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[1/3] Paramedics display a dose of the opioid overdose reversal drug Narcan, or Naloxone Hydrochloride, in an ambulance in Peabody, Massachusetts, U.S., August 8, 2017. The figure is up 0.7% from 108,825 overdoses recorded in the 12-month period ending January 2022, according to U.S. data. The U.S. drug overdose death toll crossed the 100,000-mark for the first time in 2021, as the COVID pandemic disrupted medical care and increased mental health problems. U.S. drug overdose deaths rose 13.7% between January 2021 and January 2022 and by 31.4% in the prior 12 months at the height of the pandemic. But the surge in overdose deaths began before the pandemic took hold due to abuse of prescription opioid painkillers and illegal drugs like heroin.

Persons: Brian Snyder, Joe Biden's, Biden, Tom Britton, Stacey McKenna, McKenna, Nandhini Srinivasan, Khushi, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, American Addiction Centers, U.S, R Street Institute, D.C, CDC, Thomson Locations: Peabody , Massachusetts, U.S, China, Mexico, Washington, Bengaluru

☆ U.S. FDA advisers back OTC use of Perrigo's birth control pill
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 10 (Reuters) - A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel on Wednesday voted in favor of using Perrigo Co's (PRGO.N) contraceptive without a prescription, paving the way for the country's first approval for an over-the-counter birth control pill. The panel remained positive on the effectiveness of the pill, not only in the general population of women but also in adolescent populations and those with limited literacy. Perrigo's Opill, currently approved for prescription use, would be the first OTC non-estrogen contraceptive pill in the United States if approved by the regulator. The FDA generally follows the advise of its experts, though it is not bound to do so. Reporting by Sriparna Roy and Nandhini Srinivasan in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh KuberOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The CDC report showed that the rate of drug overdose deaths involving fentanyl increased from 5.7 per 100,000 people in 2016 to 21.6 per 100,000 in 2021. Fentanyl-related deaths rose by about 55% in 2019-2020, and 24.1% in 2020-2021, said Merianne Rose Spencer, one of the report's authors. Between 2016 and 2021, the rate of drug overdose deaths involving methamphetamine increased more than fourfold, and cocaine-related overdose deaths more than doubled, the CDC said. Heroin related deaths decreased from 4.9 per 100,000 in 2016 to 2.9 in 2021, the report found. The Biden administration has been pushing for action as U.S. drug-related overdose deaths surpassed 100,000 in 2021, according to government estimates.

☆ Moody's sees limited risks from banking crisis on US credit profile
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 29 (Reuters) - Ratings agency Moody's said on Wednesday it expects risks to the sovereign credit profile of the United States to be limited from the recent turmoil in the country's banking sector unless the strains deepen. The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank sparked a crisis of confidence in the U.S. banking sector, leading to a run on deposits at a host of regional banks despite authorities launching emergency measures to shore up confidence. "The rapid deterioration in the operating environment for US (Aaa stable) regional banks over the past two weeks has indicated higher banking sector risk than we had previously factored in the sovereign's credit profile," Moody's said. The agency said it did not "expect significant direct fiscal costs for the sovereign from the current banking sector stress". Earlier this month, Moody's Investors Service revised its outlook on the U.S. banking system to "negative" from "stable".

☆ S&P, Moody's positive on Saudi Arabia's non-oil reforms
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 17 (Reuters) - S&P Global on Friday raised its sovereign rating on Saudi Arabia to "A/A-1", citing expected reform and diversification plans to boost development of the kingdom's non-oil sector and shift dependence away from oil. Rival ratings agency Moody's also said that Saudi Arabia's plans will support it amid volatile oil price cycles and a global transition to sustainable energy. Moody's changed its outlook on the kingdom to "positive" from "stable", and reaffirmed its "A1" rating. Saudi Arabia's reform plans complement its "longstanding position as the world's largest oil exporter, with spare installed capacity providing it the ability to adjust production swiftly when market conditions change, in the current environment of reasonably strong global energy prices," S&P said. The ratings agency, which previously had a "A-/A-2" rating on Saudi Arabia, forecast a slow rise in the kingdom's oil production through 2026.

☆ U.S. FDA approves Acadia's Rett syndrome drug
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The approval comes months after the FDA declined to approve expanded use of Acadia's drug Nuplazid to treat psychosis related to Alzheimer's disease. Acadia said it plans to make the drug available to patients by the end of April. He forecast peak U.S. trofinetide sales of $487.2 million by 2035. After the FDA declined to approve the expanded use of Nuplazid, Acadia said it would not pursue that indication for Nuplazid further. Improvement of symptoms was measured according to the assessment scales Rett Syndrome Behaviour Questionnaire and the Clinical Global Impression of Improvement.

☆ U.S. FDA approves Acadia's genetic Rett syndrome drug
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

March 10 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc's (ACAD.O) drug for the treatment of Rett syndrome, a genetic brain disorder, the company said on Friday, making it the first approved drug for the condition. The approval comes months after the FDA declined to approve expanded use of Acadia's drug Nuplazid to treat psychosis related to Alzheimer's disease. Acadia said it plans to make the drug available to patients by the end of April. He forecast peak U.S. trofinetide sales of $487.2 million by 2035. Improvement of symptoms was measured according to the assessment scales Rett Syndrome Behaviour Questionnaire and the Clinical Global Impression of Improvement.

☆ Teen girls seeing 'dramatic' rise in poor mental health - U.S. CDC
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Nandhini Srinivasan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The data shows a "dramatic" rise in experiences of violence, poor mental health and suicide risk in teens, especially in girls, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control said on Monday. "The levels of poor mental health and suicidal thoughts and behaviors recorded by teenage girls are now higher than we have ever seen," said CDC's Kathleen Ethier told reporters. The current study did not examine the cause of the spike but the CDC noted there was also a 20% increase in reports of sexual violence among high school girls since 2017, when the agency started monitoring this measure. "CDC and many other researchers have looked at this and we know that with sexual violence, it is associated with mental health issues, substance use and also long-term health consequences," CDC's Debra Houry said. Overall, 42% of high school students felt so sad or hopeless almost every day for at least two weeks in a row that they stopped their usual activities.

Feb 7 (Reuters) - Centene Corp (CNC.N) on Tuesday said profit at its fast-growing Medicare Advantage (MA) business will take a beating in 2024 due to a sharp cut in its rating by a U.S. federal agency and likely lower-than-expected government payouts to health insurers. Centene does not expect its MA business to grow next year and it will likely "shrink a little", Chief Financial Officer Andrew Asher said in a post-earnings conference call. Asher said the company expects negative profit margins in the business in 2024 temporarily, after CMS cut star rating for Centene's MA plans in October. MA plans are government-supported insurance plans that private companies offer people over 65 years of age. Revenue from Centene's Medicare health insurance business rose about 24% to $5.45 billion from a year earlier.

☆ Centene profit beats on easing medical costs, Medicare boost
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 7 (Reuters) - Health insurer Centene Corp (CNC.N) beat fourth-quarter profit estimates by a small margin on Tuesday, helped by easing medical costs and steady demand for its government-backed Medicare health insurance business. Most health insurers saw their costs fluctuate during the pandemic, but have benefited in recent quarters from declining COVID-related hospitalizations. Larger rival UnitedHealth (UNH.N) recently said medical costs were more predictable with the world in the third year of COVID-19. Medicaid program helps cover medical costs for some people with limited income and resources. Revenue from Centene's Medicare health insurance business rose about 24% to $5.45 billion from a year earlier.

☆ U.S. FDA calls for new regulatory framework for use of cannabis compound CBD
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The first-ever cannabis farmer's market in Los Angeles began on July 4 and opens weekly from Friday to Sunday. The health regulator said it would work with Congress to develop a new, cross-agency regulatory framework. The FDA has generally pursued limited enforcement activity regarding CBD, focusing primarily on food and beverage products that make unsubstantiated health claims. "A new regulatory pathway for CBD is needed that balances individuals' desire for access to CBD products with the regulatory oversight needed to manage risks," the agency said. Cannabis products, excluding Jazz Pharmaceuticals Plc's (JAZZ.O) epilepsy drug Epidiolex, are illegal at the federal level in the United States, although some states allow their use.

Dec 21 (Reuters) - China may be struggling to keep a tally of COVID-19 infections as the country experiences a big spike in cases, a senior World Health Organization official said on Wednesday, amid concerns about a lack of data from the country. "In China, what's been reported is relatively low numbers of cases in ICUs, but anecdotally ICUs are filling up," WHO's emergencies director Mike Ryan said. "I wouldn't like to say that China is actively not telling us what's going on. REUTERS/Denis BalibouseThe WHO said it was ready to work with China to improve the way the country collects data around critical factors such as hospitalisation and death. China has nine domestically developed COVID-19 vaccines approved for use, more than any other country, but they have not been updated to target the highly infectious Omicron variant.

☆ Fitch affirms United Kingdom rating at 'AA-'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Peter NichollsDec 9 (Reuters) - Rating agency Fitch maintained United Kingdom's sovereign debt rating at "AA-" on Friday, citing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's macroeconomic policy framework, deep capital markets and the sterling's international reserve currency status. The agency affirmed its outlook for the country at "negative", due to high public and external debt, as well as rising energy prices. Despite concerns about a potential recession, investors have pinned hopes that the new government leadership will reinstill confidence in the country's fiscal health. "The new fiscal strategy has contributed to improved financial markets confidence," Fitch said. The agency also affirmed Bank of England's rating at "AA-", with a negative outlook.

☆ Provention Bio diabetes drug to cost $13,850/vial
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 18 (Reuters) - Provention Bio Inc (PRVB.O) said on Friday its recently approved diabetes drug, teplizumab, would cost $13,850 a vial. A 14-day regimen of the drug would translate to a price of $193,900, the company said on a conference call. In October, Provention signed a co-promotion deal for the drug with Sanofi (SASY.PA), offering the French drugmaker first negotiation for exclusive global rights to commercialize the drug in exchange for an upfront payment of $20 million. As per the deal, the approval also allows Sanofi to purchase up to $35 million of Provention's common shares. Shares of New Jersey-based Provention Bio were down nearly 8% before the bell.

☆ U.S. FDA greenlights Provention Bio's diabetes drug
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Bhanvi Satija | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 17 (Reuters) - Provention Bio (PRVB.O) said on Thursday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had approved the use of its drug teplizumab in those aged eight years and older, the first treatment aimed at delaying the onset of insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes. In October, Provention signed a co-promotion deal for the drug with Sanofi (SASY.PA), offering the French drugmaker first negotiation for exclusive global rights to commercialize the drug in exchange for an upfront payment of $20 million. As per the deal, the approval will also allow Sanofi to purchase up to $35 million of Provention's common stock. Current standard of care for type 1 diabetes requires patients to monitor and manage symptoms such as low or high blood sugar levels through regular insulin intake. Type 1 diabetes, previously known as juvenile diabetes, is a disease in which the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, leaving sufferers reliant on regular insulin injections.

Nov 2 (Reuters) - CVS Health Corp (CVS.N) on Wednesday forecast a 2023 profit below Wall Street estimates and said it hoped to mitigate the hit from a performance rating decline for its most popular Medicare plan by encouraging members to shift to other plans. read more CVS took a pre-tax charge of $5.2 billion in the third quarter related to the settlement. The settlement price, which was below investor expectations, according to Evercore ISI analyst Elizabeth Anderson, and other measures announced by the company helped lift CVS Health shares nearly 5%. In its insurance business, CVS said it is trying to move members out of Aetna's National PPO plan, which currently accounts for 59% of its Medicare Advantage plan members. CVS' health insurance business as well as peers Elevance Health (ELV.N) and UnitedHealth (UNH.N) have benefited from a slow recovery in elective procedures and a fall in COVID cases that has kept costs in check.

☆ CVS Health lifts forecast as PBM, insurance units drive profit beat
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 2 (Reuters) - CVS Health Corp (CVS.N) on Wednesday raised its annual profit forecast after topping quarterly estimates on strong performance at its health insurance and pharmacy benefit management businesses, sending its shares up 1% in premarket trade. CVS' health insurance business benefited from a slow recovery in elective procedures and a fall in COVID cases, which kept costs in check, as did peers Elevance Health (ELV.N) and UnitedHealth (UNH.N). Revenue from the insurance and pharmacy benefit management businesses rose around 10% each, while retail and pharmacy sales gained about 7%. Excluding some one-off items, CVS Health reported a profit of $2.09 per share, compared with analysts' average estimate of $1.99 per share. It removes an "overhang" on CVS and is lower than investor expectations, Evercore ISI analyst Elizabeth Anderson said in a note.

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