Reuters Health News Summary

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Retrophin drug to treat nervous system disorder fails late-stage study

Retrophin Inc said on Thursday its treatment for a rare neurological disorder failed to meet the main goal of improving patient's ability to conduct daily activities in a late-stage study. The treatment, fosmetpantotenate, was being tested in 84 patients with pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration, a rare, genetic and life-threatening disorder.

E-cigarette firms probed over health concerns by U.S. House panel

Four dominant e-cigarette manufacturers face a probe into the health impacts of their products, as the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee asked on Wednesday about the firms' research and marketing practices. The committee sent letters to Juul Labs Inc, 35% owned by Marlboro maker Altria Group Inc , Fontem Ventures, Japan Tobacco Inc, and Reynolds American Inc, a unit of British American Tobacco Plc .

GSK's long acting HIV injection gets boost from study

GlaxoSmithKline's experimental HIV injection is as effective when given every other month as monthly, according to a study, a convenience that could help the British drugmaker in its battle against a rival drug from Gilead Sciences .GSK's two-drug injection was as effective as a monthly dose of the same regimen in maintaining viral suppression at 48 weeks in a late-stage study, said ViiV Healthcare, GSK's HIV unit. Detailed results will be presented at an unspecified medical conference, the company added.

Oklahoma judge to rule on Monday in opioid lawsuit against J&J

An Oklahoma judge will rule on Monday on whether Johnson & Johnson should be held liable in a lawsuit by the state's attorney general who argues the drugmaker should be forced to pay $17 billion for fueling the opioid epidemic. Judge Thad Balkman in Norman, Oklahoma, will deliver his decision from the bench after presiding over the first trial to result from thousands of lawsuits by state and local governments against opioid manufacturers and distributors, the court said.

Salvadoran woman acquitted in abortion case calls for reform

Evelyn Hernandez has a message for El Salvador's president: End the criminalization of abortion in the conservative Central American country. Hernandez, 21, was exonerated earlier this week in a closely watched retrial after an earlier judgment found her guilty of killing her stillborn son and sentenced her to 30 years in prison.

Fitbit targets 1 million new users with Singapore government tie-up

Fitbit Inc said on Wednesday it signed a contract with the Singapore government to provide fitness trackers and services in a health program it said could reach up to one million users. Fitbit will supply its trackers free of charge on the condition users spend S$10 ($7.22) each month, for a year, on the company's premium subscription.

Trump administration to appeal ruling blocking price disclosure for drug ads

The Trump administration is appealing a court ruling that struck down its plan to compel pharmaceutical companies to disclose wholesale prices of their drugs in televisions advertisements. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) filed a notice of appeal on Wednesday, as it prepares to challenge the July federal court ruling.

Nigeria's three-year milestone takes Africa towards polio eradication

Nigeria marked three years free of endemic wild polio on Wednesday, with health officials saying the nation's progress in fighting the crippling viral disease could result in the whole of Africa being declared polio-free early next year. The three-year milestone sets in motion a continent-wide process to ensure that all 47 countries of the World Health Organization's African region have eradicated the virus, the officials said.

Plastic particles in drinking water present 'low' risk: WHO

Microplastics contained in drinking water pose a "low" risk to human health at current levels, but more research is needed to reassure consumers, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday. Studies over the past year on plastic particles detected in tap and bottled water have sparked public concerns but the limited data appears reassuring, the U.N. agency said its first report on potential health risks associated with ingestion.

Explainer: What are the obstacles to Bayer settling Roundup lawsuits?

Bayer AG is in mediation to potentially settle thousands of U.S. lawsuits claiming that the company's Roundup weed killer causes cancer, but some legal experts said the cases raises novel questions that may prevent an easy settlement. More than 18,400 plaintiffs claim Roundup causes a type of cancer called non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.