Reuters Health News Summary

09/14/2016 8:56

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Scientific evidence grows for e-cigarettes as quit-smoking aids

Electronic cigarettes may have helped about 18,000 people in England to give up smoking last year and there is no evidence of any serious side effects associated with their use for up to two years, according to studies published on Tuesday. Researchers at University College London (UCL) analyzed the latest data on smoking and quitting in England - including details on smokers who worked with the health-worker devised Stop Smoking Services to set a quit date.

Roche says new MS drug works better than Merck's Rebif

Roche said on Wednesday its Ocrevus multiple sclerosis drug controlled the most common form of the disease better than a rival's medicine and worked against another form of MS for which there is no approved treatment. A 75 percent higher proportion of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients reached "no evidence of disease activity" status with Ocrevus in a head-to-head trial against Merck's Rebif, Roche said in a statement.

U.N. panel challenges market-based approach to drug R&D

The world cannot rely solely on free markets to deliver medicines needed by billions of people in poor countries, so governments should commit to a legally binding convention to coordinate and fund research and development. That's the conclusion of a major United Nations report, which is bound to stir fierce debate between supporters of the current market-based system of drug development and those favoring a greater role for the state.

Asterias stem cell therapy shows promise in spinal cord paralysis: U.S. study

An experimental stem cell therapy developed by Asterias Biotherapeutics restored some movement to patients paralyzed by recent spinal cord injuries, according to interim data from a small study being presented on Wednesday. One of the five patients in the trial regained use of both arms and hands, and is now able to feed himself, send texts on a phone and operate a wheelchair, the Fremont, California-based company said.

Ebola lessons spur on Sierra Leone's fight against maternal deaths

Rushing from one pregnant woman to another in the antenatal ward of Sierra Leone's main maternity hospital, Josephine Powells, a midwifery student, is all too aware of the danger facing the dozens of expecting mothers under her care. These women are preparing to give birth in a country estimated to have the world's highest rate of maternal deaths. More than one in 100 women in the West African nation die during childbirth, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Shire's treatment for primary immunodeficiency wins FDA approval

Shire Plc said the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved its treatment for patients with primary immunodeficiency, a group of genetic disorders in which part of the body's immune system is missing or functions improperly. The drug, Cuvitru, is already approved in 17 European countries, and the company expects to launch it in the United States in the coming weeks, Shire said on Wednesday.

WHO says Angola, Congo yellow fever outbreak under control

A yellow fever outbreak in Angola and Congo has been brought under control by a major vaccination campaign, the World Health Organization's director of infectious hazard management Sylvie Briand said on Tuesday. "One (piece of) good news is that this outbreak is under control now. We haven't had any new cases in Angola since June 23, and since July 12 in DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo)," Briand told a regular U.N. briefing in Geneva.

Bayer clinches Monsanto with improved $66 billion bid

German drugs and crop chemicals company Bayer has won over U.S. seeds firm Monsanto with an improved takeover offer of around $66 billion, ending months of wrangling after increasing its bid for a third time. The $128 a share deal, up from Bayer's previous offer of $127.50 a share, is the biggest of the year so far and the largest cash bid on record.

Choosing stronger sunscreen would reduce women's melanoma risk

The number of women affected by the deadliest form of skin cancer could fall by almost a fifth if they all used sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher, a new study suggests. While it may seem obvious that sunscreen with a higher SPF would protect against skin cancer, the study's lead author said past research produced conflicting results, in part because many sunscreen users don't apply sunscreens properly.

About 200 Zika cases recorded in Thailand: ministry

Thailand has recorded about 200 cases of Zika since January, the health ministry said on Tuesday, making it a country with one of the highest numbers of confirmed cases in the region. It was the first time Thailand's health ministry has confirmed the number of Zika cases this year.

09/14/2016 8:56