrust enforcers, she urged them to get even tougher.

FDA clears Acon's OTC home antigen test for COVID

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday cleared an over-the-counter at-home COVID-19 antigen test made by Acon Laboratories. Acon's test is the second coronavirus test to get marketing authorization using the agency's traditional premarket review pathway and the first indicated for use in children under 18, the health regulator said.

Weight loss drugs transforming healthcare, may help with addiction -Reuters Events

A new class of weight loss drugs is transforming the U.S. healthcare system in ways that could extend to equally hard-to-treat areas like substance abuse, according to speakers at the Reuters Events Total Health conference in Chicago this week. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday said Eli Lilly could begin selling its drug tirzepatide for weight loss, making it the second obesity drug in a class known as GLP-1s. The drug, Zepbound, is already sold under the brand name Mounjaro as a treatment for type 2 diabetes.

AstraZeneca raises stakes in obesity drug race with Eccogene deal

AstraZeneca placed a potential $2 billion bet on the booming anti-obesity drug market on Thursday, licensing an experimental pill from China's Eccogene that it believes could cause fewer side effects than current injectable treatments. Chief Executive Pascal Soriot acknowledged on a media call that his company was "a few years behind" the runaway success of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Eli Lilly's rival drug that was approved by U.S. and UK regulators on Wednesday.

Takeda Pharma gets FDA approval for rare blood disorder therapy

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved Takeda Pharmaceutical's therapy to treat a rare genetic blood disorder in adult and pediatric patients. Takeda's Adzynma becomes the first treatment available to patients with congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).

Surgeons in New York announce world's first eye transplant

Surgeons in New York have performed the first-ever whole-eye transplant in a human, they announced on Thursday, an accomplishment being hailed as a breakthrough even though the patient has not regained sight in the eye. In the six months since the surgery, performed during a partial face transplant, the grafted eye has shown important signs of health, including well-functioning blood vessels and a promising-looking retina, according to the surgical team at NYU Langone Health.

AstraZeneca ups profit outlook and boosts anti-obesity pipeline

AstraZeneca raised its annual earnings forecast on Thursday, helped by strong demand for its cancer drugs, and moved to boost its pipeline in the booming anti-obesity market with a deal costing up to $2 billion. The Anglo-Swedish company reported third-quarter profit and revenue just ahead of analyst expectations. For the third consecutive quarter, strong sales of its blockbuster cancer treatments and healthy demand in emerging markets offset the loss of sales of its COVID-19 vaccine and therapy.