WSJ.com: Health

HPV Cases in Teens Plunge

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:31:54 EDT

The rate at which teenage girls were infected by certain strains of the most common sexually transmitted virus has dropped sharply since a vaccine was introduced, even though immunization rates are relatively low, according to a study.

Unions Target Home Workers

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:27:50 EDT

As the population ages, more people are being paid by the government to care for the elderly in their homes. That has prompted unions to try to organize more such workers.

Medical Pot Laws Get Tougher

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:37:12 EDT

Backers of medical-marijuana bills are proposing tighter restrictions on the drug to allay opponents' fears of widespread use, a shift that is helping such legislation advance in additional states.

Health-Insurance Exchanges Behind Schedule

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:30:02 EDT

Government officials have missed several deadlines to set up new health-insurance exchanges for small businesses and consumers—a key part of the federal health overhaul, Congress's watchdog arm said.

More Organ-Donor Testing Is Advised

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:39:13 EDT

The federal government recommended expanding the number of diseases that organ donors should be screened for, adding hepatitis B and hepatitis C to the list.

At Biogen, It's Crunch Time for CEO

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:44:20 EDT

Since becoming Biogen Idec's CEO three years ago, George Scangos has helped quadruple the company's market value. Now, he is under pressure to successfully guide the launch of its MS drug Tecfidera.

Royalty Pharma's Offer for Elan Lapses

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:45:38 EDT

Royalty Pharma withdrew its request for a judicial review of Irish takeover laws following its foiled bid worth up to $8 billion for biotechnology company Elan, formally ending its pursuit.

Hormel Foods Cuts Outlook

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:41:57 EDT

Hormel Foods lowered its earnings outlook, blaming in part higher input costs and softer sales of refrigerated retail products.

Lilly's Zyprexa Under Scrutiny

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:03:22 EDT

Federal regulators are investigating the death of two people who received an injection of an Eli Lilly antipsychotic drug.

Testing Asthma Drugs on a Microchip

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:24:56 EDT

Forget lab rats. Researchers are testing medicines on a silicon chip that could provide a better read on how a drug will work.

New Leader Named at Komen Charity

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:47:01 EDT

Judith Salerno, a 61-year-old physician who led the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine, was named president and chief executive of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Studies Fail to Back Medtronic Spine Product

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:26:02 EDT

Two independent studies—part of an experiment in lifting the veil on industry-sponsored trial data—found a Medtronic bone-growth product for spine surgeries was no better than a traditional operation.

Setback for Pacts That Delay Sale of Generics

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:13:24 EDT

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that courts should give more scrutiny to pharmaceutical industry patent settlements that can delay the entry of generic drugs.

For One Asbestos Victim, Justice Is Moving Target

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:29:37 EDT

Unlike the steelworkers and shipbuilders who worked with vast quantities of asbestos decades ago, the latest round of mesothelioma sufferers tend to be more idiosyncratic, changing asbestos litigation.

States Ease Use of Life Policies for Elder Care

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:37:34 EDT

State lawmakers are encouraging elderly residents to use life insurance as a way to pay for long-term care—and lower the Medicaid tab in the process.

Want a Law Job? Learn Health-Care Act

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:42:17 EDT

Companies racing to comply with the Affordable Care Act and other rules are calling in the lawyers, sparking a mini-boom for attorneys who can help overloaded internal teams.

Some Belgians Opt for Euthanasia Escape

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 07:29:24 EDT

The case of Belgian twins who were euthanized at their request highlights an emotional battle over expanding the country's euthanasia law, and is reverberating in the end-of-life debate in the U.S.

Generic-Drug Firms Go Beyond Knockoffs

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 10:50:26 EDT

Ranbaxy, Teva and other generic-drug makers are coming to grips with a drop in blockbuster brand-name medicines going off patent. One strategy: selling brand-name medicines.

J&J Buys Drug Developer Aragon

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:51:29 EDT

Johnson & Johnson is acquiring privately held Aragon Pharmaceuticals in a deal potentially valued at $1 billion, in a move to bolster its prostate cancer drug-development business.

Aetna to Partially Pull Out of California

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:44:00 EDT

Aetna will stop selling health insurance to individual consumers in California at year-end, withdrawing as the federal health law is expected to reshape the market in 2014.

Merck Cuts Layer of Research Managers

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 19:54:57 EDT

Merck is cutting jobs and stripping a layer of senior management from its research-and-development arm, as its new chief seeks to turn around a unit he said was marked by "the complexity of our organizational design."

Patients Put at Risk By Computer Viruses

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:38:06 EDT

The FDA is warning makers of medical devices that their gear is at risk of being infected with computer viruses that can endanger patients.

Lilly Ends Alzheimer's Drug Study on Safety Concern

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:51:41 EDT

Lilly terminated a midstage clinical trial of an experimental Alzheimer's disease drug after four patients had abnormal liver biochemical tests.

Study Helps Predict Depression Drug Reaction

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:35:04 EDT

Predicting whether a depressed patient will respond to a particular treatment is difficult, but a new study provides evidence that more effective treatment may be possible one day using a brain scan.

Medication Stops HIV Infection of Drug Users

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 00:07:29 EDT

A study published in the Lancet online found that an antiretroviral drug helps prevent HIV infection of the final group of people to be tested: those who inject illicit drugs.

Glaxo Probes China Bribe Claims

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 00:58:30 EDT

GlaxoSmithKline is investigating allegations from an anonymous tipster that its sales staff in China was involved in widespread bribery of doctors to prescribe drugs, in some cases for unauthorized uses.

Medical Groups Push Back at Gun-Law Change

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 17:39:07 EDT

An administration proposal to speed the flow of mental-health records into the national gun background-check database has run into opposition from medical groups and state authorities who contend it's unnecessary.

Plan B Proposal Clears Hurdle

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:00:35 EDT

A federal judge agreed to a government proposal that would make the Plan B emergency-contraceptive pill available in drugstores without age or other restrictions.

Pfizer Wins Patent Settlement

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:22:41 EDT

Pfizer and Takeda have reached a $2.15 billion settlement with Teva and Sun Pharmaceutical for patent-infringement damages resulting from their launches of generic Protonix in the U.S.

Stores Prepare to Widen Plan B Access

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 10:35:24 EDT

Drugstores are preparing to change how they stock and sell an emergency contraceptive after the government agreed to allow the pill to be sold over the counter to customers of all ages.