Health Headlines: Mpox Outbreak Concerns and Pharma Updates

A summary of current health news, highlighting rich nations' surplus of mpox vaccines amid Africa’s outbreak, Moderna's sales forecast leading to a stock drop, and Morocco’s first mpox case. Updates also include Africa CDC's funding plans, ongoing FDA reviews, and pharmaceutical advancements from companies like Avadel, Neurocrine, Bavarian Nordic, and Roche.

Rich nations are sitting on millions of mpox vaccines as Africa faces a spreading outbreak, with a severe shortfall in donated doses. Countries like Japan, the USA, and Canada have stockpiled these vaccines in case of smallpox's return, yet some were used globally in 2022 amid an mpox spread.

Moderna has adjusted its financial forecasts, predicting lower sales for next year and pushing its break-even timeline to 2025. This announcement led to a significant 17.1% drop in its shares, nearing a four-year low.

Morocco has announced its first case of mpox, prompting further health concerns, as the World Health Organization continues to monitor the situation. The Africa CDC is confident in raising $600 million to combat the outbreak, which has been declared a global health emergency.

Avadel Pharmaceuticals is still awaiting FDA approval for its sleep disorder drug for pediatric patients. Meanwhile, Neurocrine's experimental schizophrenia drug missed its primary endpoint in trials.

Bavarian Nordic is planning to ramp up its mpox vaccine production, aiming to supply 13 million doses by 2025, with potential measures to increase even further subject to regulatory and market conditions.

The CDC has yet to determine how a person in Missouri contracted bird flu, the 14th case in the US this year. GSK is moving forward with its mRNA flu vaccine following promising trial results. Roche faces setbacks as concerns over side effects in its obesity pill trial cause its shares to drop by 3.5%.

(With inputs from agencies.)