Reuters Health News Summary

09/22/2016 8:58

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative pledges $3 billion to fight disease

Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan on Wednesday pledged more than $3 billion toward a plan to "cure, prevent or manage all disease within our children's lifetime." Speaking through tears at a San Francisco event to announce the initiative, Chan said she hoped to spare parents the pain she had seen while delivering difficult news as a pediatrician.

Obesity, violence hamper U.S. progress on U.N. health goals: study

The United States performs poorly in U.N. rankings on progress towards global health goals due to its high levels of violence, alcohol abuse and childhood obesity, a study has found. The research, published in The Lancet medical journal on Wednesday, offers the first assessment of 188 countries' rankings against the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to boost health by improving the environment, food and water and by easing poverty.

U.S. lawmakers blast Mylan CEO over 'sickening' EpiPen price hikes

U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday blasted Mylan NV Chief Executive Heather Bresch for sharply increasing prices for the EpiPen emergency allergy treatment at a congressional hearing in which Republicans and Democrats questioned the reasons behind rising U.S. drug costs. The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform called Bresch to testify in the wake of public outrage over EpiPen, whose list price has risen to $600 for a pair of the devices compared with $100 in 2007.

AstraZeneca pulls cancer drug application in Europe

AstraZeneca has pulled an application seeking European approval to sell its experimental cancer drug cediranib in combination with chemotherapy to treat ovarian cancer because of late-stage questions raised by regulators reviewing the product. However, the British company said on Wednesday that cediranib, a so-called VEGFR inhibitor, remained an important pipeline medicine and the decision did not affect its ongoing development in combination tests alongside other drugs.

Disease-related malnutrition costs U.S. $15.5 billion annually: study

The United States could save at least $15.5 billion in annual healthcare spending if malnutrition caused by chronic diseases is better addressed, according to a study. The study, conducted by Abbott Laboratories' nutrition division and the University of Illinois, noted one in three patients who arrive at a U.S.-hospital suffer from malnutrition. A further one-third become malnourished during their stay.

Smoking leaves chemical traces on DNA

Tobacco smoke leaves its mark on DNA by changing a chemical code on the DNA molecule that can sometimes change gene activity, according to a new study. Some of these molecular changes revert to their original state when a smoker quits, but others persist in the long term, the researchers found.

Vasectomies not linked to increased prostate cancer risk

Having a vasectomy doesn't increase a man's risk of developing prostate cancer or dying from it, a U.S. study suggests. Previous research has been mixed about the risk of prostate cancer associated with vasectomy, a common form of long-term birth control that involves snipping or blocking tubes that transport sperm out of the testicles.

UnitedHealth trims drug coverage, including Sanofi insulin

UnitedHealth Group, the largest U.S. health insurer, will stop covering several brand-name drugs as of next year, reinforcing a trend of payers steering prescriptions to lower-priced options. In a bulletin seeking client feedback by Sept. 28, UnitedHealth said it is changing reimbursement terms for long-acting insulins and will no longer cover Lantus, the main insulin drug sold by Sanofi.

UK okays Alexion drug costing up to $2 million but wants price cut

A new drug to treat a rare inherited bone disorder that was developed by Alexion Pharmaceuticals and could cost up to 1.5 million pounds ($2 million) a year per patient has been cleared for limited use by Britain's health cost watchdog. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which had turned down Strensiq as too expensive in December, said on Thursday it had decided the drug could offer a lifeline for a handful of babies and young children.

Yes, Virginia, there is a weight gain over Christmas

A new study has confirmed what your waistband has told you all along - you gain weight during the holidays. It also concluded that people who weigh themselves frequently seem to lose those extra pounds faster.

09/22/2016 8:58