The following is a summary of current health news.
The Canadian federal government warns the provinces against health taxes
The Canadian government has warned provinces and territories to ensure that necessary medical services remain free to avoid reductions in federal funding, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said Friday, calling an increase in the case that Canadians will have to pay for health services ” unacceptable”. The Canada Health Act (CHA) regulates the publicly funded health care system, which is intended to offer Canadians equal access to medical care based on their need, not their ability to pay.
Bayer plans to spend $1 billion on US pharma R&D in 2023-US pharma head
Bayer AG plans to spend $1 billion on drug research and development in the United States this year as it works to double its sales in the country by the end of the decade, Bayer’s top U.S. drug executive told Reuters. Sebastian Guth, president of Bayer’s pharmaceutical business in the Americas, also said in an interview Wednesday that the company had raised the number of American employees working on marketing its pharmaceutical business by about 50% over the past three years, and plans to expand. at that by a further 75% by 2030.
Moderna loses bid to shift responsibility in COVID-19 vaccine patent case
Despite the support of the US government, Moderna Inc failed on Friday to convince a federal judge that it should not be involved in a patent case over its COVID-19 vaccine and that the US should have been sued instead. U.S. District Judge Mitchell Goldberg ruled for the second time that Moderna had not yet shown that the government was the proper target of a lawsuit by Arbutus Biopharma Corp and Genevant Sciences GmbH.
Britain’s junior doctors prepare to strike over pay, burnout
Fed up with a government he says doesn’t care, Poh Wang plans to go on strike with tens of thousands of other British junior doctors next week, saying he is overworked, underpaid and saddled with a student loan he can’t afford imagine paying off. The 28-year-old says he and his colleagues have been pushed to the brink after below-inflation pay rises collided with the rising cost of living to make him question how he will ever pay his more than 85,000 pounds ($101,000) students of. debt.
US House unanimously supports declassification of COVID origin information
The US House of Representatives voted unanimously on Friday to demand that Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines declassify information about the origins of COVID-19, increasing pressure on President Joe Biden’s administration to allow its release. The vote was 419 to 0 in favour. Since the Senate on March 1 passed the bill – with unanimous consent – it now goes to the White House for Biden to sign the law or veto it.
US FDA approves Acadia’s genetic Rett syndrome drug
The US Food and Drug Administration approved Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc’s drug to treat Rett syndrome, a genetic brain disorder, the company said on Friday, making it the first approved drug for the condition. The U.S. health agency’s decision allows the use of trophinetide, sold under the brand name Daybue, in adult and pediatric patients aged two years and older, and comes with a warning about diarrhea and weight loss.
Moderna employs about 2,000 people amid the development of mRNA
Moderna Inc said on Friday it plans to hire about 2,000 employees globally by the end of 2023 and set up new offices on the US West Coast as it aims to scale up development of new products amid falling COVID vaccine sales. The COVID vaccine maker said it will open new offices in California and Seattle, adding that its Genomics unit will expand to South San Francisco.
US FDA approves Pfizer’s nasal spray for migraines
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved Pfizer Inc’s migraine nasal spray, giving patients access to a potentially fast-acting pain-relieving option for headaches. The drug, Zavzpret, was approved for the treatment of acute migraine, the company said. Pfizer got the drug, as well as the FDA-approved oral migraine pill Nurtec ODT, through its $11.6 billion acquisition of Biohaven Pharmaceutical last year.
Economists warn of costs if US Medicare covers new obesity drugs
The cost of expanding U.S. Medicare prescription drugs to pay for expensive new obesity drugs could be catastrophic, health economists warned in a report published Saturday. Big-selling diabetes drugs have been repurposed as obesity treatments after demonstrating weight loss of more than 20% in clinical trials. Although they are far more effective than older drugs, lifelong use may be necessary to maintain weight loss.
How cough syrup gets poisoned
The Canadian federal government warns the provinces against health taxes
The Canadian government has warned provinces and territories to ensure that necessary medical services remain free to avoid reductions in federal funding, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said Friday, calling an increase in the case that Canadians will have to pay for health services ” unacceptable”. The Canada Health Act (CHA) regulates the publicly funded health care system, which is intended to offer Canadians equal access to medical care based on their need, not their ability to pay.
Bayer plans to spend $1 billion on US pharma R&D in 2023-US pharma head
Bayer AG plans to spend $1 billion on drug research and development in the United States this year as it works to double its sales in the country by the end of the decade, Bayer’s top U.S. drug executive told Reuters. Sebastian Guth, president of Bayer’s pharmaceutical business in the Americas, also said in an interview Wednesday that the company had raised the number of American employees working on marketing its pharmaceutical business by about 50% over the past three years, and plans to expand. at that by a further 75% by 2030.
Moderna loses bid to shift responsibility in COVID-19 vaccine patent case
Despite the support of the US government, Moderna Inc failed on Friday to convince a federal judge that it should not be involved in a patent case over its COVID-19 vaccine and that the US should have been sued instead. U.S. District Judge Mitchell Goldberg ruled for the second time that Moderna had not yet shown that the government was the proper target of a lawsuit by Arbutus Biopharma Corp and Genevant Sciences GmbH.
Britain’s junior doctors prepare to strike over pay, burnout
Fed up with a government he says doesn’t care, Poh Wang plans to go on strike with tens of thousands of other British junior doctors next week, saying he is overworked, underpaid and saddled with a student loan he can’t afford imagine paying off. The 28-year-old says he and his colleagues have been pushed to the brink after below-inflation pay rises collided with the rising cost of living to make him question how he will ever pay his more than 85,000 pounds ($101,000) students of. debt.
US House unanimously supports declassification of COVID origin information
The US House of Representatives voted unanimously on Friday to demand that Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines declassify information about the origins of COVID-19, increasing pressure on President Joe Biden’s administration to allow its release. The vote was 419 to 0 in favour. Since the Senate on March 1 passed the bill – with unanimous consent – it now goes to the White House for Biden to sign the law or veto it.
US FDA approves Acadia’s genetic Rett syndrome drug
The US Food and Drug Administration approved Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc’s drug to treat Rett syndrome, a genetic brain disorder, the company said on Friday, making it the first approved drug for the condition. The U.S. health agency’s decision allows the use of trophinetide, sold under the brand name Daybue, in adult and pediatric patients aged two years and older, and comes with a warning about diarrhea and weight loss.
Moderna employs about 2,000 people amid the development of mRNA
Moderna Inc said on Friday it plans to hire about 2,000 employees globally by the end of 2023 and set up new offices on the US West Coast as it aims to scale up development of new products amid falling COVID vaccine sales. The COVID vaccine maker said it will open new offices in California and Seattle, adding that its Genomics unit will expand to South San Francisco.
US FDA approves Pfizer’s nasal spray for migraines
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved Pfizer Inc’s migraine nasal spray, giving patients access to a potentially fast-acting pain-relieving option for headaches. The drug, Zavzpret, was approved for the treatment of acute migraine, the company said. Pfizer got the drug, as well as the FDA-approved oral migraine pill Nurtec ODT, through its $11.6 billion acquisition of Biohaven Pharmaceutical last year.
Economists warn of costs if US Medicare covers new obesity drugs
The cost of expanding U.S. Medicare prescription drugs to pay for expensive new obesity drugs could be catastrophic, health economists warned in a report published Saturday. Big-selling diabetes drugs have been repurposed as obesity treatments after demonstrating weight loss of more than 20% in clinical trials. Although they are far more effective than older drugs, lifelong use may be necessary to maintain weight loss.
How cough syrup gets poisoned
The global market for children’s cough, cold and allergy remedies was worth around $2.5 billion in 2022, according to market research firm Euromonitor. These medicines combine active ingredients such as paracetamol (known as acetaminophen in the US) to reduce fever with a syrup made of glycerin or propylene glycol that is safe, sweet and easy to swallow.
(With input from agencies.)
Health News Roundup: Canadian Federal Government Warns Provinces Against Health Care; Bayer plans to spend $1 billion on US drug research and development by 2023 – US drug chief and more