Reuters Health News Summary

Through its vaccine programme, the European Medicines Agency is working to help address public questions and false claims on vaccines, including on safety and effectiveness, which if unaddressed can fuel vaccine hesitancy, resulting in re-emergence of infectious diseases. Italian drugmaker Chiesi to buy KalVista for $1.9 billion Italy's Chiesi has agreed to buy KalVista Pharmaceuticals for about $1.9 billion, the company said on Wednesday, as it looks to grow its rare disease drug portfolio. Trump administration appeals judge's order upending Kennedy's vaccine policies The Trump administration on Wednesday appealed a federal judge's ruling blocking key elements of Health Secretary Robert F.

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Italy's Chiesi buys US-listed KalVista Pharmaceuticals for $1.9 billion

Italy's family-owned Chiesi Group will buy U.S.-listed KalVista Pharmaceuticals in an all-cash deal valued at about $1.9 billion, the two companies said on Wednesday. The Italian group said the deal would strengthen its rare diseases strategy, expand its U.S. commercial footprint and reflect its long-term ambition to expand in rare ​immunology.

Eli Lilly investors are eager for Foundayo insight after early launch data

Eli Lilly investors will be searching for something they won't find in any first-quarter financial figures reported on Thursday: insight into the launch of weight-loss pill Foundayo. U.S. sales of the hotly ​anticipated obesity offering, a rival to Novo Nordisk's Wegovy pill, began in early April, so Foundayo data will not be included in Lilly's first-quarter financials. Several more weeks of ‌prescription data is likely ​needed to determine Foundayo's early sales trajectory, one investor said.

US Supreme Court backs anti-abortion pregnancy centers in New Jersey case

The U.S. Supreme Court sided on Wednesday with the operator of Christian faith-based anti-abortion "crisis pregnancy centers" in New Jersey that is trying to impede a state investigation into whether the facilities engage in deceptive practices. The justices, in a unanimous decision, revived a federal lawsuit brought by First Choice Women's Resource Centers challenging a 2023 subpoena from the state attorney general seeking information on the organization's donors and doctors. A lower court had thrown out the lawsuit.

Teva leans on branded drugs for profit beat as generics face pressure

Teva Pharmaceutical beat first-quarter profit estimates on Wednesday as growth in its branded drug portfolio more than offset challenges in its generics business, sending its New York-listed shares up nearly 11% in early trading. Traditionally dependent on generic medicines, the ‌company has increasingly focused on expanding its portfolio of branded drugs to boost sales and profitability.

Trump administration indicts former NIH official over COVID records

The Trump administration has indicted a former National Institutes of Health official over allegations of evading federal records requests related to COVID-19 pandemic research grants and the use of personal email for government business. A grand jury in Maryland charged David Morens, a senior official at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) during the pandemic, with conspiring to evade records requests received by the agency between April 2020 and December 2022.

Kennedy's US advisory board puts focus on 'profound autism', improved medical care

A U.S. advisory committee appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recommended on Tuesday that the government adopt the term "profound autism” for those with the highest support needs, and improve gaps in medical care for people with autism. The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee helps guide federal autism research spending, worth about $2 billion annually, and coordinates efforts among government agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

GSK shares slide as investors question one-off result boost

Strong first-quarter results under new GSK CEO Luke Miels on Wednesday failed to impress investors, who raised ‌concerns that the British drugmaker's performance was enhanced by one-off factors, sending its shares more than 8% lower. Miels was appointed to convince investors that GSK can hit 2031 sales targets, boost its drug pipeline and navigate the looming 2028 patent expiry of its HIV medicine dolutegravir.

Pfizer secures deals to keep heart drug free of generic rivals until 2031

Pfizer said on Tuesday it has settled patent disputes with three generic drugmakers over its blockbuster heart drug Vyndamax, effectively extending its patent protection until 2031 and delaying cheaper copies from entering the market. The deals resolve patent ‌infringement lawsuits against Dexcel Pharma, Hikma Pharmaceuticals and Cipla in Delaware federal court over Pfizer's oral drug Vyndamax. A trial over the patent had started this week.

Humana's unchanged forecast after quarterly beat underwhelms market

Humana on Wednesday beat quarterly earnings estimates due to tighter control over medical costs, but kept its annual adjusted profit forecast unchanged unlike rivals who raised theirs. The health insurer, a major provider of plans for seniors and people with disabilities, has been growing membership even as large competitors pull back from the Medicare Advantage market, a segment hit by sustained cost pressures for nearly three years.

Pfizer's blood cancer drug meets main goal in late-stage trial

Pfizer said on Wednesday its drug Elrexfio met the main goal in a late-stage trial that tested the blood cancer treatment in patients who received at least one prior line of treatment. Here are further details on the trial:

AbbVie tops quarterly expectations as newer immunology drugs offset Humira decline

AbbVie on Wednesday reported better-than-expected quarterly revenue and profit, fueled by demand for newer immunology drugs Skyrizi and Rinvoq, as it continues to move beyond former top-selling treatment Humira. The drugmaker has been leaning heavily on Skyrizi and Rinvoq to fill the void left by Humira after the arthritis treatment lost U.S. patent exclusivity in 2023 and faced competition from cheaper biosimilars.

Biogen beats profit expectations as demand for newer rare-disease drugs fuel growth

Biogen beat first-quarter expectations on Wednesday, as stronger sales of its Alzheimer's and newer rare-disease ⁠drugs helped offset waning demand for its ​legacy multiple sclerosis treatments, sending its shares up 6%. The drugmaker is bolstering its pipeline of promising candidates and newer drugs focused on immunology and rare diseases ⁠through acquisitions and partnerships, and the latest results show that these efforts are paying off.

US seeks new nominees for key preventive health panel

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, overseen by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., on Tuesday asked for nominations to the influential task force that decides which preventive medical care is provided at no cost to patients. The Preventive Services Task Force, which typically has 16 members, last met over a year ago. Three successive planned meetings were canceled and new members have not been named to replace the five volunteers whose terms expired in December.

Procedure using Boston Scientific device tops medication for heart rhythm problem

We also report below on early data that poses a ⁠possible solution to a devastating pregnancy complication, and a potential breakthrough treatment for liver transplant patients.

HEART PROCEDURE SUPERIOR TO DRUGS FOR COMMON ARRHYTHMIA

AstraZeneca to invest $405 million in Britain after US-UK pharma deal

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Wednesday that Britain's biggest company AstraZeneca would invest 300 million pounds ($405 million) in the country, after pausing large-scale projects last year. The investment follows praise from drugmakers including AstraZeneca for a U.S.-UK agreement aimed at increasing medicine prices in Britain in line with the Trump administration's new U.S. pricing policies. The deal was finalised earlier in April.

HIV patients in Senegal skip treatment, fearing arrest amid anti-LGBTQ crackdown

Fewer patients are visiting some HIV treatment centres ​in Senegal amid a wave of arrests targeting LGBTQ people, according to health officials and government data seen by Reuters, threatening the country's fight against the virus. Last month, Senegal, where homosexuality is illegal, doubled the maximum prison term for same-sex sexual acts to 10 years and criminalised what it described as any efforts to promote it. The country also increased the maximum fine to 10 million CFA francs ($18,000).

GE HealthCare cuts annual profit forecast as inflation, tariffs hit margins

Medical equipment maker GE HealthCare on Wednesday cut ⁠its full-year profit forecast on the back of inflation-driven cost pressures, sending its shares down about 13% in morning trading.

The company also missed Wall Street estimates for first-quarter profit due to a supplier issue in its pharmaceutical Diagnostics business, which it said has since been resolved.

Canada approves first generic version of Ozempic amid rising GLP-1 competition

Health Canada has approved the first generic version of Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk's blockbuster diabetes drug Ozempic made by Indian drugmaker Dr Reddy's Laboratories, its website showed on Tuesday. Several drugmakers have been developing lower-cost versions of Novo Nordisk's diabetes drug Ozempic, driving down monthly prices for some users.

EU regulator forms expert group to tackle vaccine hesitancy

The European Union's medicines regulator said on Wednesday it has set up a new advisory ⁠group that ​would advise the agency on issues related to vaccine hesitancy and boost its outreach initiatives. Through its vaccine programme, the European Medicines Agency is working to help address public questions and false claims on vaccines, including on safety and effectiveness, which if unaddressed can fuel vaccine hesitancy, resulting in re-emergence of infectious diseases.

Italian drugmaker Chiesi to buy KalVista for $1.9 billion

Italy's Chiesi has agreed to buy KalVista Pharmaceuticals for about $1.9 billion, the company said on Wednesday, as it looks to grow its rare disease drug portfolio.

Trump administration appeals judge's order upending Kennedy's vaccine policies

The Trump administration on Wednesday appealed a federal judge's ruling blocking key elements of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s push to reshape U.S. vaccine policy, including reducing the number of routinely recommended childhood vaccinations. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a notice of its plans to appeal Boston-based U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy's March 16 ruling, which also found that a vaccine advisory panel whose members were handpicked by Kennedy was unlawfully constituted.

Purdue Pharma receives $5.5 billion sentence, paving way for opioid settlement

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma was sentenced on Tuesday to $5.5 billion in fines and penalties stemming from its 2020 guilty plea to charges of ⁠deceiving government regulators and paying kickbacks to doctors to boost opioid sales. The sentencing in New Jersey federal court clears the way for the company to dissolve in bankruptcy and use its assets to fund a $7.4 billion settlement intended to compensate people harmed by the opioid epidemic.

CMS extends application deadlines for Medicaid drug pricing model

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said on Wednesday it has extended key application deadlines for drugmakers and states to join the payment model, which aims to negotiate lower prices on their prescription medicines for ⁠the U.S. Medicaid program for low-income Americans. Drug manufacturers now have until June 11, instead of April 30, to apply, giving companies more time to prepare applications.

Sensodyne maker Haleon ⁠warns of rising costs, but keeps 2026 outlook as US rebounds

Haleon warned of rising costs sparked by the Iran conflict on Wednesday, though the consumer healthcare firm maintained its annual outlook as it expects U.S. growth to speed up this year after a weak flu season dampened quarterly sales growth. Global consumer companies, including Procter & Gamble and Reckitt, are taking a hit from rising energy and freight costs after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran began in late February, disrupting global supply chains and clouding the outlook.

Align Technology beats quarterly estimates, plans $200 million buyback

Align Technology beat Wall Street estimates for first-quarter profit, aided by strong demand for its dental aligners, and announced a $200 million share buyback program, sending shares up as much as 4% in after-market trading. Analysts expect dental sector demand to stabilise in 2026, but remain cautious about a full recovery ‌as last year's volatility, marked by uneven dental visits, has left investors cautious.

US FDA says testing reveals ‌domestic infant formula supply is safe

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday said tested samples of infant formula available in the country contained very low levels of contaminants, confirming that the nation's supply is safe for consumption. The agency tested more than 300 samples across 16 infant formula brands ​sold nationwide, screening them for contaminants including heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury, as well as pesticides, synthetic chemicals and phthalates.