Health News Roundup: Growing cancer burden masks inequity among rich and poor nations- WHO; GSK settles another Zantac lawsuit in California and more

But Musk's statements on his social media platform X raised more questions than they answered about the trial for a risky device that the tech billionaire says could one day help the paralyzed walk, four experts in the brain implant field told Reuters. Regeneron beats fourth-quarter revenue estimates Regeneron beat Wall Street estimates for fourth-quarter revenue on Friday as sales of its blockbuster eye drug Eylea met drugmaker's preliminary estimates target.

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

BAT, Philip Morris settle patent litigations over heated tobacco, vapes

British American Tobacco and Philip Morris International Inc have reached a global settlement resolving all ongoing patent infringement litigations between them related to heated tobacco and vapour products. The settlement, which includes non-monetary provisions between BAT and PMI, prevents future claims against current heated tobacco and vapour products, said BAT, owner of brands such as Vuse and glo.

Ad firm Publicis, drugmaker Hikma settle US opioid cases for $500 million

A division of French advertising company Publicis Groupe SA and drug company Hikma Pharmaceuticals have reached separate settlements worth a collective $500 million to resolve claims that they helped fuel the deadly U.S. opioid epidemic. The settlements announced by U.S. state attorneys general on Thursday add to the more than $50 billion that drug manufacturers, distributors, pharmacy operators and consultants have agreed to pay to resolve lawsuits and investigations over their roles in the drug addiction crisis.

Growing cancer burden masks inequity among rich and poor nations- WHO

There were an estimated 20 million cancer cases and 9.7 million cancer deaths in 2022, the World Health Organization's cancer research agency said on Thursday, a growing burden that masks what it calls "striking inequity" among rich and poor countries. Around one in five people develop cancer in their lifetimes, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) said in a statement, and one in nine men and one in 12 women die from the disease.

Want details on Elon Musk's brain implant trial? You'll have to ask him

Elon Musk's announcement this week that his startup Neuralink had implanted the first human patient with its experimental brain device generated immediate buzz. But Musk's statements on his social media platform X raised more questions than they answered about the trial for a risky device that the tech billionaire says could one day help the paralyzed walk, four experts in the brain implant field told Reuters.

Regeneron beats fourth-quarter revenue estimates

Regeneron beat Wall Street estimates for fourth-quarter revenue on Friday as sales of its blockbuster eye drug Eylea met drugmaker's preliminary estimates target. Eylea sales were $1.46 billion, including $123 million from the higher dose version of the drug, in line with the company's previously laid out targets in January.

Second malaria vaccine highly protective, trial results show

A malaria vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India prevented around three-quarters of symptomatic malaria cases in young children the first year after they got the shots, results from a large trial showed on Thursday. The vaccine, which has already been approved for use by regulators in three West African countries and the World Health Organization, is the second to become available this year.

Cigna raises 2024 profit view, beats Q4 earnings estimates on lower costs

Health insurer Cigna Group raised its 2024 profit forecast on Friday after lower-than-expected medical costs and strong demand in its pharmacy benefit management unit helped it beat fourth-quarter profit estimates, sending its shares up nearly 5% in premarket trading. The company now expects full-year profit to be at least $28.25 per share, compared with earlier forecast of at least $28. Analysts estimate $28.29 per share in 2024 profit.

AbbVie profit beats estimates as Humira, Botox sales weather hit from rivals

AbbVie Inc beat Wall Street estimates for fourth-quarter profit on Friday, helped by a smaller-than-expected decline in sales of its blockbuster drug, Humira, and strong demand for Botox amid stiff competition. Investors have been keeping a close eye on falling sales of arthritis drug Humira, which was until recently the world's top-selling treatment. More than half a dozen biosimilars hit the U.S. market over the last year, hurting the drug's sales.

US government sends initial offers for Medicare drug price cuts

The Biden administration is sending drugmakers opening offers for the U.S. Medicare program's first ever price negotiations on Thursday, the White House said in a statement.

President Joe Biden's signature Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) allows Medicare, which covers 66 million Americans mostly aged 65 and older, to negotiate prices for some of its most costly drugs.

GSK settles another Zantac lawsuit in California

GSK said on Thursday it had agreed to settle another lawsuit in California that alleged its discontinued heartburn drug Zantac caused cancer, the latest in a series of settlements to end costly litigation. The case was set to go to trial on Feb. 20 and instead, will now be dismissed, the British drugmaker said in a statement.