Following is a abstract of present well being information briefs.

BioNTech vaccines for German expatriates in China have arrived at German embassy

A cargo of BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for German nationals in China have arrived on the German embassy in Beijing, an embassy spokesperson instructed Reuters on Friday. “We can now happily confirm that the vaccines have arrived at the embassy and they will be stored here until we can officially start the vaccination drive which will be as soon as possible,” the spokesperson mentioned.

U.S. FDA approves Acer Therapeutics’ genetic dysfunction drug

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized Acer Therapeutics Inc’s drug for treating sufferers with a sort of genetic dysfunction known as urea cycle problems (UCDs), in response to the well being regulator’s web site. The approval letter, issued on Thursday, mentioned the drug, sodium phenylbutyrate, could possibly be used as an adjunctive remedy to the usual of look after sufferers with UCDs with sure deficiencies.

China lacked a ‘zero COVID’ exit plan. Its persons are paying the worth

At the general public hospital in Shanghai the place Nora, a 30-year-old physician, works, rigidity has spiraled since China relaxed its stringent zero-COVID coverage on Dec. 7. Patients quarrel with docs to entry medication which are in brief provide, like cough medicines and ache killers. Medics are overloaded; contaminated workers proceed to work due to a shortage of personnel.

Valneva makes U.S. regulatory submission for one-shot chikungunya vaccine

Vaccines firm Valneva mentioned on Friday that it had accomplished a regulatory submission step with the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for its single-shot chikungunya vaccine candidate, VLA1553. Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral illness. Valneva plans to make regulatory submissions for its VLA1553 vaccine in Europe within the second half of 2023.

U.S. FDA approves Roche’s lymphoma remedy

The U.S. well being regulator has authorized Roche Holding AG’s remedy for treating a sort of uncommon most cancers known as follicular lymphoma. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval for Lunsumio was primarily based on an early-to mid-stage examine that confirmed the drug cleared indicators of most cancers in sufferers, with most sufferers responding to the remedy for at the very least 18 months, the corporate mentioned late Thursday.

Omicron subvariant XBB jumps to 18% of U.S. COVID circumstances – CDC

The highly-contagious Omicron subvariant XBB has surged to greater than 50% of COVID-19 circumstances within the northeastern United States and dangers spreading quick as hundreds of thousands of Americans start vacation journey on Friday. In the week ended Dec. 24, XBB was estimated to account for 18.3% of the COVID-19 circumstances within the United States, up from 11.2% within the earlier week, in response to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday (CDC).

Eisai, Biogen’s new Alzheimer’s drug ought to be priced under Aduhelm – report

An influential drug pricing analysis group mentioned Eisai Co Ltd and Biogen Inc’s new Alzheimer’s illness remedy lecanemab ought to be priced decrease than the drug Aduhelm that was developed by the businesses. In a draft report launched on Thursday, the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) mentioned a value vary of between $8,500 and $20,600 yearly for lecanemab would meet some generally used thresholds for value effectiveness.

India plans to make COVID-19 adverse take a look at necessary for passengers from excessive caseload international locations

India is planning to make a COVID-19 adverse take a look at report necessary for passengers arriving from international locations with a excessive variety of circumstances, the nation’s well being minister mentioned throughout an interview with broadcaster NewsX on Friday. “In the next one week, selected countries will be identified where the caseload is higher today,” minister Mansukh Mandaviya mentioned. “People from there who come to India will have to upload their (COVID-19) RT-PCR reports and only then come.”

China’s stretched well being system braces for peak in COVID infections

China is anticipating a peak in COVID-19 infections inside every week, a well being official mentioned, with authorities predicting additional pressure on the nation’s well being system whilst they downplay the illness’s severity and proceed to report no new deaths. In the face of a surging outbreak and widespread protests in opposition to its “zero-COVID” regime of lockdowns and testing, China started dismantling it this month, changing into the final main nation to maneuver in direction of dwelling with the virus.

BioNTech begins human trial to check malaria vaccine

BioNTech on Friday initiated an early-stage examine to guage its experimental malaria vaccine in people, the German drugmaker mentioned. The Phase 1 trial is predicted to enrol 60 volunteers within the United States with no historical past of malaria to evaluate the vaccine candidate at three-dose ranges.

(With inputs from companies.)