Health News Highlights: Bluetongue Outbreak, Exciting IPOs, and More

This health news roundup covers various topics including a bluetongue disease outbreak in Norway, Zenas BioPharma's IPO valuation, a human case of bird flu in Missouri, new mpox strain precautions in the U.S., promising results from GSK's asthma drug study, and several other significant developments.

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Norway reports outbreak of bluetongue disease in sheep, WOAH says

Norway has reported an outbreak of bluetongue disease on a sheep farm in the southern part of the country, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) said on Friday. Bluetongue can be deadly for domestic ruminants such as sheep, cattle and goats. A new variant of the disease has been circulating in northern Europe since late last year, leading to vaccination campaigns in affected countries like France.

Bristol-Myers Squibb-backed Zenas BioPharma seeks up to $689.7 million valuation in US IPO

Zenas BioPharma, which is developing immunology-based therapies, said on Friday it is targeting a valuation of as much as $689.7 million in its initial public offering in the United States. The company, backed by drugmaker Bristol-Myers Squibb, is looking to raise as much as $211.7 million by offering 11.76 million shares priced between $16 and $18 each.

Health Rounds: Dye turns mouse skin invisible, allows researchers to see inside

Hello Health Rounds Readers! Sometimes science is just so cool. Today we feature a study that makes good on science envisioned by H.G. Wells over 100 years ago in "The Invisible Man". We also report on a new use of AI that can improve heart failure diagnosis in pregnant women, and the discovery of a new type of brain cell. Light-absorbing dye turns mouse skin invisible

CDC confirms human case of bird flu in Missouri

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday confirmed a human case of avian influenza A reported by the state of Missouri. The case was identified through that state's seasonal flu surveillance system, the agency said.

US is beefing up mpox testing, vaccine access against new strain, officials say

The United States has beefed up testing and surveillance for a new strain of mpox and has ensured that vaccines are readily available at local pharmacies and community health centers, senior administration officials said in a briefing on Friday. No cases of the more transmissible strain of the virus have been confirmed in the United States, but experts are preparing for that possibility following a World Health Organization declaration last month of a global public health emergency, the second such declaration in two years.

Bicara Therapeutics aims for up to $828 million valuation in U.S. IPO

Bicara Therapeutics said on Friday it is seeking a valuation of up to $828 million in its initial public offering in the United States, as new listings continue to flock the markets. The company, backed by global alternative asset management firm TPG and Indian biopharmaceutical firm Biocon, is aiming to raise $211.8 million by selling about 11.8 million shares priced between $16 and $18 apiece, it said in a regulatory filing.

GSK's asthma drug Nucala meets main goal in study on treating smoker's lungs

British drugmaker GSK said on Friday that its asthma drug, Nucala, met the main goal of a late-stage study in treating patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or smoker's lungs. Patients treated with Nucala and an inhaled maintenance therapy for up to 104 weeks had a lower annualised rate of moderate or severe exacerbations than those given a placebo, GSK said.

How fake Ozempic batch numbers help criminal groups spread dangerous drugs

In December, Drew, a 36-year-old man from San Antonio, Texas, drove more than 250 miles (400 km) to Mexico to buy cheap Ozempic to help him lose weight. Going home, he checked the pens. They looked unusual, so he shared photos on social media. The verdict: They were fakes. Three people on Reddit said Drew's product looked like insulin. "If so, it would be dangerous to use," said one. A surge of insulin can cause a sharp drop in blood sugar that can lead to dizziness, seizures and death.

China customs bars poultry products from Poland after avian flu outbreak

China's customs has banned direct or indirect import of poultry and related products from Poland from Friday, due to the outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5N1. The agency said poultry products from Poland shipped on or after the announcement will be returned or destroyed while those shipped before will be quarantined and tested.

Congo receives long-awaited mpox vaccine doses

Democratic Republic of Congo received its first batch of mpox vaccines on Thursday, which health authorities hope will help curb an outbreak that has prompted the U.N. to declare a global public health emergency. Congo is the epicentre of the outbreak, which has spread to neighbouring countries and elsewhere, but a lack of vaccines in Africa has hampered efforts to stop the spread of the sometimes deadly disease.

(With inputs from agencies.)