Reuters Health News Summary

Following is a summary of current health news briefs. Smoking tied to artery disease in African-Americans

African-Americans who smoke cigarettes are more likely than those who don't smoke to develop peripheral artery disease, a U.S. study suggests. Smoking has long been linked to increased risk for peripheral artery disease (PAD), which restricts blood flow to the extremities and can lead to mobility limitations, amputations and heart attacks. Even though African-Americans are almost three times more likely to develop PAD than white people in the U.S., research to date hasn't offered a clear picture of what role smoking plays in the development of this artery disease in the black community. Epidemic group invests $34 million in potential vaccine printer tech

A coalition seeking to get ahead of the next pandemic has agreed a $34 million deal with German biotech CureVac to develop vaccine "printing" technology that aims to rapidly produce shots against multiple diseases. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)said its backing will help CureVac's work on a prototype of its RNA Printer product - a transportable, automated printing facility for types of a molecule known as messenger RNA. FDA flags sanitation concerns at Akorn's Amityville plant

Akorn Inc said on Thursday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued observations related to inspection of the company's manufacturing facility in Amityville, New York. Records were not kept for maintenance, cleaning, sanitizing and inspection of equipment, the FDA said in a Form 483 dated Feb. 13. BAT says would fight menthol cigarette ban if proposed in U.S.

British American Tobacco would challenge restrictions on menthol cigarettes by U.S. health regulators, due to its belief that they would have no impact on smoking rates, its chief executive told Reuters on Thursday. The U.S. FDA said in 2017 it would consider possibly banning menthol flavoring in tobacco products as part of efforts to curb underage smoking. Novartis faces shareholder criticism over drug prices at AGM

Novartis's shift into high-tech drugs won praise for providing patients with new options but criticism over prices that may run into the millions of dollars at the Swiss drugmaker's annual general meeting on Thursday. Shareholders at the event in Basel also approved Novartis's planned spin-off of its Alcon eyecare unit, due for coming months, with investors with five Novartis shares due to receive one share of Alcon stock. Senator Sanders urges FDA to allow older versions of $375K drug

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders this week urged regulators to allow pharmacies and manufacturers to resume distributing unbranded, lower-cost versions of a drug used to treat a rare neuromuscular disorder, according to a letter provided by his office to Reuters. The drug is now sold at a list price of $375,000 a year by Catalyst Pharmaceuticals under the brand name Firdapse. It is used to treat Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS), which affects about one in 100,000 people in the United States. Congo Ebola center set on fire after armed attack

Armed assailants attacked an Ebola treatment center in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday, setting off a fire and becoming embroiled in an extended gunbattle with security forces, health officials said. The identity and motive of the assailants were unclear. Aid workers have faced mistrust in some areas as they work to contain an Ebola outbreak. Novavax respiratory infection vaccine fails in late-stage trial

Novavax Inc said on Thursday its vaccine to prevent RSV infection, a leading cause of a respiratory disease in infants, failed to meet the main goal of a late stage study. The vaccine was not able to lower respiratory tract infection caused by RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, the company said. India drugs regulator finds no asbestos in J&J talc: sources

India's drugs regulator has found no asbestos in Johnson & Johnson talc, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday. J&J was recently informed about the findings of a probe by India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), the sources said. Swiss may let 5,000 people use marijuana legally for studies

Switzerland may let up to 5,000 people smoke marijuana legally in pilot studies to help shape new rules for recreational use of the drug, the government said on Thursday. The cabinet proposed limited pilot projects that may lead to changes in laws banning cannabis that date back to 1951. The plan will be put out for public comment until mid-year, the Federal Health Office said.