Reuters - Health Report

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Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Trouble mounts for Sanofi dengue vaccine over safety concerns

(Reuters) - The World Health Organization said on Monday it hopes to review safety data on Sanofi's dengue vaccine this month, while the Philippines ordered an investigation of its now suspended massive immunization program after the French drugmaker said it could actually worsen the disease in some cases.

Montana sues OxyContin maker Purdue over opioid epidemic

(Reuters) - Montana has sued OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma LP, withdrawing from a multistate investigation by attorneys general into opioid manufacturers' marketing practices and joining a growing list of states that have broken off to pursue individual lawsuits.

Trial results of Zika vaccine Sanofi dropped show promise

CHICAGO (Reuters) - A Zika vaccine Sanofi SA dropped in September under political pressure over pricing produced strong responses in more than 90 percent of those taking part in an early-stage clinical trial, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.

Court-mandated opioid rehab rarely meets medical standards

(Reuters Health) - Fewer than one in 20 people with opioid addiction problems who are ordered into rehab programs by the courts receive methadone or buprenorphine, two drugs doctors consider the best treatment option, a U.S. study suggests.

Tattooed wish for withholding treatment not good enough, doctors say

(Reuters Health) - Consumers are often told, "Put it in writing." But in the case of a hospitalized Florida man facing death, displaying his wish by having it tattooed on his chest wasn't good enough.

Brazil recommends restrictions on Sanofi dengue vaccine

BRASILIA (Reuters) - The Brazilian government said on Monday it has suggested restrictions on the use of a dengue vaccine that has been suspended elsewhere after French drug company Sanofi SA said it could worsen the disease in some cases.

CVS-Aetna deal to change how big employers buy health benefits

NEW YORK (Reuters) - CVS Health Corp's proposed purchase of Aetna Inc will change the way many major U.S. corporations buy health coverage for employees and raise new questions over the cost of those benefits, benefit consultants said.

Poor regulation, dodgy pills spur plan for African drugs agency

LONDON (Reuters) - Last July, Ugandan officials seized fake versions of the cancer drug Avastin on sale in Kampala, revealing only the tip of an iceberg of bogus medicines found all too often in Africa.

Healthcare prices hard to find online

Reuters Health - Consumers who search online for prices of common medical procedures may be disappointed by what they find, a U.S. study suggests.

Cholera could resurge in Yemen due to lack of aid, fuel: WHO

GENEVA (Reuters) - Another wave of cholera could strike Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition blockade has cut off fuel for hospitals, water pumps and vital aid supplies for starving children, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Sunday.