Reuters Health News Summary

Evidence for this link from studies in humans and animals has strengthened since then, according to a January 2025 report from then-U.S. Surgeon ⁠General Dr. Vivek Murthy showing cancer risks rise modestly with consumption. Nipah virus risk for Europeans in India is very low, health agency says The risk of infection for people from Europe travelling to West Bengal, India is assessed as very low, after two confirmed cases of Nipah virus disease have been reported in the state, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said on Thursday.

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Olympics-Dedicated Olympic ER and ward for 2026 Games unveiled in Milan

Athletes and support staff competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics will be able to rely on a dedicated emergency room and ward at Milan's large Niguarda hospital. The new units, officially unveiled on Thursday, form part of a designated Olympic medical network set up by the Lombardy region, which will host several venues during the Games starting next week.

US life expectancy jumps to a record 79 years in 2024

U.S. life expectancy rose to a record high of 79 years in 2024, an increase of six months from the previous year, reflecting a sharp decline in deaths from COVID-19 and drug overdoses, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday. According to a report from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, life expectancy improved for both men and women across races ‌and among Hispanics, surpassing the previous peak set in 2014.

Arthur J Gallagher's quarterly profit rises on fees, commission growth

Arthur J. Gallagher posted 24.5% rise in fourth-quarter adjusted profit on Thursday, as the insurance broker benefited from stronger commissions and fees amid solid demand. Insurance spending has proved resilient as businesses and individuals prioritize coverage against financial risks, natural disasters, and other losses, even as they rein in spending elsewhere.

Pakistan becomes latest Asian country to introduce checks for deadly Nipah virus

Authorities in Pakistan have ordered enhanced screening of people entering the country for signs of infections of the deadly Nipah virus after India confirmed two cases, adding to the number of Asian countries stepping up controls. Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam have also tightened screening at airports. But an Indian official said there were no plans to introduce screening at the country's airports and said there was no sign of any outbreak.

US ⁠Labor Department proposes rule to boost transparency in pharmacy benefit manager fees

The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration on Thursday issued a proposed rule aimed at increasing transparency around fees and compensation collected by pharmacy benefit managers. The move, which follows a directive under President Donald Trump's executive order on lowering drug prices, seeks to clarify PBM business practices that affect employer-sponsored health plans covering millions of Americans.

Trump says Eli Lilly to build six US plants

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the head of Eli Lilly has told him the pharmaceutical company plans to build six plants in the U.S. "I spoke with the head of Eli Lilly, who's a fantastic guy, a star actually, he's a star, very smart, and he told me he's building six plants in the United States, big ones," Trump said during a cabinet meeting at the White House.

Obamacare enrollment drops to about 23 million people for 2026

More than a million fewer Americans have signed up for Obamacare plans for 2026, with enrollment dropping to about 23 million as monthly premiums for many soared due to the expiration of extra COVID-19 pandemic health insurance subsidies. Total premium costs for subsidized Obamacare enrollees are expected to increase to an average $1,904 for 2026 from $888 in 2025, according to health-research firm KFF.

Secretary Kennedy ​names new chair, 10 members to federal Alzheimer's advisory panel

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appointed a new chair and 10 new public members to the Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Research, Care, and Services, the department said in a statement on Thursday. The panel, created under the 2011 National Alzheimer's Project Act, meets each quarter to advise the government on reducing the burden of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Malaysia's IHH Healthcare makes oncology push with investment in US firm TibaRay

Malaysia's IHH Healthcare will invest in U.S.-based medical technology firm TibaRay, gaining access to radiotherapy technology ‍as it seeks to strengthen its cancer-care capabilities, the company said on Thursday. The investment gives IHH exposure to TibaRay's radiation therapy technology, which enables a "FLASH" therapy that delivers radiation doses at speeds faster than conventional treatments while limiting damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

Roche earnings edge up 5% as forex effects weigh on drug sales growth

Roche's adjusted operating income rose by a lower-than-expected 5% in 2025 as gains in drugs such as Ocrevus against multiple sclerosis and Hemlibra against haemophilia were blunted by a weak U.S. dollar weighing on overseas sales. The lower-than-expected earnings cloud a positive turnaround in the track record of CEO Thomas Schinecker, close to three years in office, after he oversaw recent drug trial wins that have sharply boosted the stock.

Sanofi vaccine sales face headwinds from US policy shifts

France's Sanofi, among the world's largest vaccine makers, said on Thursday that its vaccines sales would be "slightly negative" this year, partly due to U.S. policy changes under President Donald Trump. Sanofi is eyeing high-single-digit overall sales growth in 2026. But vaccines will remain a weak spot in the United States where Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine activist, has upended official recommendations in the past year.

China's CSPC Pharmaceutical signs deal with AstraZeneca for weight-loss therapy

AstraZeneca will license experimental drugs for obesity and weight-related conditions from CSPC Pharmaceutical Group and collaborate on additional projects, paying $1.2 billion upfront and up to $17.3 billion more if development and sales milestones are met, the Chinese drugmaker said on Friday. The deal is the latest tie-up between the two pharmaceutical giants, following collaboration in ⁠areas such as artificial intelligence. It ‌expands AstraZeneca's investment in the growing obesity market led by Western rivals.

Danone recalls batches of Aptamil baby formula in Germany, letter shows

Danone has recalled at least three batches ⁠of its Aptamil baby formula in Germany, a letter to a wholesaler showed on Thursday, as the French food producer scrambles to contain a scare over a toxin contamination that started with Nestle products. In the letter dated January 26, Danone Deutschland asked wholesaler Alliance Healthcare to withdraw some batches of Aptamil produced between May and August 2025. The letter, published by online pharmacy Shop Apotheke, said it believes the wholesaler would have little or no remaining stock given that it had subsequently received deliveries of new products.

AstraZeneca sets out $15 billion China investment during Starmer visit

UK drugmaker AstraZeneca will invest $15 billion in China through 2030 to expand medicines manufacturing and research and development, it said on Thursday as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Beijing. The announcement marks the biggest ‍deal so far during the trip, as Britain seeks to strengthen ties with Beijing at a time of strained relations with Washington.

Stryker raises annual profit forecast on strong sales for medical devices

Medical equipment maker Stryker raised its full-year profit forecast on Thursday, banking on strong sales of its implants and other medical devices. Shares of the company rose as much as 3% in extended trading.

Study finds greater role for genetics in driving human lifespan

Many factors influence how long you live, such as diet, exercise, smoking, drinking, environment and other variables. It also helps not to get hit by a dump truck. But what about your genes? That has been a contentious question for decades. A new study points to ​a larger role for genetics than previous research had indicated, estimating the contribution of genes to determining human lifespan at about 50%. That is roughly double what prior research concluded, and it mirrors the findings of lifespan studies in laboratory animals.

US EPA moves to take action on review of fluoride in drinking water

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency launched the first step of its expedited review to determine safe levels of fluoride in drinking water, according to a notice posted in the Federal Register on Wednesday, advancing a priority of the Trump administration's "Make ⁠America Healthy Again" agenda. The agency's final toxicity assessment will inform potential revisions to fluoride drinking water standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act and will also support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendations on fluoride in drinking water, according to the notice.

US vaccine changes lead some parents to question other newborn care

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s remaking of childhood vaccination policies is fueling resistance in labor and delivery wards, where doctors say parents are increasingly hesitant to allow other routine care for new babies. More than half a dozen pediatricians in six states said they are spending more time talking to parents about standard treatments given to newborns, including vitamin K to prevent dangerous bleeding and a topical antibiotic that protects against eye infections.

Lilly, Repertoire enter up to $1.93 billion deal to develop autoimmune therapies

Drugmaker Eli ⁠Lilly is partnering with Repertoire Immune Medicines in a deal worth up to $1.93 billion to develop therapies for multiple autoimmune diseases, the Massachusetts-based biotech said on Thursday. Repertoire will receive $85 million upfront and up to $1.84 billion more for certain development and commercial milestones, as well as tiered royalties on net sales.

Low risk of Nipah virus spread beyond India, says WHO

The risk of the deadly Nipah virus spreading from India is low, the World Health Organisation said on Friday, adding that it does not recommend any travel or trade restrictions after the South Asian nation reported two cases of the virus infection.

Kennedy resets US autism panel with new line-up of 21 members

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday remade a federal panel that guides national autism policy, naming a new slate of 21 members that includes some with ties to groups promoting unproven claims that link vaccines to autism. Kennedy, a long-time anti-vaccine activist who has tied vaccines to autism and claimed that no vaccine is safe, said his appointees to the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee bring decades of experience and would "deliver the answers Americans deserve."

Consumer group files complaint after infant milk recalls

Consumer rights campaign group foodwatch filed a criminal complaint in Paris on Thursday on behalf ⁠of eight families whose babies it says fell ill after consuming contaminated infant formula, claiming companies waited too long to warn the public. Several companies, including Nestle, Danone and Lactalis, have withdrawn batches of infant formula in the past month over concerns about possible contamination with a toxin cereulide that can cause nausea and vomiting.

Belgium's Agomab Therapeutics seeks up to $828.5 million valuation in US IPO

Agomab Therapeutics is targeting a valuation of up to $828.5 million in its initial public offering in the United States, the Belgium-based company said on Thursday. The company, which is developing a treatment for Crohn's ⁠disease, aims to raise as much as $212.5 million by selling 12.5 million American Depositary Shares priced between $15 and $17 each.

New malaria vaccines helped Ghana slash child deaths. Then Trump, others cut ‌aid

New vaccines are helping Ghana approach a long-sought goal of ending child deaths from malaria, demonstrating the potential of the shots to drive back a disease that kills nearly half a million young children every year in Africa, according to the international vaccine aid group Gavi and the country's health service. But aid cutbacks by the Trump administration and other wealthy governments could mean fewer children benefit on the continent where malaria hits hardest, Gavi told Reuters.

Explainer-How alcohol consumption impacts cancer risks

New U.S. nutrition guidelines issued in January by the Trump administration have abandoned the government's long-standing practice of recommending specific limits on alcohol use in favor of simply advising people to drink less. The International Agency for Research on Cancer first classified alcohol as a carcinogen to humans in 1987. Evidence for this link from studies in humans and animals has strengthened since then, according to a January 2025 report from then-U.S. Surgeon ⁠General Dr. Vivek Murthy showing cancer risks rise modestly with consumption.

Nipah virus risk for Europeans in India is very low, health agency says

The risk of infection for people from Europe travelling to West Bengal, India is assessed as very low, after two confirmed cases of Nipah virus disease have been reported in the state, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said on Thursday. The most likely route for Nipah ‍virus to be introduced into Europe would be through infected travellers. While virus importation cannot be ruled out, it is considered unlikely, the agency said.

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