Health News Roundup: US FDA panel votes against diabetes implant due to safety concerns; In Bolivia, amputees strap on hyperrealistic prosthetic limbs and more

The agency had started the evaluation process for the protein-based shot on Aug. 24, Cooke said at a press conference. US EPA says no immediate lead health threats from telecom cables The U.S. environmental regulator said Thursday soil sampling for lead in two Pennsylvania towns near telecommunications cables indicate "no threats to the health of people nearby that would warrant" an immediate government response, despite some findings of the pollutant.

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

US FDA panel votes against diabetes implant due to safety concerns

A panel of external advisors to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration voted against Intarcia Therapeutics' diabetes treatment implant on Thursday, citing risks from potential side-effects. The committee unanimously held that the benefits of the drug-device combination for the treatment of type 2 diabetes did not outweigh its risks, pointing to the need for additional safety data.

In Bolivia, amputees strap on hyperrealistic prosthetic limbs

Six years ago, Richard Vargas lost his hands in a dynamite explosion - a common occurrence in Bolivia, where the explosive is so prevalent a senator once suggested declaring it a national heritage. When he woke up two weeks later in hospital, Vargas began facing the same difficulties as many other amputees - he lost his job as a metal worker, struggled with meeting the bills and faced social discrimination.

U.S. FDA found lapses at Novo's main U.S. factory in May 2022 -report

U.S. drug regulators issued a report detailing quality control lapses at Novo Nordisk's main factory in North America as early as May last year, according to the report obtained by Reuters via a Freedom of Information Act request. The inspection by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was at Novo's facility in Clayton, North Carolina, which the company says produces the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), semaglutide.

Valneva's half-year loss narrows on strong travel vaccine demand

French vaccine maker Valneva on Thursday reported a smaller half-year loss, as a rebound in global tourism boosted sales of its travel vaccines Ixiario and Dukoral. The group's net loss narrowed to 35.0 million euros ($37.2 million) in the first half of 2023, from a loss of 171.5 million a year earlier.

Europe to decide on Novavax's COVID vaccine in October

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) expects to decide on the use of Novavax's updated COVID-19 vaccine in October, its director Emer Cooke said on Thursday. The agency had started the evaluation process for the protein-based shot on Aug. 24, Cooke said at a press conference.

US EPA says no immediate lead health threats from telecom cables

The U.S. environmental regulator said Thursday soil sampling for lead in two Pennsylvania towns near telecommunications cables indicate "no threats to the health of people nearby that would warrant" an immediate government response, despite some findings of the pollutant. The Environmental Protection Agency testing was prompted by an investigation by the Wall Street Journal of lead covered telecommunications cables across the United States. EPA sampled soil for lead near telecommunications cables in the Pennsylvania towns of Coal Center and California.

Spain's Catalonia region to provide period products for free at pharmacies

Catalonia will provide reusable menstrual cups, period pants and pads for free at pharmacies to counter so-called "period poverty", as the Spanish region follows Scotland with one of the first initiatives of its kind. The products are due to become available during the first quarter of 2024 and will benefit around 2.5 million girls, women and people who identify as non-binary or transgender who have periods, the regional government said on Thursday.

US makes 30 states pause Medicaid disenrollments after glitch

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Thursday said 30 states must pause disenrollments from their Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) programs and reinstate coverage for people who lost it due to a glitch uncovered in August. Medicaid, the federal/state health program for low income people and families, said nearly 500,000 children and other individuals that lost coverage due to a problem affecting automatic renewals will regain their insurance.

U.S. government awards $45 million for long COVID clinics

The U.S. government is awarding $45 million in grants to help clinics treating long COVID develop new models of care and expand access, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said on Wednesday. Nine clinics will receive $1 million grants annually over the next five years through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) within HHS, the department said.

California sues organizations for touting abortion pill reversal

California on Thursday sued two anti-abortion organizations for telling patients that they can help reverse the effects of the abortion pill mifepristone, a potentially dangerous claim not supported by evidence. In a complaint filed in Alameda County Superior Court, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, accused Heartbeat International (HBI) and RealOptions Obria of violating a state law against fraudulent business practices.