Reuters Health Report: December 20, 2016

Click to View in Browser Tuesday, December 20, 2016 Chinese farmers bolster bird flu defenses as Asia outbreaks, and jitters, spread BEIJING/SEOUL (Reuters) - Chinese chickens are being fed more vitamins and vaccines as jittery farmers ramp up hen-house sterilization in a bid to protect flocks against a virulent strain of airborne bird flu that has led to record culling in nearby South Korea. Conatus to receive $50 million in liver drug deal with Novartis (Reuters) - Swiss drugmaker Novartis on Monday said it signed a licensing deal to co-develop a fatty liver disease drug with Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc, under which the small U.S. company will receive $50 million up front. Japan to step up drug price reviews in bid to curb healthcare costs TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan said on Tuesday it will step up the pace and expand the scope of drug price reviews, one of the most aggressive measures it is taking to rein in ballooning healthcare costs for a rapidly ageing nation. GSK's two-drug HIV therapy shines in two big studies LONDON (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline's already fast-growing HIV drug business has received an important boost after two major clinical studies successfully tested a new two-drug treatment regimen to control the virus that causes AIDS. Hong Kong confirms first case of bird flu this season HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong authorities have confirmed the first human bird flu infection for this season after an elderly man who had recently traveled to mainland China was diagnosed with the deadly H7N9 virus strain. Turkey's Ronesans studying Morocco, Senegal PPP projects with France's Meridiam ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish construction and investment firm Ronesans Holding's healthcare unit is working with French fund Meridiam on public–private partnership (PPP) investments in Morocco and Senegal, the Ronesans board chairman said on Tuesday. Clovis's ovarian cancer drug wins accelerated FDA approval (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval to Clovis Oncology Inc's ovarian cancer drug in patients with a specific gene mutation whose disease had advanced despite two or more rounds of chemotherapy. Study funded by food makers disputes advice to cut sugar intake NEW YORK (Reuters) - A study funded by food companies on Monday challenged recommendations by public health officials for people to cut sugar consumption, saying there was no clear link between consumption of added sugar and health effects. Ducks culled in Bulgaria after bird flu found on three farms SOFIA (Reuters) - More than 4,000 ducks were culled in Bulgaria over the past few days after bird flu was found on three farms, the Bulgarian food safety agency said on Monday. South Korea, Japan step up poultry cull to contain bird flu SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea and Japan have ordered fresh culls of poultry stocks to contain outbreaks of avian flu, authorities in the two countries said. Related Video NYC dirt has scientists digging for antibiotic success Artificial skin harnessed from algae A quick-fix on the day's news delivered when you want it. Register Today A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. Register Today » » MORE NEWSLETTERS - 3 Times Square New York, NY 10036 USA © Copyright 2016 Thomson Reuters Ensure delivery of Reuters Newsmails, add newsletters@email.reuters.com to your address book. Subscribe to other Reuters newsletters. Unsubscribe from this newsletter. Follow us on Twitter Friend us on Facebook