Health News Roundup: WHO appeals for $1.5 billion to address crises from Gaza to Afghanista; Allakos to stop further development of skin disease drug, plans job cuts and more

The 2024 budget agreed by the foundation’s board is up 4% on last year and $2 billion more than in 2021. Global tobacco use tumbles despite industry lobbying: WHO Global tobacco use has tumbled in a generation with one in five people smoking versus one in three in 2000, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday.

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

ResMed says its masks to remain on market despite FDA classification

ResMed 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.

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.

Global tobacco use tumbles despite industry lobbying: WHO

Global tobacco use has tumbled in a generation with one in five people smoking versus one in three in 2000, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday. The drop comes despite what the U.N. global health agency said were ongoing efforts by Big Tobacco to seek to influence global health policies to its own advantage.

Allakos to stop further development of skin disease drug, plans job cuts

Allakos Inc said on Tuesday that it plans to discontinue the development of its experimental skin disease drug after it failed two mid-stage studies. The company also said it aims to cut 50% of its workforce as part of a restructuring.