Reuters Health News Summary

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Many deadly common cancers get little charity funding

Many of the most common and lethal cancers get the fewest research dollars from fundraising advocacy groups, especially cancers associated with stigmatized behaviors like smoking and drinking, a U.S. study suggests. Cancers of the colon, endometrium, liver and bile duct, cervix, ovaries, pancreas and lung were all poorly funded relative to how many people they affect and how many deaths they cause, the study found. In contrast, breast cancer, leukemia, lymphoma and pediatric cancers were all quite well-funded relative to their impact on society.

Bristol-Myers releases mixed Opdivo lung cancer results

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co released mixed results on Wednesday from trials testing the survival benefit of its immunotherapy Opdivo in combination with either chemotherapy or its other immuno-oncology drug, Yervoy, as an initial treatment for advanced lung cancer. The U.S. drugmaker said that Opdivo combined with chemotherapy failed to extend overall survival more than chemotherapy alone in patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Exclusive: White House preparing order that would cut drug prices for Medicare - sources

U.S. President Donald Trump is considering a sweeping executive order that would cut prices on virtually all branded prescription drugs sold to Medicare and other government programs, according to two industry sources who had discussions with the White House. The order under discussion would be much broader than the Administration's previously disclosed proposal to lower prices on physician administered, or Part B, drugs by tying prices to lower costs in other countries.

Allergan recalls textured breast implants worldwide

Allergan Plc said on Wednesday it was recalling its Biocell textured breast implants and tissue expanders across markets, citing concerns over a rare form of cancer, after the U.S. health agency asked the drugmaker to pull the products. The Food And Drug Administration found the use of these breast implants was tied to increased risk of a rare type of cancer known as breast-implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL).

Summer may be prime time for first highs

American teens and adults may be more likely to try illegal or recreational drugs for the first time over the summer than at other times of year, a new study suggests. Overall, 31% of youth and adults who use cannabis tried the drug for the first time during the summer months, the study found. Summer was also the starting season of choice for 28% of cocaine users, 34% of LSD users, and 30% of people who used ecstasy, also called MDMA or Molly.

Eli Lilly's hypoglycemia treatment wins FDA approval

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Eli Lilly and Co's treatment for severe hypoglycemia, the health regulator said on Wednesday. Hypoglycemia is a condition in which blood sugar falls to dangerously low levels.

Former U.S. pro football players may face increased risk of heart rhythm problem

Former players from the National Football League may face an increased risk of a type of irregular heartbeat that could lead to stroke, a new study suggests. Researchers found that retired NFL players were nearly six times as likely to develop atrial fibrillation as men of the same age in the general population, according to results published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Relaxed UK salt policy tied to more heart disease, cancers

Declines in salt consumption in England have slowed since a 2011 shift in government policy gave greater freedom to the food industry to set and monitor targets for curbing salt intake, a new study suggests. As a result, researchers estimate that more Britons have developed heart disease or gastric cancer than would have been the case under the stricter old policy.

Medicare-for-all might not cause surge in hospital use

Medicare-for-all and other versions of universal coverage being proposed for the U.S. by several presidential hopefuls wouldn't necessarily lead more people to seek hospital care, a new analysis suggests. Critics of Medicare-for-all have raised concerns that it might lead to a surge in use of inpatient services, because people with comprehensive health insurance tend to use more hospital care than people with bare-bones benefits, researchers note in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Elton John AIDS fundraiser brings in $6 million for Kenya HIV testing

Elton John on Wednesday hosted a celebrity-packed gala that raised more than $6 million to fight HIV/AIDS in Kenya, thanks partly to auctions of a luxury car and an autographed piano used in the singer's "Rocketman" movie musical. The British singer-songwriter, on a break from his farewell world tour, welcomed the likes of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, The Who guitarist Pete Townshend, actress Joan Collins and Taron Egerton, who plays John in "Rocketman," to a villa in Cap d'Antibes in France.