Reuters Health News Summary

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. China pledges $3.5 million for South Africa's HIV response China has pledged $3.49 million to support HIV prevention services in South Africa over the next two years under a new partnership facilitated by UNAIDS, Beijing's ambassador said on Thursday.

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.

China pledges $3.5 million for South Africa's HIV response

China has pledged $3.49 million to support HIV prevention services in South Africa over the next two years under a new partnership facilitated by UNAIDS, Beijing's ambassador said on Thursday. South Africa, which has the world's largest population of people living with HIV, previously relied on the U.S. for about 17% of its HIV budget - over $400 million a year - before Washington slashed foreign aid early this year.

Novartis sees sales boost from key cancer drugs

Swiss drugmaker Novartis on Thursday forecast sales growth of 5% to 6% per year to 2030, on a currency-adjusted basis, as higher forecast peak sales for cancer drugs Kisqali and Scemblix offset losses from expiring patents. Shares of the company rose about 1% in early trade. They have gained 16% so far this year. Novartis has been on a $30-billion spending spree on acquisitions and licensing deals this year to bolster its pipeline ahead of patent expiries for its top-selling heart treatment Entresto and asthma drug Xolair.

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.

Austria reports bird flu outbreak on farm, WOAH agency says

Austria reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu on a goose farm, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) said on Thursday, as Europe faces a surge in the deadly disease. The virus was detected in a flock of 645 geese in the town of Steyr, causing the death of 50 birds, the Paris-based WOAH said, citing a report from the Austrian authorities.

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.

Halma lifts annual revenue forecast on strong US data centre demand

British health and safety device maker Halma raised its annual revenue growth forecast on Thursday after reporting a surge in half-year profit, fuelled by strong U.S. demand for its photonics products used in data centre construction. Data centers have been at the core of the expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructures, with companies in the supply chain also benefiting from massive investments by technology companies.

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