Healthcare - Today Stories

28 July 2021 - Today, WHO joins the global community in celebrating World Hepatitis Day with the theme “Hepatitis can’t wait”, calling on all countries to work together to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. A hepatitis-free future is achievable with a united effort. Over 354 million people worldwide live with chronic hepatitis; over 8000 new infections of hepatitis B and C occur every day, and more than one million deaths from advanced liver disease and liver cancer occur every year. The 2021 Global report on HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections, took stock of the progress achieved in the last 5 years, the setbacks caused by the pandemic, and the lessons learned for the coming decade.  Although the extent of progress in the hepatitis response h…

Plan aims to unlock up to £400 million of new private investment and create up to 5,000 new highly-skilled jobs over next decade Stevenage could become one of Europe’s largest ‘clusters’ for biotechnology and other early-stage life science companies Vision for campus developed in partnership with Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, UK Government and Stevenage Borough Council; GSK to make 33 acres of land available for development at the company’s R&D site in Stevenage GSK has today announced that it has formally started the process of seeking a development partner to transform land within the company’s existing 92-acre Research & Development site in Stevenage into one of Europe’s largest ‘clusters’ for biotechnology and other early-stage life science companies. The vision for the new…

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today announced the acquisition of Protomer Technologies ("Protomer"), a private biotech company. Protomer's proprietary peptide- and protein-engineering platform is used to identify and synthesize molecules that can sense glucose or other endogenous modulators of protein activity.   The potential value of the transaction is over $1 billion, with successful achievement of future development and commercial milestones. Lilly previously led an equity investment in Protomer alongside the JDRF T1D Fund, providing Lilly with 14 percent ownership of the company. Lilly is acquiring the remainder of the stock of Protomer beyond its initial investment. Founded in 2015 and based in Pasadena, California, Protomer is engineering next-generation protein therapeutics tha…

Prothena is eligible to receive development and sales milestone payments totalling up to 1.2 billion US dollars , including 100 million dollars in upfront and near-term clinical milestone payments Novo Nordisk will develop the phase 2 ready antibody PRX004 for the rare heart disease ATTR cardiomyopathy Prothena Corporation plc and Novo Nordisk A/S today announced that the companies have entered into a definitive purchase agreement under which Novo Nordisk has acquired Prothena’s clinical stage antibody PRX004 and broader ATTR amyloidosis programme. PRX004 is a phase 2ready anti-amyloid immunotherapy designed to deplete the amyloid deposits that are associated with the disease pathology of ATTR amyloidosis. ATTR amyloidosis is a rare, progressive and fatal disease characterised by the abn…

As part of Sanofi’s ongoing efforts to reduce the complexity of its Consumer Healthcare portfolio and accelerate its growth trajectory, the company has signed an agreement with STADA for the divestiture of 16 Consumer Healthcare products commercialized in Europe. The transaction with STADA ensures that these products will continue to be available to consumers. "As discussed during our Capital Markets Day in February, simplifying the CHC product portfolio is an important part of our strategy to focus our resources and efforts where we can bring the most value, especially to consumers. We are pleased these products will continue to be available for consumers as we focus on becoming a fully integrated standalone business” said Julie Van Ongevalle, Executive Vice-President, Sanofi and Head of…

Leonard Award program recognizes innovation and positive achievements in the diabetes community Lilly to give $100,000 to Life for a Child in recognition of five Award winners In honor of the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today launched the Leonard Award to recognize diverse champions dedicated to advancing diabetes management through innovative thinking and novel approaches. Nominations are being accepted now until August 31, 2021 at Lilly.com/LeonardAward. The Leonard Award is inspired by the life of Leonard Thompson, the first person with diabetes to be treated with insulin in 1922, and looks to celebrate ongoing achievements in the diabetes community. The Award is open to eligible participants from the following categories: Teen/yo…

Updated version of highly sensitive and accurate COVID-19 PCR kit accounts for known and future viral mutations Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science, today announced the launch of a new CE-IVD-marked COVID-19 test. The TaqPath COVID-19 Fast PCR Combo Kit 2.0. expands Thermo Fisher's menu of highly accurate tests that detect active SARS-CoV-2 infections. The kit uses an advanced assay design which compensates for current and emerging variants by using eight total targets across three genomic regions of the virus. This approach helps to ensure the test provides accurate results even as the virus that causes COVID-19 continues to mutate. "COVID-19 variants can be more transmissible and potentially impact efficacy of diagnostics, vaccines and therapies, threatening to…

Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, announced today the creation of the Kenneth C. Frazier Award for Maternal Health Equity, a grant award that will be bestowed annually to one organization in recognition of its commitment to and progress toward more equitable, high-quality maternal health care. The award will be granted by Merck for Mothers, Merck’s global initiative to help create a world where no woman has to die while giving life. The Kenneth C. Frazier Award for Maternal Health Equity is named in recognition of the legacy and commitment to maternal health by Kenneth C. Frazier, chairman and chief executive officer, Merck. Merck for Mothers flourished under his leadership following its creation nearly a decade ago and serves as only one of many example…

World Blood Donor Day takes place on 14 June each year. The aim is to raise global awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products for transfusion and of the critical contribution voluntary, unpaid blood donors make to national health systems. The day also provides an opportunity to call to action to governments and national health authorities to provide adequate resources and put into place systems and infrastructures to increase the collection of blood from voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors. Safe blood and blood products and their transfusion are a critical aspect of care and public health. They save millions of lives and improve the health and quality of life of many patients every day. The need for blood is universal, but access to blood for all those who need it is not.…

Programs now available to support patients and families with their treatment journey Collaborations with Veterans Health Administration, CVS Health and NAFC focused on health disparities in underserved communities Value-based agreements in progress with Cigna and other payers Following today’s U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) accelerated approval of ADUHELMTM (aducanumab-avwa) as the first and only Alzheimer’s disease treatment to address a defining pathology of the disease by reducing amyloid beta plaques in the brain, Biogen (Nasdaq: BIIB) and Eisai Inc., U.S. subsidiary of Eisai Co., Ltd., announced a range of programs intended to support access for all qualified patients, including traditionally underserved populations. These initiatives aim to help patients and their famili…

This year, Carers Week takes place from 7th - 13th June. Carers Week is an annual awareness campaign that celebrates and recognises the vital contribution of the UK’s unpaid carers – supporting family members and friends who are older, have a disability, mental or physical illness or need extra help as they grow older. On behalf of the Carers Week charities, Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said: “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic unpaid carers have played an essential role supporting older, disabled and seriously ill relatives and friends, doing so most of the year on their own behind closed doors. They have forgone breaks from caring and much of the support they would normally have relied on. “As restrictions ease it is vital that we acknowledge the enormous contribution that u…

- Abbott has the capacity and supply to support increased demand for mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices following Medtronic's decision to stop the global distribution and sale of the Medtronic HeartWare™ ventricular assist device (HVAD) - Access to MCS devices are critical for advanced heart failure patients and can improve survival, clinical outcomes and quality of life - Abbott is working with physicians and health systems to ensure supply of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) alongside training and education for implanting physicians now offering Abbott's HeartMate 3™ to their patients Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced the company has capacity and supply to effectively support the growing demand for mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices for the effective treatment…

With a commitment to listen to women to understand their health needs and provide the solutions that are so urgently needed Organon, London, UK, 3 June 2021 – Organon (NYSE: OGN) has today launched as the only global health company of its size, with a singular vision: to make a better and healthier every day for every woman. With a majority-female Leadership Team, the company will be headquartered in the US, with offices across the globe including one in Shoreditch, London. Organon has more than 60 products across an international footprint that will serve people in more than 140 countries, with nearly 80% of its approximately $6.5 billion in annual revenue generated outside the U.S. “It’s exciting to take the helm in a new and vibrant company with such a strong purpose; a commitment to i…

Johnson & Johnson Limited is pleased to announce the appointment of Charmaine England as Area Managing Director for Consumer Health Northern Europe, effective 17 May 2021.  England will oversee the Northern Europe business, which includes the UK, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland. She will manage a portfolio of iconic Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health brands, including AVEENO®, JOHNSON’S®, LISTERINE®, NEUTROGENA®, OGX®, CALPOL® and NICORETTE®. In her new role, England joins the company’s Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Consumer Health Leadership team, where she will focus on meeting fast-evolving consumer needs, deepening partnerships with customers, and building an empowered team. England previously served as Managing Director for Johnson & Johnson’s Consumer…

New agreement to supply 900 million doses to the European Commission (EC), with option to request up to an additional 900 million doses Additional dose deliveries beginning December 2021 through 2023 Pfizer and BioNTech have now committed a total of up to 2.4 billion doses of COMIRNATY® to the EC since the beginning of the pandemic Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) and BioNTech SE (Nasdaq: BNTX) today announced a new agreement with the European Commission (EC) to supply 900 million doses of COMIRNATY®, the companies’ COVID-19 vaccine, to the European Union (EU), with an option for the EC to request up to an additional 900 million doses. This new agreement is in addition to the 600 million doses that have already been committed to the EU through 2021. The additional 900 million agreed doses are exp…

- American Heart Association and Abbott announce new initiative to advance health equity, fight high blood pressure and chronic conditions in greater Austin area The American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, and the global healthcare company Abbott, today announced a new multi-year initiative to reduce high blood pressure and chronic diseases affecting historically underserved local communities in Austin, Texas. The initiative is made possible through a generous financial contribution from Abbott, and will support three Federally Qualified Healthcare Clinical Systems (FQHCs) in Central Texas in providing educational resources, support and self-monitoring devices necessary for high-risk hypertensive and diabetic patient…

CHICAGO and ABBOTT PARK, Ill., May 12, 2021 – United and Abbott today announced a first-of-its-kind collaboration to use Abbott’s BinaxNOW™ COVID-19 Home Test and Abbott’s NAVICA app to help make the international travel experience more seamless. Recently updated CDC guidelines permit travelers to self-administer a rapid antigen test under the real-time supervision of a telehealth service and use the verified negative test result to board an international flight to the U.S. if they test negative. “We appreciate the private sector proactively helping travelers have access to easy, reliable COVID-19 test options,” said CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH. “Comprehensive testing that is easy, rapid, accurate and trusted is a fundamental strategy for preventing the spread of COVID-19.” …

Lupus is a global health problem that affects people of all nationalities, races, ethnicities, genders, and ages. Lupus can affect any part of the body in any way at any time, often with unpredictable and life-changing results. Important Facts to Know about Lupus: It is a serious and potentially life-threatening autoimmune disease. It can damage any organ or tissue from the skin or joints to the heart or kidneys. It develops in response to factors both inside and outside of the body; however, the exact cause of Lupus is unknown. Symptoms of Lupus come and go and change over time which makes it difficult to diagnose. Common symptoms include joint pain, skin rashes, overwhelming fatigue, and fevers that last for days or weeks. Lupus is not contagious. Whilst there isn’t a cure for Lupus, it…

Every year, on the 24th April, Confederation of Meningitis Organisations (CoMo) joins people worldwide to raise awareness of meningitis, a disease that can tragically take a life in under 24 hours. This year, we’re asking you to join us in our biggest campaign yet. The WHO has approved a Global Roadmap to Defeat Meningitis by 2030, a landmark achievement that recognises the struggles of millions of people affected by meningitis. Despite this landmark achievement, serious challenges remain. When someone has meningitis, it is important to act fast. Unfortunately, not many people know about the disease and the symptoms can be easily confused with other diseases like the flu, malaria and even COVID-19. A delay in diagnosis and treatments claims lives and leaves many others with serious, life-l…

The first Moderna jabs will be delivered in England today (Tuesday) as the NHS vaccination programme reaches another milestone. More than 20 sites, including Reading’s Madejski Stadium and the Sheffield Arena, will initially use the newest vaccine, as the NHS continues to expand the vaccination programme. For those aged 18-29 who are eligible for a jab, the Moderna vaccine provides another alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine, in line with updated MHRA guidance last week. More than 27 million people in England have now received their first jab, with more than 6.1 million second jabs also being given. NHS medical director Professor Stephen Powis said: “The Moderna rollout marks another milestone in the vaccination programme. “We now have a third jab in our armoury and NHS staff will be us…