Reuters Health News Summary

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Health Rounds: High blood pressure among children doubles; obesity may be driving trend

The worldwide prevalence of high blood pressure in children and adolescents nearly doubled between 2000 and 2020, new research shows, with obesity potentially driving the increase. In 2000, about 3.2% of children had hypertension. By 2020, the prevalence had increased to more than 6.2% of children and adolescents under age 19, affecting 114 million young people around the world, according to a report in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health.

Activist Browning West urges contact lens maker Cooper Cos to refresh board or face proxy fight

Investor Browning West wants Cooper Cos to add four newcomers to its board to improve the medical device maker's operations and signaled it is ready to run a proxy contest if the company should balk, according to a letter sent to the company. After several meetings with management this year, the hedge fund is increasing pressure by proposing three industry executives and one of its partners to join Cooper's board to correct the current board's perceived lack of expertise in vision care, manufacturing, and medical devices, two sources told Reuters before Browning West made the letter public on Wednesday morning.

Pfizer in $41.5 million settlement with Texas over ADHD drug for children

Pfizer and supplier Tris Pharma reached a $41.5 million settlement with Texas to resolve a lawsuit claiming they defrauded the state's Medicaid program over alleged quality control lapses in a medicine to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said on Wednesday the settlement resolves a November 2023 lawsuit accusing the companies of manipulating testing for Quillivant XR between 2012 and 2018, to ensure it would comply with federal law and remain eligible for sale.

Suspected tuberculosis outbreak at Ecuador prison kills 10 inmates

Ecuador's prison authority said on Wednesday that 10 inmates at the Litoral prison in the capital Guayaquil were found dead between Monday and Tuesday, possibly from tuberculosis. "Apparently the cause of death is tuberculosis. We are waiting for forensic results for an official determination," the agency said.

New Zealand halts new puberty blockers for young transgender people

New Zealand said on Wednesday it was banning new prescriptions of puberty blocking drugs for young transgender people, in a move that critics warned could worsen the mental health of those affected. The step comes amid growing global debate about the number of adolescents seeking to change gender, dividing those concerned about hastiness in prescribing such medications and those worried about access to remedies they deem life-saving.

Celltrion to invest up to $478 million to expand US factory in response to tariffs

South Korean pharmaceutical company Celltrion said on Wednesday that it plans to invest up to 700 billion Korean won ($478.17 million) to expand capacity at its U.S. factory in response to U.S. tariffs and rising demand. ($1 = 1,463.9000 won)

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