Health News Roundup: ResMed says its masks to remain on market despite FDA classification; WHO declares Cape Verde free of malaria and more

ResMed says its masks to remain on market despite FDA classificationWHO sees 'incredibly low' COVID, flu vaccination rates as cases surge Low vaccination rates against the latest versions of COVID-19 and influenza are putting pressure on healthcare systems this winter, leading public health officials told Reuters.

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Oxford starts human testing of Nipah virus vaccine

The University of Oxford said on Thursday it had begun human testing of an experimental vaccine against the brain-swelling Nipah virus that led to outbreaks in India's Kerala state and other parts of Asia. There is no vaccine yet for the deadly virus. Nipah was first identified about 25 years ago in Malaysia and has led to outbreaks in Bangladesh, India and Singapore.

US drug retailer McKesson seeks buyers for Canada's Rexall Pharmacy -source

McKesson Corp is planning to sell Canadian drugstore chain Rexall Pharmacy Group, a source familiar with the process told Reuters on Friday, seven years after the U.S. drug distributor bought the business for about C$3 billion ($2.2 billion). Texas-headquartered McKesson has mandated CIBC as a sellside financial advisor, according to the source. A spokesperson for CIBC declined to comment.

US FDA identifies recall of ResMed's respiratory devices as most serious

ResMed (RMD.N), said its respiratory masks containing magnets will remain on the market even though the U.S. Food and Drug Administration classified a recall of the product as most serious as their use could cause major injuries or death. The California-based medical device maker, which started the recall process on Nov. 20, said the classification was due to a correction in the labeling and is not a product removal. The FDA defines a recall as a method of removing or correcting products that violate laws administered by the health regulator and does not include a market withdrawal. ResMed's masks are safe to be used when kept at a distance of at least 6 inches away from implants or medical devices that may be adversely affected by magnetic interference, according to the company's website. The company said people with close physical contact to or patients who have active medical implants that interact with magnets such as pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD), or metallic implants like aneurysm clips and stents should not use the mask. The FDA defines a recall as a method of removing or correcting products that violate laws administered by the health regulator and does not include a market withdrawal.

ResMed's masks are safe to be used when kept at a distance of at least 6 inches away from implants or medical devices that may be adversely affected by magnetic interference, according to the company's website. The company said people with close physical contact with or patients who have active medical implants that interact with magnets such as pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) or metallic implants like aneurysm clips and stents should not use the mask.

Weight loss drug windfall attracts pharma companies

Pharmaceutical executives from Amgen to Pfizer are plotting to break into the lucrative obesity market by developing or cutting deals to acquire better drugs that will compete with Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Zepbound from Eli Lilly. At stake is a market that is now estimated to reach $100 billion at a minimum by the end of the decade, as consumers flock to the new treatments that have been shown to reduce weight by as much as 20%. Drugmakers are also testing these drugs for other health benefits such as lowering cardiovascular disease risk and obstructive sleep apnea.

Novartis drops pursuit of Cytokinetics - source

Swiss drugmaker Novartis has backed away from its pursuit of Cytokinetics, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters, and the U.S. drug developer's shares were down over 21% in afternoon trade. While the stock was down in the morning, it fell further after the Wall Street Journal first reported that the talks between the two sides had broken down. Reuters confirmed the news.

U.S. FDA finds no evidence yet linking weight-loss drugs to suicidal thoughts

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Thursday its preliminary review did not find evidence that weight-loss drugs such as Novo Nordisk's Wegovy were tied to suicidal thoughts and the agency will continue to study the issue. Still, the FDA, which has listed suicidal thoughts as a potential safety signal for such drugs, said it could not definitively rule out that a small risk may exist due to the limited data available.

WHO declares Cape Verde free of malaria

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Cape Verde free of malaria, hailing it as a significant milestone in the fight against the disease. Cape Verde, an archipelago of 10 islands in the central Atlantic Ocean, has faced severe epidemics in densely populated areas before it implemented targeted interventions.

UnitedHealth shares fall as higher medical costs eclipse profit beat

UnitedHealth shares fell 4% on Friday after medical services costs at the healthcare conglomerate were higher than Wall Street expectations for the first time in two years, even as it beat fourth-quarter profit and revenue estimates. UnitedHealth said costs rose towards the end of the year as older Americans sought respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines and received additional medical services. As COVID-19 cases increased around the holidays, hospitalizations rose and spending on each patient also increased beyond typical rates, it said.