Reuters - Health Report

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Monday, January 8, 2018

Pfizer ends research for new Alzheimer's, Parkinson's drugs

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Pfizer Inc is abandoning research to find new drugs aimed at treating Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, the U.S. pharmaceutical company announced on Saturday.

Sanofi to market new hemophilia drug in deal with Alnylam

PARIS (Reuters) - French pharmaceutical group Sanofi said it has obtained the right to develop and sell a new hemophilia drug in a restructuring of its partnership with U.S. Alnylam Pharmaceuticals.

Perrigo hires Gerresheimer ex-boss Rohrhoff as new CEO

(Reuters) - Generic drugmaker Perrigo Company Plc appointed Uwe Rohrhoff, former CEO of Gerresheimer AG, as its new chief executive, the company said on Monday.

Smokers more likely to need spinal surgery

(Reuters Health) - - Smoking increases the risk of lower back pain that needs to be fixed by spinal surgery, a Swedish study suggests.

Zambia declares curfew in Lusaka slum struck by cholera

LUSAKA (Reuters) - Zambia has declared a curfew in a poor Lusaka township badly affected by a cholera outbreak that has killed 58 people across the country since September, the government said on Sunday.

Court voids Baltimore law requiring 'no abortion' clinic disclaimers

(Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Friday declared unconstitutional a Baltimore law requiring pregnancy clinics that do not offer or refer women for abortions to post signs disclosing that fact in their waiting rooms.

ADHD drug tied to heart defects in babies

(Reuters Health) - - Pregnant women who take drugs like Ritalin and Concerta for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more likely than those who don’t to have babies with heart deformities and other birth defects, a recent study suggests.

Brazil expects to be declared free of foot-and-mouth with vaccination

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil expects the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) to declare the country free from foot-and-mouth disease with vaccinations at a meeting in May, according to a government statement on Friday.

Twice-weekly workouts may be best medicine for cognitive decline

(Reuters Health) - - There’s little evidence that medications improve mild cognitive decline associated with aging, according to a new review of research, but doctors can recommend exercise with confidence.

Drug charity halts patient aid after U.S. health agency pulls approval

BOSTON (Reuters) - One of the largest patient assistance charities in the United States said it will not provide financial aid in 2018 after the government revoked its approval to do so because of concerns that drugmakers had improper influence over the charity.