Germany’s Merck flags decline in operating profit of up to 10% in 2023

By Ludwig Burger FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Germany’s Merck KGaA on Thursday warned that adjusted operating earnings could decline by as much as 10% this year as the outlook for its specialty chemicals business darkened, offsetting an upswing in drug prescriptions. The company said it was expecting between 6.1 billion euros ($6.71 billion) and 6.7 billion…

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U.S. FDA advisers back Perrigo birth control pill for over-the-counter use

By Sriparna Roy and Nandhini Srinivasan (Reuters) -A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel on Wednesday voted in favor of allowing sales of Perrigo Co’s contraceptive drug without a prescription, paving the way for the country’s first over-the-counter birth control pill. The panel found the drug to be an effective OTC option with some…

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South Korea to drop mandatory 7-day quarantine for COVID patients from June

By Hyonhee Shin SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea on Thursday lowered its crisis level for COVID-19 and will from June no longer require infected people to quarantine for seven days, dropping one of the country’s few remaining pandemic-related restrictions. Health authorities will still recommend five days of self-isolation for infected people but it will not…

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Lufthansa suffers blow as EU court backs Ryanair challenge against bailout

By Foo Yun Chee and Ilona Wissenbach BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Lufthansa suffered a setback on Wednesday after Europe’s second-highest court sided with Ryanair and annulled a European Union competition regulator’s decision clearing its state bailout. The court cited errors in the EU competition regulators’ decision to approve the German government’s 6-billion-euro ($6.60 billion) rescue package…

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Ohio abortion rights fight highlights Republican electoral vulnerabilities

By Jason Lange, Gabriella Borter and Joseph Ax (Reuters) -Republican vulnerabilities on abortion policy are on display in Ohio, with the party playing defense against a surge in abortion rights activism that could help President Joe Biden and his Democratic Party in next year’s elections. The Republican-controlled legislature on Wednesday approved a measure intended to…

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Martin Shkreli-founded drug company files for bankruptcy

By Dietrich Knauth NEW YORK (Reuters) – Vyera Pharmaceuticals, which previously settled price-fixing charges that resulted in founder Martin Shkreli being banned from the pharmaceutical industry, filed for bankruptcy late Tuesday to sell its assets. Vyera said its bankruptcy was the result of declining profits, increased competition for generic drugs, and litigation alleging that Vyera…

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The U.S. COVID health emergency is ending. What changes?

By Ahmed Aboulenein WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. government on Thursday will end the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency that allowed millions of Americans to receive vaccines, tests and treatments at no cost. The emergency is also tied to telehealth flexibilities, Medicaid enrollment safeguards, and the ability of government health agencies to collect data on the…

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US defense secretary cites security concerns as senator holds promotions over abortion

By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Senate Democrats released a letter from Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Wednesday saying a Republican’s decision to hold military nominations harms national security, intensifying a dispute over the military’s abortion policy. Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville has been blocking more than 150 military nominations from moving forward for…

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