Reuters Health News Summary

Following is a summary of current health ​news briefs.

Exclusive-Fauci's lawyers set up ​legal defense fund as ‌US probes multiply

Lawyers ​for Anthony Fauci have launched a legal defense fund for the former top U.S. infectious ‌disease expert, saying that the need to respond to a growing number of state and federal investigations related to his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic will require ‌substantial resources. In January 2025, then-President Joe Biden issued a preemptive pardon to ‌Fauci, amid accusations from Republican lawmakers that he played a role in research that contributed to the pandemic and later sought to cover up its origins, claims that have not ⁠been ​independently substantiated.

Congo set to ⁠receive 70,000 Ervebo vaccines to contain Ebola outbreak, WHO says

The Democratic Republic of Congo ⁠has been allocated 70,000 doses of Merck's Ervebo vaccine for Ebola, the World Health Organization ​said on Thursday, as the country attempts to contain its biggest-ever ⁠outbreak of the deadly disease. Here are some details:

Scholar Rock withdraws Europe filing for muscle ⁠weakness drug, ​plans resubmission

Scholar Rock said on Friday it withdrew its European application for the experimental spinal muscular atrophy drug and plans to resubmit it ⁠with a different manufacturing site after issues at a Novo Nordisk-owned facility. Last year, the ⁠U.S. Food ⁠and Drug Administration declined to approve apitegromab after identifying manufacturing issues during an inspection of the Bloomington, Indiana facility, ‌which has ‌been operated by Novo since 2024 following ​its acquisition of Catalent.