Reuters Health News Summary
Following is a summary of current health news briefs.
Exclusive: Malaria champions see Trump uncertainty at crucial time
By Kate Kelland, Health and Science Correspondent DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 20 (Reuters)- When it comes to fighting malaria, Bill Gates and Ray Chambers are both inspired and concerned: With victory in sight, will the world's new leaders commit to finally beating this persistent parasite?
Heartburn pills tied to serious bacterial infections
People who take popular heartburn pills known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may be more likely to develop intestinal infections than people who don't take these medications, a Scottish study suggests. The pills work by stopping cells in the stomach lining from producing too much of the acid that can cause ulcers and reflux symptoms such as heartburn.
Merck, Bristol-Myers agree to settle Keytruda patent suit
Merck & Co said it agreed to enter into a settlement and license agreement with Bristol-Myers Squibb Co and Ono Pharmaceutical Co Ltd to resolve all global patent-infringement litigation related to its cancer drug, Keytruda. Merck will make an initial payment of $625 million to Bristol and Japan's Ono. The company will also pay a 6.5 percent royalty rate on Keytruda sales from January 2017 to December 2023, and a 2.5 percent rate for the subsequent three years.
Kazakhstan confirms H5 bird flu in wild swans: OIE
Kazakhstan confirmed an outbreak of highly contagious H5 bird flu virus in wild swans by the Caspian Sea, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) said on Friday, citing a report from the Kazakh agriculture ministry. Two swans were found dead in the coastal city of Aktau in the west of the country, the report said.
Are 'natural' cigarette smokers being misled?
Natural American Spirit tobacco products are marketed as "natural" and "additive-free," and many users think that means the cigarettes are safer to smoke, according to a recent U.S. study. This raises the concern that people who might otherwise quit smoking might switch to American Spirit instead, thinking they will be safer, the researchers write in the journal Tobacco Control.
Trump order paves way for agencies to weaken health law
President Donald Trump is ordering federal agencies to undermine Obamacare through regulatory action, a move that could weaken enforcement of the requirement for Americans to buy health coverage and give insurers leeway to drop some benefits. Trump's first executive order, signed hours after taking office on Friday, directs the federal government to scale back regulations, taxes and penalties under President Barack Obama's healthcare law, the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Preterm birth linked to health problems in adolescence
Adolescents who were born extremely premature are much more likely to have chronic health problems than their peers who were delivered at full term, a Swedish study suggests. Pregnancy normally lasts about 40 weeks, and babies born after 37 weeks are considered full term. The study focused on extremely preterm infants, delivered at 23 to 25 weeks gestation.
Cancer patients with depression have resources
Cancer patients who experience depression can use both therapy and lifestyle tools to help support their mental health, according to a new patient resource from the JAMA Oncology journal. People with cancer, as well as their doctors, need to remember that mental health is as important as physical health for these patients, the authors note.
Trump, in Oval Office, signs first order on Obamacare
President Donald Trump directed government agencies on Friday to freeze regulations and take steps to weaken Obamacare, using his first hours in the White House to make good on a campaign promise to start dismantling his predecessor's healthcare law. Heading into the Oval Office shortly after the conclusion of his inaugural parade, Trump signed an order on the Affordable Care Act that urged government departments to "waive, defer, grant exemptions from, or delay the implementation" of provisions that imposed fiscal burdens on states, companies or individuals.
