Reuters Health News Summary

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

GSK scores regulatory wins for chronic hepatitis ​B drug, cancer therapy

GSK said on Monday its experimental chronic hepatitis ​B drug received its first global approval in ‌Japan, ​and a key cancer therapy was granted a priority U.S. regulatory review as a possible rectal cancer treatment. Here are some details:

FDA places clinical hold on Regenxbio's gene therapy for Hunter Syndrome

Regenxbio said on Monday the ‌U.S. FDA has placed its experimental gene therapy for a rare inherited disorder on clinical hold after spinal scans found abnormalities in five study participants, sending its shares down more than 24% in premarket trading. The therapy, RGX-121, was being developed as a one-time treatment for Hunter Syndrome, also known as MPS II, which ‌can cause progressive damage to the brain and other organs and tissues.

Trump's frustrations drove vaccine order, but MAHA wants more

President Donald Trump's frustration ‌that his administration was not doing enough to address what he considers a likely contributor to autism drove a U.S. executive order this month that cut back the number of childhood vaccinations, administration officials told Reuters. These five current and former officials privately say the order alone does not substantially change U.S. vaccine policy and will not satisfy Trump’s demands or Health ⁠Secretary Robert ​F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” ⁠political base.

Sonova unveils new AI-powered hearing-aid platform to support growth targets

Sonova launched its third hearing-aid platform utilising real-time AI on Monday, its latest effort to strengthen its position in a ⁠market that relies on rapid technology upgrades to shorten replacement cycles and attract first-time users. The Swiss company was the first one to roll out a hearing aid ​that used real-time AI to separate speech from background noise in 2024.

U.S. court orders Guardant to pay $245 million in DNA sequencing patent dispute

A U.S. ⁠court has ordered Guardant Health to pay more than $245.2 million to TwinStrand Biosciences and the University of Washington after finding that the company infringed patents covering DNA sequencing technology, TwinStrand ⁠said ​on Monday. Here are the details:

Snoring, subways and stealth ads: how big pharma targets China's waistline

Weight-loss drugmakers, vying to tighten the belts of Chinese consumers, are promoting obesity awareness in metro stations, exercise studios and soccer stadiums as local restrictions prevent the direct advertising of prescription medicines in the ⁠world’s second-largest drug market. China's rate of overweight or obese people could reach more than 65% by 2030, the country's National Health Commission has said.

Roche, ⁠Eli Lilly's Alzheimer's blood test gets ⁠FDA clearance

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared Roche and partner Eli Lilly's blood test to help identify signs of Alzheimer's disease in people aged 55 and older with cognitive decline. The test, Elecsys pTau217, is ‌a biomarker blood test that ‌can help doctors identify patients who are likely or unlikely to have ​Alzheimer's-related brain changes, Roche said on Monday.