Pharma Headlines: Bird Flu, Cancer Suits, and Robot Guide Dogs

Recent health news highlights include scientists' concerns about a potential bird flu pandemic, innovations like a Chinese robot guide dog for the visually impaired, and legal actions involving major pharmaceutical companies. Other updates include investment moves, regulatory changes, and new drug approvals aimed at improving global health standards.

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Analysis-Scientists wary of bird flu pandemic 'unfolding in slow motion'

Scientists tracking the spread of bird flu are increasingly concerned that gaps in surveillance may keep them several steps behind a new pandemic, according to Reuters interviews with more than a dozen leading disease experts. Many of them have been monitoring the new subtype of H5N1 avian flu in migratory birds since 2020. But the spread of the virus to 129 dairy herds in 12 U.S. states signals a change that could bring it closer to becoming transmissible between humans. Infections also have been found in other mammals, from alpacas to house cats.

Chinese robot 'guide dog' aims to improve independence for visually impaired

It's less furry than a traditional companion, but a six-legged Chinese robot "guide dog" could one day help vision impaired people live more independently, according to its research development team in Shanghai. The robot dog, which is currently being field-tested, is able to navigate its physical environment via cameras and sensors, including recognising traffic light signals, which traditional guide dogs are unable to do.

South African pharmacy chain Clicks to sell drug maker after court ruling

South African pharmacy chain Clicks Group said on Monday it would sell drug maker Unicorn Pharmaceuticals to comply with a court ruling, clearing the way for the health ministry to issue the company with licences for new stores. South Africa's Constitutional Court in March 2023 ruled in favour of the Independent Community Pharmacy Association (ICPA), which argued that Clicks' ownership of Unicorn had violated regulations that prohibit pharmacies from owning drugmakers.

Sanofi eyes German insulin investment of up to $1.6 billion, source says

French drugmaker Sanofi is nearing a decision to invest between 1.3 billion and 1.5 billion euros ($1.4-$1.6 billion) to upgrade its production of long-acting insulin shots in Germany, a person familiar with the plan told Reuters on Monday. The expected investment would be the latest in a string of recent wins by Germany's ruling coalition to attract foreign investments, particularly in the pharmaceuticals sector.

Cancer victims lose bid to block proposed J&J talc bankruptcy

A federal judge on Friday rejected a bid by a group of cancer victims to block Johnson & Johnson from pursuing a proposed bankruptcy settlement of tens of thousands of lawsuits alleging the company's baby powder and other talc products contain cancer-causing asbestos. The cancer victims sought a preliminary order in New Jersey on June 11 to preventing J&J from filing for bankruptcy outside the state, which would have effectively foiled the $6.48 billion settlement plan. The motion was part of a class action lawsuit brought by plaintiffs' lawyers opposed to the plan.

Australia restricts vape sales to pharmacies as new laws take effect

New vaping regulations in Australia came into force on Monday, moving e-cigarettes behind pharmacy counters in a bid to curb youth vaping although opponents forced the government to walk back a stricter prohibition. The laws, passed last week, will restrict vape sales to pharmacies and require customers to speak with the pharmacist before buying a vape. Those under 18 will need a prescription.

Cassava Sciences forms internal panel after US probe into two employees

Cassava Sciences will form a committee to evaluatenew probes by U.S. regulators and investigate two senior employees, it said on Monday, days after a medical professor linked to the company was charged with fraud. Shares of the Austin, Texas-based pharmaceutical company were down more than 8% in early trade.

Bristol Myers to pay $2.7 million to settle Israel anti-competition charges

Bristol Myers Squibb has agreed to pay 10 million shekels ($2.7 million) in Israel to settle a potential case over its blocking of a generic version for anti-cancer drug Imnovid, Israel's Competition Authority said on Monday. The anti-trust agency said that Bristol and Neopharm Scientific, the Israeli distributor of Imnovid - used for the treatment of multiple myeloma and AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma - declined a request by KS Kim International for drug samples to make a copycat version of Imnovid.

AstraZeneca's COVID prevention drug application gets EU fast-track assessment

AstraZeneca said on Monday that the European Union drug regulator has accepted a market authorisation application for its investigational COVID-19 prevention drug, sipavibart, for an accelerated assessment. The submission was based on positive data from a late-stage trial that showed the drug reduced the risk of infection in patients with weaker immunity.

India panel urges drug regulator to approve Lilly's obesity drug Mounjaro

An Indian government-approved expert panel has advised the country's drug regulator to approve the import and sale of U.S. drugmaker Eli Lilly's Mounjaro, a blockbuster diabetes drug and a wildly popular obesity treatment, a document on a government website showed on Monday. Lilly's Mounjaro, chemically known as tirzepatide, and Zepbound and Danish rival Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Ozempic belong to a class of therapies known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, developed to control blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)