Reuters Health News Summary

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Resurgent health insurer stocks face test at Democratic debates

Shares of U.S. health insurers that have rebounded in the past two months could come under pressure this week as Democrats square off in their first presidential debates, with healthcare policy reform potentially high on the agenda. Support for government-run "Medicare for All" plans from U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and other left-leaning politicians and candidates shook the stocks earlier this year, and has contributed to the overall sector's underperformance, despite the recent recovery.

Glyphosate use will eventually end, Merkel says

Use of Bayer's contested weedkiller glyphosate, the subject of more than 10,000 lawsuits in the U.S. over claims it causes cancer, will eventually die out, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told the country's lower house on Wednesday. Merkel's view is seemingly at odds with that of Bayer, which acquired the pesticide along with its takeover of U.S. seed maker Monsanto, which earlier this month said it saw a future for the product.

Vets with PTSD at increased risk of death from suicide, accidents

U.S. veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are more likely than typical Americans to die of causes including suicide and accidental injuries, a recent study suggests. PTSD has previously been linked to increased risk for chronic health problems like heart disease, diabetes and immune disorders as well as a greater risk of premature death, researchers note in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. But studies to date haven't offered a clear picture of what causes might be driving higher mortality rates among veterans with PTSD.

Chemical in soaps, hand sanitizers tied to osteoporosis

Women exposed to triclosan, a chemical often found in soaps and hand sanitizers, may be more likely to develop osteoporosis than women who don't have this exposure, a new study suggests. Triclosan has been widely used for years as an antimicrobial agent in consumer goods and personal care products including soaps, hand sanitizers, toothpaste and mouthwash, researchers note in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Juul loses home turf as San Francisco bans e-cigarette sales

San Francisco will become the first major city in the United States to ban the sale of e-cigarettes as officials look to control the rapid uptick in teenage use of nicotine devices made by companies such as Juul Labs Inc. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved the ordinance on Tuesday, banning the sale and distribution of e-cigarettes until they have approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Fate of opioid litigation hinges on government 'police power'

The fate of thousands of lawsuits seeking to hold drugmakers responsible for fueling the U.S. opioid epidemic hinges in part on a thorny legal question: Can a company use a bankruptcy to stop lawsuits from cities and states? U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Gross is expected in July to decide whether to halt more than 160 active lawsuits brought by state attorneys general, cities and counties against opioid manufacturer Insys Therapeutics Inc. When it filed for Chapter 11 protection in Delaware earlier this month, Insys requested the cases be paused.

Afghanistan records tenth polio case in 2019 as security worsens: officials

Afghanistan, one of the last countries in the world where polio is still endemic, has registered its 10th case this year, with most coming in southern regions where Taliban militants have wide control, a senior health official said on Wednesday. A 21-month-old girl in the south central province of Uruzgan had been left partly paralyzed by the disease after her parents refused permission for her to receive vaccination.

Switzerland aims to legalise medical marijuana

The Swiss government aims to make it easier for patients to get medical marijuana, proposing on Wednesday to allow prescriptions for cannabis to treat people suffering from cancer or other serious conditions. The proposal, separate from a Swiss government push to allow some cities to experiment with recreational marijuana, would replace the current system, in which those seeking medical cannabis must apply for an exception from the Federal Health Office to get what is otherwise an illegal drug.

FDA approves expanded label for Regeneron/Sanofi's Dupixent

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc and Sanofi SA's drug Dupixent to treat nasal polyps, marking the third major use for the injectable medicine. The expanded label, which could significantly boost annual sales, is for use with other medicines to treat patients suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, the companies said in a joint statement.

Elderly in U.S. emergency depts often can't afford medicines

Older adults who come to U.S. emergency rooms often have trouble affording medications, a study shows. And unfortunately, people who can't afford medications are more likely to need more emergency department (ED) treatments and hospital admissions, study co-author Lisa Ambrose from Spectrum Health Hospitals, Michigan told Reuters Health.