Latest Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical and Healthcare News from Reuters

Swiss stocks - Factors to watch on May 21

ZURICH, May 21 (Reuters) - The following are some of the main factors expected to affect Swiss stocks on Tuesday:

Minnesota legislature OKs new higher top income tax bracket

MINNEAPOLIS, May 20 (Reuters) - Minnesota's lawmakers on Monday approved a bill that would raise more than $2 billion for the upcoming two-year budget through income and other tax increases, allowing the state to close a $627 million structural budge...

Sonova's full-year profit hit by provisions

ZURICH, May 21 (Reuters) - Swiss hearing aid maker Sonova said full-year operating profit fell 42 percent, hit by a provision to cover potential claims against faulty cochlear implants at its subsidiary Advanced Bionics.

Analysis: Some Republicans see new scandal in Sebelius fundraising

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With the White House already reeling from three major controversies, some Republican lawmakers are zeroing in on what they perceive is another possible scandal tied to President Barack Obama's landmark health reform law just as...

Hong Kong shares nudged off 3-1/2-month high, China slips

HONG KONG, May 21 (Reuters) - Hong Kong shares fell from a 3-1/2-month high on Tuesday, while China markets looked set for their first loss in five days, hurt by a series of fund raising moves and Goldman Sachs' exit from Industrial and Commercial Ba...

Healthcare workers set to strike California public hospitals

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Nearly 13,000 healthcare employees at five University of California medical centers plan to strike on Tuesday in a move that threatens to back up emergency rooms and already has forced the postponement of elective surgeries....

PRESS DIGEST - Financial Times - May 21

Essar Oil to sign fuel-for-cash deal with China Development Bank

UK first in EU to get Merck's new Schmallenberg vaccine

LONDON (Reuters) - British farmers will be the first in Europe to get a vaccine against Schmallenberg virus, a new livestock disease that hit the continent in 2011.

U.S. court ruling favors Cubist in patent case vs Hospira

May 20 (Reuters) - A U.S. federal court on Monday ruled in favor of Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc on the interpretation of patent language in a case involving a generic challenge to its lead drug Cubicin by Hospira Inc.

UPDATE 1-U.S. charges 3 NYU researchers in Chinese bribery case

NEW YORK, May 20 (Reuters) - U.S. authorities brought criminal charges against three New York University researchers on Monday, alleging they conspired to take bribes from Chinese medical and research outfits for details about NYU research into magne...

Regeneron settles all pending litigation with Roche's Genentech

May 20 (Reuters) - Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc said it settled all pending litigation with Roche Holding AG's unit Genentech on the company's eye drug, Eylea, and cancer drug, Zaltrap.

Pfizer halts study of lymphoma drug unlikely to help survival

(Reuters) - Pfizer Inc, which has been on a hot streak with three recent approvals of cancer drugs, stumbled on Monday, saying it was halting a late-stage trial of a drug for aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma after independent monitors found it was not...

Swine virus confirmed in Iowa, Indiana hog herds

(Reuters) - Farms in two of the nation's leading pork producing states have tested positive for the potentially fatal porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), U.S. pork industry veterinarian official said Monday.

Does prostate cancer treatment help older, sick men?

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Older men with other illnesses may not live long enough to benefit from aggressive prostate cancer treatments, such as prostate removal or radiation, and they'd have to live with their side effects, says a new study.

Pricey radiation no better post prostatectomy: study

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Men who get an older and less costly form of radiation after their cancerous prostates are removed fare just as well as men who get a new and expensive type of radiation, according to a new study.

Health sites too complex, full of cliches: study

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The importance of health literacy hit home for Lisa Gualtieri when a Cambodian refugee diagnosed with cancer asked her to act as a patient advocate.

U.S. charges 3 NYU researchers in Chinese bribery case

NEW YORK, May 20 (Reuters) - U.S. authorities brought criminal charges against three New York University researchers on Monday, alleging they conspired to take bribes from Chinese medical and research outfits for details about NYU research into magne...

WASIK COLUMN-Two ways to pick your summer stock retreat

CHICAGO, May 20 (Reuters) - It used to be easy to abide by the old Wall Street nugget that you should pull out of the market in spring and come back in the fall.

Royalty raises Elan bid, issues ultimatum to shareholders

DUBLIN/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Royalty Pharma raised its hostile bid for Elan to $12.50 per share and threatened to withdraw the bid if Elan shareholders approve a series of defensive transactions announced by the Irish drug firm.

UPDATE 3-Royalty raises Elan bid, issues ultimatum to shareholders

* Royalty will withdraw bid if shareholders back Elan deals

Bayer says lung drug shows promise in prolonged trial

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Bayer said extended use of its experimental riociguat pill to treat a life-threatening form of high blood pressure in the lungs was shown to be safe and effective in a prolonged trial.

Vermont passes law allowing doctor-assisted suicide

May 20 (Reuters) - Vermont on Monday became the fourth U.S. state to end legal penalties for doctors who prescribe medication to terminally ill patients seeking to end their own lives.

UPDATE 4-Actavis to buy Warner Chilcott in $5 billion stock deal

May 20 (Reuters) - Generic drugmaker Actavis Inc, itself a recent takeover target, said on Monday it would buy specialty pharmaceutical company Warner Chilcott Plc for $5 billion in stock to expand its branded drug portfolio, lower taxes and increase...

UPDATE 2-Royalty ups Elan bid and issues shareholder ultimatum

DUBLIN, May 20 (Reuters) - Royalty Pharma raised its hostile bid for Elan to $12.50 per share and heaped pressure on shareholders, saying it will withdraw the bid if they approve a series of defensive transactions announced by the Irish drug firm.

BRIEF-Elan asks shareholders not to take action on Royalty Pharma offer

LONDON, May 20 (Reuters) - Elan Corporation PLC : * Elan shareholders are strongly advised to take no action in relation to the