Healthcare - Today Stories

Today marks Rare Disease Day 2023, the official international awareness-raising campaign for rare diseases which takes place on the last day of February every year. The main objective of the campaign is to raise awareness amongst the general public and decision-makers about rare diseases and their impact on patients’ lives. What is a Rare Disease? A rare disease is one which affects fewer than 1 in 2,000 people. Over 6,000 rare diseases are characterised by a broad diversity of disorders and symptoms that vary not only from disease to disease but also from patient to patient suffering from the same disease. Relatively common symptoms can hide underlying rare diseases, leading to misdiagnosis and a delay in treatment. Quintessentially disabling, the patients quality of life is affected by t…

First peer-reviewed publication of phase III respiratory syncytial virus vaccine data in older adults, including those with comorbidities who are most at risk Expert perspective recognises a new era in vaccine design based on progress in respiratory syncytial virus research Vaccine on track to become available in 2023 pending regulatory decisions in the US, EU, and other countries GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) today announced the publication of positive phase III trial results for its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) older adult vaccine candidate in the New England Journal of Medicine. The publication summarises the pivotal efficacy data (previously presented at IDWeek 2022), showing the vaccine candidate met the primary endpoint of vaccine efficacy against RSV-lower respiratory tract…

Abbott will gain an innovative, complementary solution in treating vascular disease through CSI's leading atherectomy system, which prepares vessels for angioplasty or stenting to restore blood flow CSI's offering will support Abbott's ability to provide better care for patients with peripheral and coronary artery disease ABBOTT PARK, Ill. and ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Abbott (NYSE: ABT) and Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. (CSI), today announced a definitive agreement for Abbott to acquire CSI, a medical device company with an innovative atherectomy system used in treating peripheral and coronary artery disease. Under terms of the agreement, CSI stockholders will receive $20 per common share at a total expected equity value of approximately $890 million. CSI is a leader…

LONDON, UK, 30 November 2022 – Otsuka Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd. announces that the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency) has authorised Lupkynis® (voclosporin) for use in combination with mycophenolate mofetil for the treatment of adult patients with active class III, IV or V (including mixed class III/V and IV/V) lupus nephritis (LN). The MHRA decision applies to England, Scotland, and Wales (Great Britain). Voclosporin is the first and only oral CNI licensed in Great Britain (GB) specifically for the treatment of active LN in adult patients.  “The MHRA’s authorisation of Lupkynis represents a significant development for lupus nephritis patients in Great Britain, offering voclosporin as a new combination treatment option for eligible patients.” said Ryan Gynne, Managing…

Company also announces £100 million investment over next ten years to support health system strengthening and access initiatives in lower income countries GSK ranks 1st in the 2022 Access to Medicine Index (ATMI) report published today. The Index is an independent, investor-backed report that ranks 20 of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies on progress to improve access in 108 lower income countries and focuses on 83 high burden priority diseases. Emma Walmsley, Chief Executive Officer, GSK, said: “We are delighted to have ranked first in the Access to Medicine Index (ATMI) for the eighth consecutive time. This is recognition of the action we are taking to get ahead of disease together and improve access to medicine and vaccines in lower income countries, and I want to thank all of…

Strengthens Johnson & Johnson’s MedTech Business with the Addition of Abiomed, a World-Leader in Heart RecoveryTransaction to Bring Lifesaving Innovations to More Patients with Unmet NeedExpected to Enhance Johnson & Johnson’s Near- and Long-Term Sales and Earnings Growth; Accretive to Adjusted Earnings beginning in 2024Conference Call at 8:00 a.m. ET To Discuss Details of the Transaction New Brunswick, N.J. and Danvers, Mass., November 1, 2022 – Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), the world’s largest, most diversified healthcare products company, and Abiomed (NASDAQ: ABMD), a world leader in breakthrough heart, lung and kidney support technologies, today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Johnson & Johnson will acquire through a tender o…

Also known as a form of blood cancer, Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are an often unrecognised, under-diagnosed rare group of bone marrow failure disorders, where the body no longer makes enough healthy, normal blood cells in the bone marrow. There are many different types of MDS, with some types staying mild for years and others becoming more serious. Although MDS can affect people of any age, it is most common in adults over the age of 60. MDS World Awareness Day Every year on October 25th, the MDS Alliance and member groups across the world come together to raise awareness of MDS. This year, the Alliance is sharing information on the signs and symptoms of MDS and highlighting the importance of getting a blood test with a full blood count analysis to confirm a diagnosis. The four main…

Leicester-based procurement services organisation Unimed Procurement Services (Unimed) has joined forces with International Health Partners (IHP) to create a long-lasting partnership dedicated to supplying life-saving medical supplies to countries in need. In line with the two organisations’ mutual objective to increase accessibility to essential medical products and supplies to countries that are unable to access basic resources, the ongoing partnership involves several shipments of a variety of products donated by Unimed, a contribution worth $69,000. As the largest coordinator of donated medical products in the UK and Europe, IHP works with a strong network of global healthcare industry donors, and will coordinate the placement and safe transport of the products to their in-country NGO…

Leicester-based procurement services organisation Unimed Procurement Services (Unimed) has joined forces with International Health Partners (IHP) to create a long-lasting partnership dedicated to supplying life-saving medical supplies to countries in need. In line with the two organisations’ mutual objective to increase accessibility to essential medical products and supplies to countries that are unable to access basic resources, the ongoing partnership involves several shipments of a variety of products donated by Unimed, a contribution worth $69,000. As the largest coordinator of donated medical products in the UK and Europe, IHP works with a strong network of global healthcare industry donors, and will coordinate the placement and safe transport of the products to their in-country NGO…

Modern name, purpose, and visual identity mark inspiring next chapter for maker of iconic, trusted brands, including Tylenol, Neutrogena, Listerine, and Band-Aid Brand NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. September 28, 2022 — Johnson & Johnson (the “Company”) (NYSE: JNJ) today took another step forward in establishing two independent, market-leading companies with the announcement of Kenvue as the name for the planned New Consumer Health Company. The new corporate brand comes to life through a compelling purpose, and a timeless visual brand. Kenvue (pronounced ken·view), is inspired by two powerful ideas: “ken” – meaning knowledge, an English word primarily used in Scotland, and “vue,” referencing sight. With rich knowledge of human needs and deep consumer insights, Kenvue will deliver meaningful, per…

Significant investment will enable world-class discovery research, innovation in data science and digital health and collaborations in the Bay Area BRISBANE, Calif., September 20, 2022 – Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) (the Company) today opened its San Francisco Bay Campus, a state-of-the-art Research & Development (R&D) facility in the Bay Area, one of the world’s most established global hubs for innovation and entrepreneurship. The nearly 200,000 square-foot facility will house up to 400 employees, more than doubling the R&D presence of Johnson & Johnson in the Bay Area. The campus bridges key scientific and technological capabilities by co-locating Janssen R&D, Johnson & Johnson Innovation and Johnson & Johnson Technology. It will further integrate the…

New data from the MOMENTUM 3 study showed for the first time that a heart pump can extend survival to five years and beyond for advanced heart failure patients Prior data1 have shown survival for advanced heart failure patients who don't receive either a heart pump or heart transplant is less than one year The MOMENTUM 3 study showcases the significant survival benefits of Abbott's heart pump technology, particularly in a patient population with limited therapy options ABBOTT PARK, Ill., Aug. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced new late-breaking data that show its HeartMate 3™ heart pump extends survival of advanced heart failure patients by at least five years, providing a clear life-saving option for people battling later stage disease. The data are from the MOM…

– Gilead Will Provide up to $5 Million in Global Grant Funding to Immediately Support Public Education and Vaccine Hesitancy Communications, a Public Policy Response and a Global Outbreak Emergency Fund for Community Organizations in Regions with Active Monkeypox Outbreaks – FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD), GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and NMAC today announced immediate action in response to the emerging monkeypox virus (MPV) outbreak, which is disproportionately impacting the LGBTQ+ community, particularly men who have sex with men (MSM), as well as those who are living with HIV. Gilead will provide up to $5 million in global grant funding to he…

Acquisition Will Enhance End-to-End Global Healthcare Logistics Capabilities and Expand Scale and Expertise in Europe and Latin America LONDON, August 8, 2022 – UPS (NYSE: UPS) today announced plans to acquire Bomi Group, an industry-leading multinational healthcare logistics provider. The transaction will add temperature-controlled facilities in 14 countries and nearly 3,000 highly-skilled Bomi Group team members to the UPS Healthcare network in Europe and Latin America. “As a leading global healthcare logistics company, Bomi enhances our portfolio of services and accelerates our journey to become the number one provider of complex healthcare logistics,” said EVP and President of UPS International, Healthcare and Supply Chain Solutions Kate Gutmann. “UPS Healthcare and Bomi Group employee…

GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) has today (Monday 18 July 2022) completed the demerger of the Consumer Healthcare business from the GSK Group to form the Haleon Group. The shares of Haleon plc (ticker "LSE: HLN") will be admitted at 8.00 a.m. today to the Premium Listing segment of the Official List and to trading on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange (“LSE”). It is expected that American Depositary Shares representing shares of Haleon plc (ticker: “NYSE: HLN”) (“Haleon ADSs”) will commence “regular-way” trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) at market open on Friday 22 July 2022. In addition, we expect that Haleon ADSs will begin trading on a “when-issued” basis on the NYSE from market open today up to and including Thursday 21 July 2022. Each Haleon ADS represents two Ha…

‘Palio’ meeting, held annually by GSK, to address the growing threat to human health from infectious disease and its links to nature loss and climate change Participants include Anthony Fauci (NIH), Muhammad Ali Pate (World Bank), Peter Dull (Gates Foundation), as well as CEPI, University of Oxford, PATH and Sabin Institute GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) is convening leading experts in vaccines and sustainability at a scientific meeting on the theme ‘Vaccines for a sustainable planet’. 65 experts across immunology, vaccinology, epidemiology, and policy will gather on 7-8 July in Siena, Italy. Latest scientific evidence has shown climate change, nature loss and human health are deeply interconnected. The threat of infectious disease is growing as data show environmental changes are exacerbating…

Paris, 30 June, 2022 - Atos, in agreement with the Wellcome Genome Campus in Cambridgeshire, UK, today announces the official opening of its global Life Sciences Centre of Excellence. The facility will provide scientists on campus, and global genome and bio-data institutes worldwide, early access to emerging technologies to support their research, helping to accelerate the process of bringing new drugs to market and delivering tangible societal benefits. The Atos Life Sciences Centre of Excellence is an exploration, discovery and co-creation instrument aimed at complementing the existing Campus compute facilities with access to leading-edge technologies, such as Quantum, High-Performance Computing, Edge Computing and AI, supported by Atos’ products, services and expertise in these sectors…

On 23 June 2021 at its Investor Update, GSK plc (“GSK” or the “Company”) confirmed its intention to separate its Consumer Healthcare business from the GSK Group to form Haleon plc (“Haleon”), an independent listed company. It is proposed that the separation will be effected by way of a demerger (the “Demerger”) of at least 80 per cent. of GSK’s 68 per cent. holding in the Consumer Healthcare business to GSK shareholders. The Consumer Healthcare business is currently a joint venture between GSK and Pfizer Inc (“Pfizer”), with GSK holding a majority controlling interest of 68 per cent. and Pfizer holding 32 per cent. GSK today confirms that the Circular in relation to the proposed Demerger, the consolidation of GSK shares (the “GSK Share Consolidation”) and certain new arrangements with Hal…

London, 25th May 2022 — Novartis UK has today announced the launch of a new heart failure Health Inequalities Insights Tool (HIIT) that draws on a range of health datasets to build a greater understanding of the relationship between heart failure and socioeconomic deprivation in England. The HIIT utilises data on heart failure prevalence and outcomes from Hospital Episode Statistics, the Quality and Outcomes Framework, the National Cardiac Audit Programme, NHS Digital and Referral to Treatment data. The data is presented in relation to the Office for National Statistics Index of Multiple Deprivation, which is the official measure of relative deprivation in England. The tool is intended to act as an interactive resource for healthcare systems with a view to supporting local planning and dec…

18 May 2022. Geneva, Switzerland. The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and multiple partners* are establishing the Access to Oncology Medicines (ATOM) Coalition, a new global partnership to increase access to quality-assured essential cancer medicines in low- and lower middle-income countries (LLMICs) and to help countries develop the capacity for their proper use. It is estimated that less than 50% of the cancer medicines on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (WHO EML) are currently available in LLMICs. In 2020, more than 3.5 million new cancer cases were diagnosed in LLMICs and an estimated 2.3 million premature deaths were caused by cancer. If left unchecked, deaths from cancer in LLMICs are expected to rise to 4 million by 2040.1 Prof. Anil D’Cruz, President of UICC…