Reuters - Health Report

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Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Iowa pulls request to opt out of Obamacare requirements

(Reuters) - Iowa on Monday withdrew a request to waive some Obamacare rules to help shore up its struggling healthcare insurance market, marking a setback in efforts by Republican-governed states to sidestep requirements of the Obama-era law.

AstraZeneca among backers as Swiss cancer biotech raises $200 million

LONDON (Reuters) - An unlisted Swiss biotech company focused on developing "armed antibodies" to fight cancer has raised $200 million in a funding round backed by AstraZeneca and other private backers.

FDA warns Meridian of violations for lead-testing devices

(Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Monday it issued a warning letter to Meridian Bioscience Inc's unit for several federal law violations after inspecting its facility that makes lead-testing devices.

Dead monkey prompts Sao Paulo to step up yellow fever vaccination

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Health authorities launched a yellow fever vaccination campaign on the north side of Brazil's largest city over the weekend after a dead monkey was found infected with the disease, state and city officials said on Monday.

Bulgaria reports two outbreaks of H5 bird flu: OIE

PARIS (Reuters) - Bulgaria has reported two outbreaks of the highly pathogenic H5 bird flu virus, the Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) said on Monday.

GSK wins U.S. shingles vaccine approval, UK nod for gene therapy

LONDON (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline has won U.S. approval for a new and improved shingles vaccine, the second of three key products for which the British drugmaker expects approval this year.

Less wealth tied to higher odds of disability and premature death

(Reuters Health) - People with fewer assets like real estate, savings, stocks and retirement accounts may be more likely to develop disabilities or die prematurely than wealthier individuals, a new study suggests.

Higher nicotine in e-cigarettes tied to higher risk of teen smoking

(Reuters Health) - Teens who vape, or use e-cigarettes, may be more likely to develop a regular smoking habit when the liquid they use in their vaping devices has higher concentrations of nicotine, a U.S. study suggests.

Hot tub birth tied to life-threatening infection for baby

(Reuters Health) - A newborn girl in Canada developed a life-threatening infection after being delivered in a hot tub, according to a case report that some doctors say offers fresh evidence that women should not deliver babies in water.

Novartis gets FDA breakthrough status for Tafinlar, Mekinist combination

ZURICH (Reuters) - Novartis on Monday said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted breakthrough therapy status to the combination of Tafinlar and Mekinist to treat patients with BRAF V600-positive stage III melanoma following surgery.