Latest Breakthroughs and Setbacks in Global Health Innovations

A round-up of the latest happenings in the health sector, including new drug approvals, legal battles over patents, collaborative deals in vaccine distribution, innovative therapies for challenging cancers, and notable incidents affecting industry leaders.

The health sector has seen a myriad of developments this week, including a revised vaccine deal and significant FDA approvals. GSK has made headlines with an updated agreement with China's Zhifei for the distribution of its shingles vaccine, alongside a new collaboration on the RSV vaccine, Arexvy. Despite a financial revisit to the deal, which now stands at £2.3 billion, the partnership extends exclusive rights for an initial 10 years.

In legal news, the U.S. appeals court has ruled against Novartis, allowing MSN Pharmaceuticals to proceed with its generic version of the heart drug Entresto. Meanwhile, in a bid to combat severe diseases, the FDA has green-lit Merus NV's cancer-targeting therapy Bizengri and AstraZeneca's Imfinzi for specific lung cancer treatments. Eli Lilly's Zepbound has emerged victorious in a weight-loss trial, outperforming its rival Wegovy by 47%.

A shocking event in the healthcare community was the targeted killing of UnitedHealth's Brian Thompson in Manhattan. Lastly, regulatory challenges persist as the FDA flags animal lab practices at Musk's Neuralink. These highlights emphasize the ongoing challenges and achievements within the global health landscape, signaling transformative times ahead.

(With inputs from agencies.)