Health News Roundup: AstraZeneca says no supply snags so far from Red Sea disruptions; WHO appeals for $1.5 billion to address crises from Gaza to Afghanistan and more

The company had warned in September that it would miss a target of full-year sales of between 10 million and 13 million euros after it reported first-half revenue of only 600,000 euros. Record budget for Gates Foundation as wider global health funding stalls The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation plans to spend more this year than ever before -- $8.6 billion -- as wider health funding for the lowest income countries stutters after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

AstraZeneca says no supply snags so far from Red Sea disruptions

Drugmaker AstraZeneca has not seen any supply issues so far due to Red Sea shipping disruptions, a top executive told Reuters ahead of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Monday. "We have specialized people monitoring the situation on a continuous basis. But so far, everything is going very well," Ruud Dobber, AstraZeneca's business head for its biopharmaceuticals unit, told the Global Markets Forum.

WHO appeals for $1.5 billion to address crises from Gaza to Afghanistan

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday appealed for $1.5 billion in funding to respond to the health needs of millions of people caught up in dozens of humanitarian crises around the globe, from Ukraine and Gaza to Afghanistan. "We aim to reach some 87 million people with life-saving humanitarian assistance this year," said WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Artificial heart maker Carmat misses 2023 revenue target

French artificial heart maker Carmat reported full year revenue of 2.8 million euros ($3 million), missing its target after supply issues disrupted the company's production ramp-up, sending its shares down 6%. The company had warned in September that it would miss a target of full-year sales of between 10 million and 13 million euros after it reported first-half revenue of only 600,000 euros.

Record budget for Gates Foundation as wider global health funding stalls

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation plans to spend more this year than ever before -- $8.6 billion -- as wider health funding for the lowest income countries stutters after the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2024 budget agreed by the foundation's board is up 4% on last year and $2 billion more than in 2021.