Health News Roundup: Sanofi looks to widen Dupixent use to treat 'smoker's lung' after second trial win; Britain detects first human case of flu strain similar to pig virus and more

Sanofi, which is collaborating on the drug with Regeneron, said in a statement on Monday that a second Dupixent phase 3 trial for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease showed the drug reduced exacerbations of the disease by 34%. Canadian drugmaker Xenon Pharma's depression drug fails to meet main study goal Canada's Xenon Pharmaceuticals said on Monday its experimental drug to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) had failed to significantly reduce the severity of the condition in a mid-stage study.

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Britain adds new synthetic opioids to its banned drug list

Britain said it would ban 20 additional dangerous drugs on Monday, adding fifteen new synthetic opioids and other substances to its Class A drugs list as part of efforts to protect people from overdoses and drug related deaths. British crime and policing minister Chris Philp said in a statement that the substances had the potential to devastate lives, ruin families and damage communities.

Indian drug manufacturers benefit from Big Pharma interest beyond China

Drugmakers are seeking to limit their reliance on Chinese contractors who produce drugs used in clinical trials and early-stage manufacturing, a move that is benefiting rivals in India, according to interviews with 10 industry executives and experts. China has for nearly 20 years been the preferred location for a range of pharmaceutical research and manufacturing services due to the low cost and speed offered by contract drugmakers there.

GSK's blood cancer drug meets primary goal in late-stage trial

GSK said on Monday that its blood cancer drug Blenrep had reached a key goal in a late-stage trial, as the British drugmaker looks to bolster its oncology business after a series of setbacks. The drug, when combined with existing drug bortezomib plus steroid dexamethasone, significantly extended the time before the disease progressed, or the patients died, in those suffering from relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma - the third most common type of blood cancer which is considered difficult to treat.

Sanofi looks to widen Dupixent use to treat 'smoker's lung' after second trial win

Sanofi plans to seek U.S. approval for its best-selling anti-inflammatory drug Dupixent to be used in the treatment of "smoker's lung", also known as COPD, after a second large trial showed significant benefits. Sanofi, which is collaborating on the drug with Regeneron, said in a statement on Monday that a second Dupixent phase 3 trial for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease showed the drug reduced exacerbations of the disease by 34%.

Canadian drugmaker Xenon Pharma's depression drug fails to meet main study goal

Canada's Xenon Pharmaceuticals said on Monday its experimental drug to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) had failed to significantly reduce the severity of the condition in a mid-stage study. Shares of the company were down 3.2% after briefly tumbling 24% in premarket trading.

Roivant Sciences' lupus drug fails to reduce symptoms in mid-stage study

Roivant Sciences said on Monday its experimental drug to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) failed to reduce symptoms of the autoimmune disease in a mid-stage study. The oral drug, brepocitinib, did not meet the primary study goal of reduction in disease activity at week 52 in patients of SLE, in which the immune system that normally helps protect the body from infection and diseases attacks its own tissues and causes inflammation.

Britain detects first human case of flu strain similar to pig virus

Britain said on Monday it had detected a first human case of flu strain A(H1N2)v, which is similar to a virus currently circulating in pigs, and that the individual concerned had experienced a mild illness and fully recovered. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that the case was detected as part of routine national flu surveillance and the source of infection was not known.

Japan panel recommends approval of updated Daiichi Sankyo COVID shot- Kyodo

A Japanese health ministry panel on Monday recommended approval for an updated version of Daiichi Sankyo's COVID-19 vaccine, the Kyodo news agency said. The mRNA-based shot was initially approved as a booster in August, becoming Japan's first home-grown shot for the coronavirus. The vaccine was updated to provide protection against the XBB.1.5 Omicron subvariant, a contingent for the health ministry to buy 1.4 million doses.

China's respiratory illness surge not as high as pre-pandemic - WHO official

The spike in respiratory illnesses that China is currently suffering is not as high as before the COVID-19 pandemic, a World Health Organisation official said, reiterating that no new or unusual pathogens had been found in the recent cases. Maria Van Kerkhove, acting director of the WHO's department of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention, said the increase appeared to be driven by a rise in the number of children contracting pathogens that they had avoided during two years of COVID restrictions.

UK reaches deal with unions which could end senior doctor strikes

The British government and medical trade unions said on Monday they had reached a deal which could see an end to months of disruptive strike action by senior doctors in England. The Department of Health and Social Care said the offer would reform the pay structure for senior doctors, known as consultants, from January, reducing the number of pay brackets and the time it takes to reach the top.