(Reuters) – A panel of European Medicines Agency on Friday recommended against granting marketing approval to Portola Pharmaceuticals Inc’s oral blood thinner, saying the benefits of the drug did not outweigh risks.
Source: Reuters Medical News
Pfizer's quit-smoking Chantix fails study in adolescent smokers
(Reuters) – Pfizer Inc said on Friday its study to test safety and effectiveness of its anti-smoking treatment Chantix in adolescent smokers failed to meet the main goal.
Source: Reuters Medical News
Novartis touts U.S. filing plans for MS drug as patent losses loom
ZURICH (Reuters) – Novartis plans to file its BAF312 multiple sclerosis drug for U.S. approval within weeks, the Swiss drugmaker said on Friday, as it seeks to refresh its portfolio of neurological medicines that is about to be hit by patent losses.
Source: Reuters Medical News
Severe combat wounds, PTSD tied to high blood pressure
(Reuters Health) – Members of the military who received severe combat wounds and have chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have an amplified risk of high blood pressure as well, according to a U.S. Veterans Affairs study.
Source: Reuters Medical News
E-cigarettes tied to less smoking cessation
(Reuters Health) – Smokers who also use e-cigarettes may be half as likely to give up tobacco as smokers who never vape at all, a European study suggests.
Source: Reuters Medical News
Chipotle wins dismissal of investor lawsuit over foodborne illness
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc on Thursday won the dismissal of an investor lawsuit claiming it concealed food safety risks, causing its stock to drop after widely publicized outbreaks of foodborne illnesses in 2014 and 2015.
Source: Reuters Medical News
Austrian lawmakers vote to hinder smoking ban in restaurants and bars
VIENNA (Reuters) – Austria’s lower house of parliament voted on Thursday to scrap an impending ban on smoking in bars and restaurants, backing the coalition government despite opposition from health campaigners and opposition parties.
Source: Reuters Medical News
More preemies developing motor impairments
(Reuters Health) – More than one-third of extremely premature and underweight babies have cerebral palsy or other motor impairments that can make it hard for them to do basic things like ride a bike or use a fork, an Australian study suggests.
Source: Reuters Medical News
AbbVie's lung cancer drug data disappoints; shares slump
(Reuters) – AbbVie Inc’s experimental lung cancer drug data was not effective enough to seek a faster approval, in a setback to the company’s efforts to build its cancer drug pipeline and cut dependence on its blockbuster Humira.
Source: Reuters Medical News
Patient information might end up in hospital recycling
(Reuters Health) – The move to electronic health records comes amid laws in most places requiring patient personal information to be protected, but it may also be creating a new risk to patient privacy, Canadian researchers say.
Source: Reuters Medical News