Reuters Health News Summary

Following is a summary of current health news briefs. U.S. high court temporarily blocks Louisiana abortion restrictions

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday temporarily prevented a Louisiana law imposing strict regulations on abortion clinics from taking effect in a case that presents a key test on the contentious issue following last year's retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, a pivotal supporter of abortion rights. A one-page order issued by Justice Samuel Alito said that "the justices need time to review" the various court filings before making a decision on the emergency application filed by Shreveport-based abortion provider Hope Medical Group for Women to block the law. FDA declines to approve Alkermes opioid-based depression drug

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday declined to approve Alkermes Plc's opioid-based depression treatment, citing the need for additional data to prove the effectiveness of the drug. The largely expected decision comes months after an advisory panel to the FDA strongly voted against the drug and raised questions on its safety and efficacy. Teva's migraine drug gets EU panel nod

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries said a European Medicines Agency (EMA) panel on Friday recommended approving migraine treatment Ajovy, a drug that the company has been counting on to revive its fortune. Ajovy was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September last year and the company had said it was seeing "a very strong launch" of the treatment. Denver to vote on whether to decriminalize 'magic mushrooms'

Denver voters will decide in May whether to decriminalize possession of small amounts of the hallucinogenic drug psilocybin, which would make it the first U.S. city to halt prosecution of people caught with psychedelic mushrooms. The citizen-driven proposal, which election officials said this week reached the required number of signatures to be on the city's municipal ballot, would not legalize so-called "magic mushrooms," but rather make them a low priority for law enforcement, according to its language. Exclusive: Top U.S. insurer to cover Amgen, Eli Lilly migraine drugs, exclude Teva

A top U.S. pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) owned by UnitedHealth Group Inc has included new migraine drugs from Amgen Inc and Eli Lilly and Co as preferred treatments on its lists of covered drugs, according to an OptumRx client note viewed by Reuters. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd's rival migraine headache preventer is excluded on one list and patients can pay more for it in some cases on a second list, the note said. Novartis's cancer therapy wins UK backing after initial lymphoma snub

Novartis's Kymriah cell therapy won the blessing of health authorities in England for adult lymphoma patients, the Swiss drugmaker said on Friday, reversing last year's rejection. The list price is 282,000 pounds ($369,000) per patient, given as a single intravenous infusion, but Novartis agreed to offer the therapy for relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) at a confidential discounted price, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) said. FDA approves cheaper Botox rival to treat frown lines

An injection to treat forehead wrinkles is set to rival Allergan's Botox after U.S. regulators approved Evolus Inc's cheaper treatment on Friday, sending its shares up about 5 percent after the bell. The approval of Evolus's Jeuveau to treat frown lines comes about eight months after the agency declined to approve the drug, citing deficiencies related to the chemistry and manufacturing of the product.

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