Health News Roundup: Switzerland to ban tobacco advertising aimed at young people; Obesity fighting success fuels Novo bet on gene-editing tech and more

Kabi's 2023 sales, adjusted for currency swings, would likely grow by a "mid-single-digit" percentage, where it had previously predicted a "low-to mid-single-digit" gain, Fresenius said ahead of an investor event on Thursday. Sarepta says FDA may limit gene therapy nod to smaller population, shares fall Sarepta Therapeutics Inc said the U.S. drug regulator could initially approve its gene therapy for a muscle wasting disorder for a smaller patient group after the agency deferred an accelerated approval decision, sending its shares down 7%.

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Switzerland to ban tobacco advertising aimed at young people

Switzerland will ban advertising of tobacco products and e-cigarettes aimed at young people, the government said on Wednesday, implementing a decision passed in a referendum last year. The cabinet said it would strengthen its already planned restrictions to bar advertising in places and media where young people can see it.

Obesity fighting success fuels Novo bet on gene-editing tech

Capitalising on strong demand for its obesity therapies, Novo Nordisk's growing appetite for deals has fuelled a bet on a U.S. gene-editing company called Life Edit Therapeutics. The Danish drugmaker's collaboration with Durham, North Carolina-based Life Edit Therapeutics - owned by ElevateBio, a cell and gene therapy company in Waltham - is focused on up to seven programs for rare genetic disorders as well as cardiometabolic diseases.

Exclusive-Icahn poised to win at least one seat on Illumina's board -sources

Activist investor Carl Icahn is set to win enough Illumina Inc shareholder support to install at least one of his three nominees to the gene sequencing machine maker's board, two people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. A preliminary vote tally shows that Icahn nominee Andrew Teno has won enough shareholder support to get on Illumina's board, the sources said.

Fresenius lifts 2023 outlook for hospital drugs unit Kabi

German healthcare group Fresenius SE lifted its earnings target for generic hospital drugs unit Kabi, citing demand for blood plasma products and clinical nutrition and the planned launches of generic biotech drugs in the United States. Kabi's 2023 sales, adjusted for currency swings, would likely grow by a "mid-single-digit" percentage, where it had previously predicted a "low-to mid-single-digit" gain, Fresenius said ahead of an investor event on Thursday.

Sarepta says FDA may limit gene therapy nod to smaller population, shares fall

Sarepta Therapeutics Inc said the U.S. drug regulator could initially approve its gene therapy for a muscle wasting disorder for a smaller patient group after the agency deferred an accelerated approval decision, sending its shares down 7%. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has deferred the highly anticipated approval decision for the company's gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) to June 22 from May 29 as it needs more time to complete the review. Sarepta said on Wednesday the FDA has indicated it could initially grant an accelerated approval for the therapy, called SRP-9001, for use in DMD patients aged 4 and 5. The drug was tested in DMD patients who could walk, with the mean age of about 7 years.

Factbox-U.S. state abortion legislation to watch in 2023

State legislatures are wrestling with how much to restrict or expand abortion access after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year. Here is a snapshot of pending and passed legislation seeking to restrict or protect access in 2023.

BioNTech is proceeding with COVID-shot in line with WHO guidance

Germany's BioNTech said it was on track to introduce a COVID-19 shot by the early fall in the northern hemisphere that is adapted to currently dominant virus variants in line with recommendations by the World Health Organization. BioNTech was targeting regulatory approval by the end of the summer to allow for a seasonal vaccination campaign to start in early autumn, CEO and co-founder Ugur Sahin told shareholders at the biotech firm's annual general meeting on Thursday.

Denmark wants to lower abortion age without parental consent to 15

Denmark wants to lower the age of abortion without parental consent to 15 years from 18 currently, in line with the country's age of consent, minister for gender equality Marie Bjerre said on Wednesday. The majority government announced its decision to support the proposal on the day marking the 50th anniversary of a law granting women the right to chose abortion.

Abbott, baby formula makers face FTC probe for potential collusion

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is probing whether Abbott Laboratories and other companies that make baby formula colluded in bidding on state contracts, according to a document posted on the agency's website. The FTC is looking into whether the companies "engaged in collusion or coordination with any other market participant regarding the bidding," according to the document.

Medtronic forecasts annual profit below estimates as stronger dollar weighs

Medtronic Plc on Thursday forecast annual profit below Wall Street estimates, as the medical device maker expects stronger dollar to continue dragging its sales down in international markets. Medtronic has warned of a delayed improvement in earnings this year as its costs continue to remain high despite restructuring efforts.