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GSK readies for pivotal ruling in Zantac cases

Since his diagnosis for bladder cancer in 2019, Michael Caratti says he has undergone “a 180 degree change in my life”.

The 69-year-old former IT technician, who has had his bladder removed and now uses a urostomy bag, believes his “traumatic” experience was caused by a daily prescription of the heartburn medication Zantac from 2005 to 2018.

He now hopes to bring a case to trial alleging that the product — sold by GSK, Sanofi, Pfizer and Boehringer Ingelheim over many years, caused his disease. It is one of about 80,000 remaining cases relating to Zantac that have prompted a combined hit of tens of billions of dollars to the values of the companies involved, with the drug’s developer GSK the most exposed to the litigation.

Roche cuts drug pipeline in effort to revitalise business

Roche has cut a fifth of its drug pipeline in six months, shedding prospective cancer and neurology treatments as the Swiss company seeks to revitalise its business under new chief executive Thomas Schinecker.

Since the third quarter of 2023 when it had 82 new drugs in development, the company has jettisoned 16 drugs and added 12 others, including the weight-loss drug it gained through its $3.1bn acquisition of Carmot Therapeutics in December.

“There’s been a reduction of assets that don’t have the promise to be transformative medicines. We have rebuilt the pipeline to be the best in any field,” said Schinecker, who took over as chief in March last year.

The moves come after the company suffered recent high-profile clinical trial failures, including for its Alzheimer’s drug gantenerumab.

Scientists develop simple test to boost cancer detection in poorer countries

Scientists have developed a simple and affordable blood test to help spot cancer cases in low- and middle-income countries, marking the latest move to boost disease prevention among ageing populations.

The method can detect multiple diseases within minutes and could slash missed diagnosis rates for colorectal, gastric and pancreatic cancers, according to the Shanghai-based researchers.