Reuters Health News Summary
Following is a summary of current health news briefs.
Exclusive-USDA develops potential plan to vaccinate poultry for bird flu
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is considering a potential plan to vaccinate poultry against bird flu for the first time that includes evaluating how it would affect exports, the agency told Reuters this week. The actions advance the government's assessment of a vaccine after the USDA received proposals on usage from associations representing egg and turkey producers whose farms have been devastated by the virus. Nearly 175 million chickens, turkeys and other birds have been culled in attempts to contain outbreaks since 2022 in the nation's worst animal-health emergency.
EU regulator backs conditional authorisation for Madrigal's liver disease drug
The European Union's drug regulator on Friday recommended conditional authorisation of Madrigal Pharmaceuticals' Rezdiffra, paving the way for it to become the first available treatment in the region for patients with a form of fatty liver disease. Rezdiffra was first approved in the United States in March last year. There are currently no authorized treatments for the disease in the European Union.
WOAH considers Brazil bird flu outbreak on commercial farm resolved
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) considers a bird flu outbreak on a commercial farm in Brazil as "resolved," a page detailing the case on WOAH's website showed on Friday. Earlier this week, Brazil, the world's largest poultry exporter, declared itself free of bird flu in commercial flocks after observing a 28-day period without any new commercial farm outbreaks.
Lilly expects orforglipron obesity results in third quarter
Eli Lilly said on Saturday its experimental pill orforglipron helped diabetics lose weight and lower their blood sugar, and the company aims to announce in the third quarter trial results for the drug in overweight and obese people without diabetes. Lilly expects to submit the non-diabetes Phase 3 data to global regulatory agencies by the end of the year, said Ken Custer, head of cardiometabolic health at the company. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration typically makes new drug approval decisions 10 months after a manufacturer's submission.
