Reuters Health News Summary

The medical device maker's revenue from China market, which constitutes nearly 13% of its total revenue, dropped more than 11% in the quarter ended March 31. Florida abortion clinics and funds face uncertain future on eve of six-week ban Florida's ban on abortions past six weeks of pregnancy takes effect this week, threatening the future of the state's clinics and abortion funds and forcing patients to travel hundreds of miles to get the procedure.

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Eli Lilly lifts 2024 sales view by $2 billion on weight-loss drug demand

Eli Lilly raised its annual revenue forecast by $2 billion on Tuesday due to strong demand and a steady ramp up of production of its weight-loss treatment Zepbound and related diabetes drug Mounjaro, lifting its shares about 7%. Lilly said it expects the drugs to remain in tight supply, but plans for significant production increases in the second half of the year. Sales growth for the weight-loss and diabetes treatments will primarily depend on how much it can produce and ship in the short- to mid-term, the company said.

Risk of bird flu spreading to cows outside US, says WHO

A World Health Organization official said on Tuesday there was a risk of H5N1 bird flu virus spreading to cows in other countries beyond the United States through migratory birds. U.S. officials are seeking to verify the safety of milk and meat after confirming the H5N1 virus in 34 dairy cattle herds in nine states since late March, and in one person in Texas.

UnitedHealth hackers took advantage of Citrix vulnerabilty to break in, CEO says

Hackers broke into UnitedHealth's tech unit on Feb. 12 by exploiting a security vulnerability in software from private IT company Citrix that allows employees remote access to their desktop computers, the largest U.S. health insurer will testify before a House panel this week. UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty's testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, slated for Wednesday, will follow weeks of disruption to American healthcare since the insurer's Change Healthcare unit was hacked.

J&J, Bristol Myers lose challenges to US drug price negotiation program

A U.S. judge on Monday rejected a challenge by Bristol Myers Squibb and Johnson & Johnson to a law requiring them to negotiate the prices of their blockbuster blood clot prevention drugs with the U.S government's Medicare health insurance program or pay heavy penalties. U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi in Trenton, New Jersey, became the fourth federal judge to uphold the program, one of Democratic President Joe Biden's signature initiatives, against drug industry challenges, rejecting their argument that it was an illegal taking of their property.

GE HealthCare misses quarterly revenue estimates on weakness in China market

GE HealthCare Technologies missed first-quarter revenue estimates on Tuesday, hurt by lower sales in China market and weaker-than-expected demand for its scanning devices, sending its shares tumbling as much as 12% before the bell. The medical device maker's revenue from China market, which constitutes nearly 13% of its total revenue, dropped more than 11% in the quarter ended March 31.

Florida abortion clinics and funds face uncertain future on eve of six-week ban

Florida's ban on abortions past six weeks of pregnancy takes effect this week, threatening the future of the state's clinics and abortion funds and forcing patients to travel hundreds of miles to get the procedure. Phones have been ringing off the hook at clinics and funds in Florida ahead of the Wednesday enforcement date, as newly pregnant abortion-seekers scramble to book appointments before they may have to travel as far as Virginia or New York to get an abortion, eight clinic and fund workers told Reuters. Most women are not aware they are pregnant at six weeks.

Japan's Ono Pharma says $2.4 billion Deciphera purchase 'first step' for global expansion

Japan's Ono Pharmaceutical Co said on Tuesday its $2.4 billion takeover of Deciphera Pharmaceuticals is a "first step" in expanding in U.S. and European markets. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Australian regulator examines possible contamination of Indian spice mixes

Australia's food safety agency is collecting information on the possible contamination of spice mixes sold by Indian companies MDH and Everest to decide if a food recall is required, it said on Tuesday, the latest regulator to step up scrutiny. Hong Kong suspended sales this month of three MDH spice blends and an Everest mix for fish curry. Singapore ordered a recall of the same Everest mix as well, flagging high levels of ethylene oxide, which is unfit for human consumption and a cancer risk over long exposure.

Walmart to shut all health centers in US over lack of profitability

Walmart plans to close all 51 of its health centers across five states in the U.S. as well as its telehealth operations, the company said on Tuesday, citing lack of profitability in those businesses. The big-box retailer said that reimbursement from insurers and other payers has been challenging, which along with escalating operating costs made the businesses unsustainable.

Ecolab to sell global surgical unit for $950 million, lifts 2024 profit forecast

Water solutions company Ecolab said on Tuesday it would sell its global surgical solutions business to private medical supplier Medline for $950 million in cash and raised its full-year profit forecast. The unit made more than $400 million in sales last year and supplies sterile drape solutions for surgeons, patients and operating room equipment.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)