Reuters - Health Report

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Friday, December 8, 2017

U.S. Department of Justice investigating fetal tissue transfers

(Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice asked on Thursday for documents related to a Senate committee's report on the transfer of fetal tissue by abortion provider Planned Parenthood, according to a letter seen by Reuters.

Roche study finds cancer 'Velcro' that halts T-cell attack

ZURICH (Reuters) - Scientists at Swiss drugmaker Roche said on Friday they may have discovered why some tumors resist new immunotherapy drugs as well as a possible means of turning the tables to incite a T-cell attack.

Philippines to seek refund of $59 million from Sanofi amid vaccine risk

MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines will seek the return of 3 billion pesos ($59 million) it paid French drugmaker Sanofi for a dengue vaccine used to immunize hundreds of thousands of children that Sanofi has said could worsen the disease in some cases.

Obamacare insurance options dwindle for neediest U.S. patients

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Josh Brookhart has four health insurers to choose from in Seattle's King County for 2018, more than many Americans like him who buy coverage on the Obamacare individual market.

Antibiotics sales for use in U.S. farm animals dropped in 2016: FDA

CHICAGO (Reuters) - The sale and distribution of antibiotics approved for use in food-producing animals in the United States decreased by 10 percent from 2015 to 2016, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) report said on Thursday.

More than 2,000 drugs now in cancer immunotherapy race

LONDON (Reuters) - The race to develop new immunotherapy treatments against cancer has sparked an unprecedented explosion in the oncology drug pipeline, with more than 2,000 immune system-boosting agents now in development.

Roche drug cocktail doubles chance of holding lung cancer at bay

ZURICH (Reuters) - Adding Roche's immunotherapy Tecentriq to older drugs doubled the percentage of lung cancer patients who survived a year without their disease advancing, an outcome some experts on Thursday labeled unprecedented.

Indonesia fights 'extraordinary' diphtheria outbreak that has killed 32

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesian health authorities will launch an immunization drive next week to contain a sharp rise in cases of diphtheria, which has killed at least 32 people, including many children, in the world's fourth most populous country this year.

Childhood cancer survivors have more blood pressure problems

(Reuters Health) - More than one in 12 adult survivors of childhood cancers may have undiagnosed high blood pressure, a U.S. study suggests.

Faulty positioning in rugby tackles boosts injury risk

(Reuters Health) - Head, neck and shoulder injuries during rugby tackles are more common when the tackler’s head is incorrectly positioned in relation to the ball carrier, a small study has found.