Reuters Health News Summary

Juul's e-cigarettes were briefly banned in the U.S. in June 2022 after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concluded the company had failed to show that the sale of its products would be appropriate for public health.

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Abu Dhabi's PureHealth soars 69% on market debut after almost $1 billion IPO

Shares in Abu Dhabi healthcare platform PureHealth Holding climbed as much as 69% above their listing price on Wednesday on their market debut, after raising almost $1 billion in an initial public offering (IPO) for 10% of the business. PureHealth played a pivotal role in screening for COVID-19 infections in the United Arab Emirates, and its initial public offering has been in the works for years. It is the UAE's largest healthcare provider, but has plans to grow internationally.

Lawsuits claiming Tylenol causes autism lack scientific support, judge finds

A judge has barred expert witnesses from testifying that Johnson & Johnson spin-off Kenvue's painkiller Tylenol can cause autism if mothers take it during pregnancy, finding that they failed to support their conclusions with scientific evidence. The ruling on Monday by U.S. District Judge Denise Cote in Manhattan federal court likely means the end of a consolidated mass tort litigation of about 500 lawsuits over the popular over-the-counter drug, unless plaintiffs get it reversed on appeal.

WHO says JN.1 COVID strain a 'variant of interest', poses low risk

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday classified the JN.1 coronavirus strain as a "variant of interest" and said current evidence shows risk to public health was low from the strain. At least two experts told Reuters that while the strain can evade the immune system and transmit more easily than other currently circulating variants, it has not shown any signs of more severe disease.

China's Stemirna behind on wage payments - former employees

China's COVID-19 vaccine developer Stemirna Therapeutics has fallen behind on regular wage payments to its staff, according to three former employees, as the firm grapples with tight funding. Stemirna CEO Li Hangwen told news outlet Caixin in October that the company was in a "difficult" financial position as it struggles to raise fresh financing and its COVID vaccine has yet to receive marketing approval from Chinese regulators.

Ukraine's citizen army struggles with a hidden enemy: combat stress

Psychotherapist Oleh Hukovskyi stands beside a white board in a makeshift classroom in eastern Ukraine and addresses a group of soldiers attending a session on how to cope with the stress of war. The former psychiatrist joined the armed forces about six months after Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022, and now runs a psychological support group attached to the 67th Separate Mechanised Brigade in the direction of the ruined town of Lyman.

Juul seeks US authorization for its new age-restricted menthol pods

Juul Labs said on Tuesday it was seeking U.S. authorization for its new menthol-flavored pods, which require user age verification, to be used with its e-cigarette device that is under review by regulators. Juul's e-cigarettes were briefly banned in the U.S. in June 2022 after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concluded the company had failed to show that the sale of its products would be appropriate for public health. Following an appeal, the health regulator put the ban on hold and agreed to an additional review of Juul's marketing application.

Factbox-E-cigarettes around the world

The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged governments to treat e-cigarettes, also known as vapes, similarly to tobacco and ban all flavours.That could spell trouble for some big tobacco companies, which have staked their futures on a shift to cigarette alternatives. British American Tobacco, for example, wants 50% of its revenues to come from "non-combustible" products by 2035. Vapes were banned in 34 countries as of July of this year, according to the WHO, including Brazil, India, Iran and Thailand. But many countries struggle to enforce e-cigarette rules, meaning they are often available on the black market. 74 countries, mostly in Africa but including Pakistan, Colombia and Mongolia, did not regulate e-cigarettes at all as of July, according to the WHO. In other nations, including key markets like the U.S. and China, governments allow vapes but regulate their use. Here's how they measure up: AUSTRALIA

England's junior doctors ramp up strikes in threat to emergency care

Junior doctors in England ramped up their industrial action on Wednesday, beginning the first walk-out of their biggest strike yet, which hospitals warn could threaten emergency care provision at one of the busiest times of the year. The British Medical Association (BMA), which represents around 50,000 junior doctors, said its members will walk out on Wednesday for three days, and again for six days from Jan. 3 to 9, in a long-running dispute over pay.

Thorne HealthTech taps former Vitamin Shoppe CEO Watts as leader

Private equity firm L Catterton has appointed former Vitamin Shoppe CEO Colin Watts as Thorne HealthTech's next leader following its $680 million acquisition of the U.S. health and wellness company in October. Thorne told Reuters on Wednesday that Watts will succeed outgoing CEO Paul Jacobson, who will lead a new business called Thorne Ventures that researches and develops scientific wellness breakthroughs.

US FDA approves first test to identify opioid use addiction risk

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Tuesday it has approved the first test to assess if there is a risk of opioid use addiction in certain individuals. The test, AvertD, is developed by privately held SOLVD Health. The FDA granted the approval to AutoGenomics, a unit that SOLVD acquired in 2019.

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