Reuters Health News Summary

We were finding that the increased labor and operating costs environment, like with reimbursement, both public and private, made it difficult (to run the business) and obvious we had to close," Walmart spokeswoman Marilee McInnis told Reuters. Breast cancer screening should begin at age 40, US panel says Women at average risk for breast cancer should get screening mammograms every other year starting at age 40, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) said on Tuesday, cementing insurance coverage for the procedure for that age group under the law.

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Weight-loss drug drives Eli Lilly to raise 2024 sales forecast by $2 billion

Explosive demand and increased manufacturing capacity for Eli Lilly's weight-loss drug Zepbound drove the company to raise its annual sales forecast by $2 billion on Tuesday, lifting its shares nearly 5%. Lilly said it expects significant production increases in the second half of the year for its obesity treatment and related diabetes drug Mounjaro, for which most doses are in shortage due to high demand.

Bird flu may infect cows outside the US, says WHO

There is a risk that the H5N1 bird flu virus, present in many wild birds, may infect cows in countries beyond the United States as they migrate, a World Health Organization official said on Tuesday. U.S. officials are seeking to verify the safety of milk and meat after confirming the H5N1 virus in 34 dairy cattle herds in nine states since late March, and in one person in Texas.

US Justice Department takes step to make marijuana use a less serious crime

The U.S. Justice Department on Tuesday moved to make marijuana use a less serious federal crime, taking a step to remove the drug from a category that includes heroin in a shift that could shake up cannabis policy nationwide. Shares of cannabis firms including Tilray, Trulieve Cannabis Corp and Green Thumb Industries surged.

First trial over Zantac cancer claims set to begin in Chicago

The first trial over claims that blockbuster heartburn drug Zantac, once sold by GSK and other companies, causes cancer is set to begin this week in Chicago. Jury selection began on Tuesday before Judge Daniel Trevino of the Circuit Court of Cook County and was expected to continue Wednesday morning. Lawyers will deliver their opening statements once a jury is chosen.

Florida abortion clinics and funds face uncertain future on eve of six-week ban

Florida's ban on abortions past six weeks of pregnancy takes effect this week, threatening the future of the state's clinics and abortion funds and forcing patients to travel hundreds of miles to get the procedure. Phones have been ringing off the hook at clinics and funds in Florida ahead of the Wednesday enforcement date, as newly pregnant abortion-seekers scramble to book appointments before they may have to travel as far as Virginia or New York to get an abortion, eight clinic and fund workers told Reuters. Most women are not aware they are pregnant at six weeks.

Almost all US hospitals took financial hit from Change hack, AHA says

Almost all U.S. hospitals were hurt financially by the cyberattack on United Health Group's Change Healthcare unit earlier this year, according to a survey from the American Hospital Association (AHA). The AHA said that 94% of hospitals reported damage to cash flow and more than half reported significant or serious financial damage due to Change's inability to process claims.

Neurocrine Biosciences' Huntington's disease drug gets FDA approval

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the granule formulation of Neurocrine Biosciences' Ingrezza drug to treat movement disorders associated with Huntington's disease (HD), the company said on Tuesday. Huntington's disease is an inherited condition that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain, resulting in a gradual decline in motor control, cognition and mental stability.

Walmart to shut all health clinics in US over lack of profitability

Walmart said on Tuesday it will close all 51 of its health clinics and shut its virtual health care operations, saying it could not see it as a sustainable business model to continue. "Healthcare is expensive to run. We were finding that the increased labor and operating costs environment, like with reimbursement, both public and private, made it difficult (to run the business) and obvious we had to close," Walmart spokeswoman Marilee McInnis told Reuters.

Breast cancer screening should begin at age 40, US panel says

Women at average risk for breast cancer should get screening mammograms every other year starting at age 40, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) said on Tuesday, cementing insurance coverage for the procedure for that age group under the law. The USPSTF's influential recommendation, published in JAMA, reverses its controversial 2009 guidance that breast cancer screening should begin at age 50.

Stryker lifts 2024 profit forecast on strong demand for medical devices, implants

Stryker Corp lifted its full-year profit forecast on Tuesday, owing to resilient demand for the company's medical devices and implants. The joint-implant maker now sees its annual profit per share to be between $11.85 and $12.05, raised from the previous range of between $11.70 and $12. The analysts' average estimate for 2024 is pegged at $11.85 per share.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)