Health News Roundup: Kenvue tempers annual profit view on soft … – Devdiscourse

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Kenvue tempers annual profit view on soft demand for cold, flu medicines

Kenvue on Thursday warned that a longer summer season in the northern hemisphere would hurt sales of its cold and flu medicines this year as the Benadryl maker cut the higher end of its annual profit forecast range. Shares of the company were down 3% in premarket trading.

GSK's common respiratory virus vaccine shows potential in adults aged 50-59

GSK said its vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) showed positive preliminary results in a late-stage trial to protect adults aged 50 to 59 from the disease that causes thousands of hospitalisations and deaths annually. The British drugmaker's shot, called Arexvy, met the primary goal in the Phase-III trial of eliciting an immune response in adults of the reported age group who are at an increased risk of catching the virus due to certain underlying medical conditions, the company said on Wednesday.

Bristol Myers says it needs another year to hit target for new drugs

Drugmaker Bristol Myers Squibb on Thursday pushed back by a year the time frame for its current new-product portfolio to hit $10 billion in sales as the ramp-up of new drugs including anemia treatment Reblozyl, psoriasis drug Sotyktu, and multiple sclerosis drug Zeposia takes longer than expected. Shares of the drugmaker fell more than 5% to $53.5 before the bell. They are down over 20% this year, while the S&P 500 index is up nearly 10%.

Labcorp beats quarterly profit estimates on strength in routine testing segment

Laboratory Corporation of America topped Wall Street expectations for quarterly adjusted profit on Thursday, as strength in its routine diagnostics business more than offset weak COVID test sales. U.S. lab testing companies including Labcorp rival Quest Diagnostics have seen a rebound in routine test volumes with people returning for regular health checkups that had been deferred during the pandemic.

Injected version of Eisai/Biogen Alzheimer's drug works as well as IV Leqembi

An injected version of Eisai and Biogen's Alzheimer's drug Leqembi works as well as the current intravenous version at removing toxic brain plaques, according to an analysis presented by Eisai on Wednesday. A weekly shot form of Leqembi, given as two consecutive injections, could simplify use of the groundbreaking Alzheimer's treatment, potentially allowing patients to receive the drug at home instead of traveling to an infusion center twice a month.

Pfizer, BioNtech say flu-COVID shot generates strong immune response in trial

Pfizer and German partner BioNTech said on Thursday that their vaccine to prevent flu and COVID-19 generated a strong immune response against strains of the viruses in an early- to mid-stage trial. The companies said they plan to start a late-stage trial in the coming months.

Merck quarterly profit tops expectations on COVID pill surprise

Merck & Co on Thursday reported higher-than-expected results in the third quarter on surprisingly strong demand for its COVID-19 treatment, primarily in Japan, and raised its annual sales forecast for the therapy. Sales of molnupiravir, the COVID-19 antiviral pill sold under brand name Lagevrio, jumped 47% to $640 million in the quarter, crushing Wall Street estimates of $120 million, according to LSEG data.

Medical equipment maker West Pharmaceutical raises 2023 profit forecast

Medical equipment maker West Pharmaceutical Services on Thursday raised its 2023 adjusted profit forecast for a third time, benefiting from a stronger dollar. The company, which makes products used to deliver and package injectable therapies, also beat third-quarter estimates for profit.

Boston Scientific raises profit forecast on strength in heart devices unit

Medical equipment maker Boston Scientific raised its annual profit forecast and beat estimates for third-quarter profit on Thursday as a post-pandemic rebound in elective surgeries boosts demand for its heart devices. A steady recovery in surgical procedures that were deferred during the pandemic, especially by older adults, as well as easing staffing shortages at hospitals have increased demand for medical devices.

US CDC recommends routine use of Bavarian Nordic mpox vaccine for adults at risk

Danish pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic said on Wednesday a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention panel has voted in favor of recommending the routine use of Jynneos vaccine for adults at risk of mpox. The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend that individuals 18 years and older with certain risk factors should receive two doses of Jynneos.

(With inputs from agencies.)

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Health News Roundup: Kenvue tempers annual profit view on soft ... - Devdiscourse