Reuters Health News Summary

Following is a summary of current health news briefs. Brazil health officials find weed-killer glyphosate non-cancerous

Analysts at Brazil health agency Anvisa have determined that the weed-killer glyphosate does not cause cancer while recommending a series of precautions be adopted in its use, amid growing international pressure to reduce use of the chemical. The findings come as a legal battle rages in the United States over cancer cases allegedly caused by glyphosate and a new study has linked it to cancer. AstraZeneca's Lynparza meets main goal in late-stage pancreatic cancer study

British drugmaker AstraZeneca Plc said on Tuesday its cancer drug being jointly developed with U.S.-based Merck & Co met the primary goal in a late-stage study for a rare type of pancreatic cancer. The study showed that Lynparza was successful as a first-line maintenance treatment for adults with a form of genetically-mutated pancreatic cancer called germline BRCA -mutated metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Hemorrhoid treatments cost hundreds of millions in U.S. each year

Just among U.S. adults with employer insurance, non-surgical hemorrhoid treatment costs at least $770 million annually, suggests a study that concludes this common complaint needs more attention. Based on claims data for employer-insured adults, the study team estimates 1.4 million people seek outpatient care and prescription medication for hemorrhoids each year. That doesn't include spending on over-the-counter medications or in-hospital treatments and surgeries. Brexit to harm UK's cherished health service, experts say

A British exit from the EU without a deal would have "an immediate and drastic" impact on availability of medicines and vaccines as well as affecting health system funding and staffing, experts warned on Monday. Although a no-deal Brexit was the worst scenario, even a negotiated divorce from the European Union would also damage the National Health Service (NHS), the experts said in a review published in The Lancet journal. U.S. senators tell drug company executives pricing is 'morally repugnant'

U.S. senators called drug pricing practices "morally repugnant" and told drug company executives they do not want to hear them blame others for the high prices, taking an aggressive stance at a Senate hearing on the rising costs of prescription medicines. Senators took aim in particular at Abbvie Inc Chief Executive Richard Gonzalez and his company's rheumatoid arthritis drug Humira - the world's top-selling prescription medicine. Rise of drug-resistant superbugs rings alarm bells in Europe

The spread of superbugs resistant to antimicrobial drugs shows no sign of slowing in Europe, health officials said on Tuesday, making food poisoning and other infections more difficult to treat. Releasing data on the growth of antimicrobial resistance, the European Union's commissioner for health and food safety said it should "ring alarm bells" across the region. Sanofi, Regeneron lose U.S. patent challenge to Amgen cholesterol drug

Biotech company Amgen Inc said on Monday a U.S. jury confirmed the validity of patents on its cholesterol drug Repatha, rejecting a challenge by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc and Sanofi SA. Sanofi and Regeneron had stipulated that if the two Amgen patents were valid, their jointly developed cholesterol drug Praluent infringed them. Heat-related illness affects ethnic groups disproportionately

Health conditions related to heat are sharply rising and may affect ethnic populations disproportionately, California statistics suggest. The data were compiled by the California Environmental Health Tracking Program, which tracks emergency room visits and hospitalizations due to heat-related medical conditions such as exhaustion and heat stroke. U.S. trial tests claims Roundup weed killer caused cancer

Bayer AG on Monday faced a second U.S. jury over allegations that its popular glyphosate-based weed killer Roundup causes cancer, six months after the company's share price was rocked by a $289 million verdict in California state court. The lawsuit by California resident Edwin Hardeman against the company began on Monday morning in federal rather than state court. The trial is also a test case for a larger litigation. More than 760 of the 9,300 Roundup cases nationwide are consolidated in the federal court in San Francisco that is hearing Hardeman's case. Court ruling could help J&J defeat St. Louis talc lawsuits

A Missouri Supreme Court ruling on talc lawsuits could reduce the liability and number of large trials Johnson & Johnson faces over allegations its talc products, including baby powder, cause cancer. The ruling will likely offer some respite to the healthcare conglomerate as it deals with growing pressure over the safety of its talc products, some defense lawyers said. The company revealed in its annual report on Wednesday that it had received subpoenas from the U.S. Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission related to talc litigation.