Reuters Health Report: August 31, 2015

Click to View in Browser Monday, August 31, 2015 Bayer heart failure drug cuts deaths in mid-stage trial (Reuters) - Bayer will move a heart failure drug into final-stage testing this year, boosting its ambitions in cardiovascular treatments after the experimental medicine showed a "striking" reduction in deaths in a mid-stage trial. Medtronic says trials find gene linked to sudden cardiac death (Reuters) - Two studies have identified a gene associated with potentially fatal abnormal heart rhythms, device maker Medtronic Plc said on Monday. Bristol-Myers buys rights to acquire fibrosis drug developer (Reuters) - Drugmaker Bristol-Myers Squibb said it bought rights to a mid-stage fibrosis drug and its privately held developer for up to $1.25 billion, boosting its pipeline for drugs that treat tissue scarring. Asterias's stem cell therapy shows promise in study (Reuters) - Asterias Biotherapeutics Inc said initial data from a small study showed that its lead stem cell therapy could improve mobility in patients paralyzed by a spinal cord injury. Ghana strike ends but election campaign to test IMF deal further ACCRA (Reuters) - Ghana faced down the first major challenge to an IMF austerity program on Monday when doctors suspended a three-week strike but a bigger test of President John Mahama's commitment will come next year as he fights for reelection. Neurologist, author Oliver Sacks dies at age 82 (Reuters) - Oliver Sacks, the neurologist who studied the intricacies of the brain and wrote eloquently about them in books such as "Awakenings" and "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat," died on Sunday at the age of 82, his personal assistant said. Dead woman tests positive for Ebola in Sierra Leone FREETOWN (Reuters) - The body of a woman who died in Sierra Leone has tested positive for the Ebola virus, less than a week after the last person confirmed to have had the disease was released from hospital, health officials said. Texas teen dies of rare brain-eating amoeba infection (Reuters) - A Texas teenager who contracted a rare brain-eating disease after swimming in a lake about 70 miles (110 km) north of Houston has died, according to his family and local media. Alnylam, Medicines cholesterol drug lasts months after one shot LONDON (Reuters) - A new drug in early development cuts cholesterol as much as two potent injections recently cleared for sale but lasts much longer, meaning it may need to be given only every three to six months, initial findings suggest. Planned Parenthood goes to court to fight funding cuts in Alabama Planned Parenthood filed a complaint in Alabama federal court on Friday seeking to stop the state from defunding its health clinics after the release of covertly recorded videos attacking the organization's handling of aborted fetal tissue. Related Video Obama heads to Alaska, faces backlash Mexican circus animals arrive in U.S. A quick-fix on the day's news delivered when you want it. Register Today A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. Register Today » » MORE NEWSLETTERS - 3 Times Square New York, NY 10036 USA © Copyright 2015 Thomson Reuters Ensure delivery of Reuters Newsmails, add newsletters@email.reuters.com to your address book. Subscribe to other Reuters newsletters. Unsubscribe from this newsletter. Follow us on Twitter Friend us on Facebook