J&J psoriasis drug tops placebo, Humira in late stage study

(Reuters) - An experimental biotech drug developed by Johnson & Johnson proved more effective at clearing moderate to severe cases of the skin condition plaque psoriasis than a placebo or Abbvie Inc's big-selling Humira, according to data from a late stage study presented on Saturday.

Thailand still golden for Chinese tourists despite Zika fears

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Confirmation that the Zika virus had caused microcephaly in Thailand is not likely to scare off large numbers of Chinese tourists due to jet in for holidays in the next week, tourists and industry operators said.

Novartis psoriasis drug maintains efficacy after four years: study

ZURICH (Reuters) - Novartis's psoriasis drug Cosentyx showed long-term efficacy in keeping patients' skin clear, the Swiss drugmaker said on Saturday, citing a study it hopes will ultimately help the company to win business from rival medicines made by Amgen and Johnson & Johnson.

FDA warns against use of homeopathic teething products

(Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned against the use of homeopathic teething tablets and gels on Friday, citing potential risks to infants and children and prompting CVS Health Corp Inc to withdraw the products.

Depomed wins Nucynta patent dispute

(Reuters) - Depomed Inc said a court ruled in favor of the drug maker in a patent litigation over its opioid drug, Nucynta, extending its market exclusivity until 2025.

Breast cancer treatments vary widely in cost and complications

(Reuters Health) - Women with early-stage breast cancer may have fewer treatment complications and lower costs when they don’t get a mastectomy followed by reconstructive surgery, a U.S. study suggests.

People need timely warning to avert accidents in self-driving cars

(Reuters Health) - People operating self-driving cars need at least six seconds and some cues from the vehicle to “get back in the loop” and take control in time to avoid an accident, researchers say.

Doctors don't communicate well about terminally ill patients

(Reuters Health) - Cancer specialists and primary care physicians are not communicating very well about the end-of-life concerns of the patients they share - and according to one new study, they often rely on those patients to convey information back and forth.

Misperception about skin cancer prominent among minority groups

(Reuters Health) - Uninsured, immigrant and minority communities in the United States may not be as aware of skin cancer as they should be, a recent study suggests.

Labels don't always guarantee foods are free of gluten

(Reuters Health) - Some foods that don’t appear to contain wheat or gluten based on package labeling may still have trace amounts of these ingredients, a company-funded study suggests.

Regeneron's Eylea combination therapy fails mid-stage study

(Reuters) - Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc said a combination therapy containing its flagship eye drug, Eylea, was inferior to Eylea alone in a mid-stage trial involving patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness.

Thailand confirms two cases of Zika-linked microcephaly - health ministry

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand confirmed on Friday that Zika had caused two cases of microcephaly, a condition that results in babies being born with small heads, the first time microcephaly had been linked to Zika in Southeast Asia.

Zika-related birth defects likely higher than anticipated: panel

BOSTON (Reuters) - The risk posed by the Zika virus to developing fetuses is likely far greater than current estimates suggest, a top U.S. health official said on Thursday.