Global Health Headlines: Breast Cancer Drug Disappointment, Genetic Disease Breakthroughs, and Rising Mpox Cases

This summary covers the latest in health news including AstraZeneca's breast cancer drug trial disappointing, Biohaven meeting its genetic disease drug goal, Zevra pricing a rare disease treatment at up to $106,000 per month, India's first case of new mpox strain, Novo Nordisk's drug pricing controversy, and rising mpox cases in Africa.

AstraZeneca's experimental precision drug, developed alongside Japan's Daiichi Sankyo, failed to significantly improve overall survival rates in a late-stage breast cancer trial. The TROPION-Breast01 Phase III trial revealed that datopotamab deruxtecan did not achieve statistical significance compared with chemotherapy.

Biohaven announced its genetic disease drug, troriluzole, met the primary endpoint in a study with patients suffering from Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA), showing a clinically meaningful slowing of disease progression.

Zevra Therapeutics has set the monthly cost of its new drug, Miplyffa, at up to $106,000, following FDA approval. The drug is the first approved treatment for Neimann-Pick disease type C (NPC), a rare and fatal genetic disorder.

India recorded its first case of the fast-spreading mpox clade 1b strain in a traveler from Kerala. Health ministry spokesperson Manisha Verma confirmed the variant, marking a significant development in the country's battle against the disease.

Novo Nordisk's CEO is set to face U.S. congressional scrutiny over the high prices of its diabetes and weight loss drugs, including Ozempic, as these drugs enter the realm of U.S. government price controls.

The World Health Organization reports almost 30,000 suspected mpox cases in Africa this year, with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi being the hardest hit. Over 800 fatalities have been recorded across the continent.

(With inputs from agencies.)