Reuters Health Report: October 31, 2017

Click to View in Browser Tuesday, October 31, 2017 Exclusive: U.S. needs to improve oversight of labs handling dangerous pathogens - report CHICAGO (Reuters) - A year-long audit of the program overseeing U.S. labs that handle lethal pathogens such as Ebola and anthrax found overworked safety inspectors, an absence of independent review and weak biosafety protections that could expose lab workers and the public to harm, a government report will say on Tuesday. Novartis asks FDA to expand Kymriah's use against blood cancer ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss drugmaker Novartis is seeking U.S. regulators' blessing for its Kymriah cell therapy to be used against a second form of blood cancer after winning initial approval for the treatment earlier this year. AstraZeneca plans new pivotal lung cancer trial with Incyte LONDON (Reuters) - AstraZeneca is stepping up its bet on immunotherapy combination treatments to fight lung cancer by signing a deal with Incyte under which the two companies will start a final-stage Phase III clinical trial next year. Aid groups struggle to improve dire conditions for Rohingya refugees (Reuters Health) - More than a half-million Rohingya people have fled the latest wave of violence in Myanmar for refugee camps in Bangladesh, and most lack clean water, latrine facilities or even shelter from the elements, according to a Medicins Sans Frontiers physician based there. Investor group presses U.S. drug companies on opioid controls BOSTON (Reuters) - U.S. shareholder activists are addressing a soaring death toll from opioid drug abuse, asking companies that make and distribute the painkillers to review the risks their businesses could face from their role in the sector. Novartis to buy French cancer specialist AAA for $3.9 billion ZURICH (Reuters) - Novartis has agreed to buy French-based Advanced Accelerator Applications (AAA) for $3.9 billion, giving it a platform in radiopharmaceuticals and access to a new therapy for the kind of cancer that killed Steve Jobs. Obamacare benchmark premiums up 37 percent in 2018 after subsidy cut-off NEW YORK (Reuters) - The average monthly premium for benchmark Obamacare insurance plans will surge around 37 percent in 2018, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said on Monday, fueled by the Trump administration's suspension of billions of dollars in subsidy payments to health insurers. Cancer-drug setback sends Merck shares down again NEW YORK (Reuters) - A setback for Merck & Co's key cancer drug sent the drugmaker's stock swooning on Monday for a second straight session, putting the shares on track for their biggest two-day decline in more than eight years. Chemed to pay $75 million over false claims lawsuit: Justice Dept WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Chemed Corp and subsidiaries including Vitas Hospice Services LLC and Vitas Healthcare Corp have agreed to pay $75 million to resolve a federal lawsuit alleging false claims for hospice services to Medicare, the U.S. Justice Department said on Monday. China detects case of foot-and-mouth on Guangdong pig farm BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Ministry of Agriculture reported on Monday a case of foot and mouth disease in a pig breeding farm in southern Guangdong province. Related Video Robotic eel seeks out water pollution Recycling charity gets creative with trash diverted from landfill A quick-fix on the day's news delivered when you want it. Register Today A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. Register Today » » MORE NEWSLETTERS - 3 Times Square New York, NY 10036 USA © Copyright 2017 Thomson Reuters Ensure delivery of Reuters Newsmails, add newsletters@email.reuters.com to your address book. Subscribe to other Reuters newsletters. Unsubscribe from this newsletter. Follow us on Twitter Friend us on Facebook