Reuters Health News Summary

09/15/2016 8:58

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Spectrum bladder cancer drug not effective: U.S. FDA panel

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc's experimental bladder cancer treatment apaziquone is not effective in delaying the time to recurrence of the disease, an advisory committee to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration concluded on Wednesday. Spectrum's shares fell 6.2 percent to $5.15.

Soda lobby, others sue to block Philadelphia's soda tax

The U.S. soda lobby and small businesses are suing to block Philadelphia's soft drinks tax, marking the latest clash between the industry and public officials seeking to boost revenue and combat health epidemics like obesity and diabetes. The American Beverage Association (ABA), which represents Coca-Cola Co and PepsiCo Inc, kicked off a broadly-anticipated legal challenge on Wednesday, asking a Pennsylvania judge to enjoin and declare invalid a new soda tax due to take effect in January, according to documents filed in Philadelphia County Court.

Parents of children with cancer sometimes regret decisions

Parents of children with cancer face difficult decisions, and a new study suggests that about one in six of them look back on some of their choices with a great deal of regret. Often, doctors can recommend a clearly preferable treatment. But sometimes, the study's lead author pointed out, parents may need to decide things like whether their child should take part in a clinical trial, or whether the child should have surgery.

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.

FDA panel recommends dropping serious warning on Pfizer's Chantix

A serious warning on Pfizer Inc's quit smoking drug should be removed, 10 of 19 independent panelists to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended on Wednesday, after reviewing additional trial data on the controversial treatment. Pfizer's Chantix was approved about a decade ago, but thousands of reports of mental health problems in users led to the FDA imposing the "black box" warning - the most severe available - in 2009.

GSK shingles vaccine remains effective after four years: study

GlaxoSmithKline's experimental vaccine to prevent the intensely painful condition known as shingles remained 90 percent effective in people over age 70 even four years after receiving the injection, according to data published on Wednesday. In clinical trials, GSK's Shingrix has shown greater protection for older recipients than what has been demonstrated by Merck & Co's rival Zostavax vaccine. The drug is one of GSK's biggest new product hopes. It plans to file for U.S., European and Japanese approval this year, and the vaccine could reach the market in 2017.

AcelRx's opioid painkiller succeeds in key study

AcelRx Pharmaceuticals Inc said its experimental opioid painkiller was well tolerated in post-operative patients, including those with organ impairment and the elderly, in a late-stage study. The Redwood City, California-based drugmaker's stock was up about 23 percent at $4.04 in premarket trading.

Bayer's Monsanto acquisition to face politically charged scrutiny

As the global agricultural sector races to consolidate, Bayer AG's $66 billion all-cash deal to acquire Monsanto Co will test growing political and consumer unease in the United States and abroad over the future of food production. Bayer's pesticide-focused agricultural business has few overlaps with Monsanto's dominant seed franchise, according to the companies' executives. Still, marrying two of the world's top farm suppliers at a time when rivals are also merging is fueling concern over reduced competition in the $100 billion global market.

Smoking may lead to heart failure by thickening heart wall

Smoking is associated with thicker heart walls and blood pumping difficulties that may eventually lead to heart failure, a U.S. study suggests. The research, done in adults who didn't have any obvious signs of cardiovascular disease, also found that the more people smoke, the greater the damage to the heart's structure and function, said senior author Dr. Scott Solomon of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Aerie's eye drug meets main goal in late-stage study; shares jump

Aerie Pharmaceuticals Inc said on Wednesday its eye drug met the main goal in a late stage study, sending its shares up 71 percent in extended trading. The company's drug, Roclatan, is a fixed-dose combination of its lead drug Rhopressa and latanoprost, one of the most widely prescribed glaucoma drugs.

09/15/2016 8:58